Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

She kissed him tenderly. "Niko, I am going to join you at the university and study medicine!" She added sweetly, "and youare the first one to know."He refused to be taken in and imitating his father’s voice exclaimed. "Lexako, you are crazy!"He used this epithet with its Latin connotation whenever he felt like badgering his older sister.Alexandra unexpectedly charged."No, I am not. Stop fooling around, Niko! Take on some adult reason, this world is not a playground for rich kids, wakeup!"An annoyed blush went over his handsome face, and Alexandra toned down her voice."Look," she began anew, "when you come from Western Europe, this place appears rotten. Ever since I returned, I havebeen oppressed by the dark clouds that are gathering over the pompous and ignorant Emperor and his empire."He looked at her surprised. "Should I introduce you to some of my revolutionary friends? I am not as oblivious to what isgoing on in St. Petersburg as you may think. And not all of the Russian aristocrats are blind or sit back idly. In fact thefather of one of my friends just went to prison, being accused of agitation against the Emperor."Startled by the jeopardy such a relationship could put him into, she lost the point of her epistle. "I would like to meet yourfriends. But be careful associating with the extremists, or you will end up in exile like Uncle Ilia, or worse in some place inSiberia! You are not as famous as he is, they wouldn’t handle you with kid gloves."Niko stuck out his chest. "See, now you are chickening out again!""No, dear Niko, instead of joining your radical friends, I decided to do something real. I want to help people."Niko put his aggressiveness aside. "What do you suggest that I should do instead of becoming a professor of literature?""Instead of idling away your summer with your lazy friends in Tiflis, go and spend it working in Germany or France andthink about what you want to do. I really have no suggestion except medicine."They took the tram to the Botanical Gardens and surprised Konrad at the institute. Together they went to a restaurant foran extended, late lunch. Proud of her success Alexandra described the happenings of the morning.Konrad kissed her hand. "So you might be back in school in October! Congratulations, Frau Doktor!"Alexandra brought up the subject of Niko’s future. What did Konrad think Niko should do?"Why don’t you consider physics?" Konrad suggested after some thought. "It is the field of the future. There exist only twoor three internationally known physicists in Russia—the government and the clergy seem to think physics is the inventionof foreign devils—while in Germany, England, and France the most revolutionary discoveries are being made. Somedaythey will have to wake up in Russia or the country will sink back into a medieval mire."How long she had waited for Konrad’s Summer Ball in the Botanical Gardens, it seemed to her like years. She smiled,she had met Konrad only eighteen months ago! Preoccupied she pulled the yellow Italian silk dress over her slenderbody and stroked her belly with her hand. Brimus had remained cooperative, he did not show. She went before themirror, put on Konrad’s necklace and with a comb gathered her hair above her neck—she looked gorgeous.After an exceptionally sunny late summer day, the evening was unseasonably warm. Konrad had smuggled in Niko tokeep Alexandra company when he would be needed to keep things running smoothly. But everyone wanted to meet hisexotic Georgian wife. Professor Fischer von Waldheim, Konrad’s German-born superior and the director of the ImperialBotanical Gardens called at their table, and his wife, enchanted by Alexandra’s German, stayed on for an extended chat.Alexandra was in her element, she had not been the elegant center of attention since the performance of Chaika in Tiflis.Dr. von Schliemann, her new gynecologist, thrilled to have come across her, introduced his rather reserved wife. Heshook hands with Konrad and reported that he had promptly written a letter recommending Alexandra for admission tothe medical faculty. One of Konrad’s younger colleagues, asked Alexandra for a dance. He gave himself smitten by herelegant figure. It took her some time to shake him off politely.She had only danced once or twice with Konrad when one of the liveried servants, who wove through the guests carryinghors d’oeuvres and glasses of wine on silver platters, approached him with the urgent request to come to the reception: AMr. Sisakian with two ladies had arrived and had asked for him."One of the ladies is the belly dancer!" whispered Konrad and vanished. Niko, who had gone off to dance with a younglady, was nowhere to be seen. Alexandra, suddenly left alone, sat sipping wine and pensively watching the guests millingabout under the trees, when a young Russian approached her asking for a dance. He addressed her as PrincessAlexandra Dadiani and explained his knowledge of her name by the fact that he was a friend of her brother Niko.The man was irresistibly good-looking, tall with an elongated, overbred face, pronounced cheekbones, long, narrowhands, and a perfectly arrogant demeanor. She gave in to his charm.His name was Valdimir. In her confusion she did not listen to his patronymic and family name. It meant nothing to her.She was not good at remembering names, and did not want to ask him again. Valdimir spoke a highly cultivated Russian.That and his looks…she was certain he came from an old family.He danced very well. He talked of his writing poetry and studying literature. In an unobserved moment he unexpectedlykissed her. She was not prepared for this surprise. He looked so good, she let it happen.After two dances Vladimir escorted her back to her table and with a smile and a charming kiss on the hand took his55