Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

Friedrich caught on in no time, and Alexandra took Konrad by the hand and formed a chain with Katharina. Right foot,right foot, left foot and one back, she called. Konrad pulled out his handkerchief and waving it in the air took the lead.Claudia joined and soon they snaked across the meadow, Niko dancing alongside with his harmonica and Friedrichdrumming like mad."The jojokhetis kari! The Föhn has made us crazy," sang Alexandra.Full of curiosity, the farmer and his wife came over to have a look."Come join us," shouted Katharina in Bavarian and took the woman by the hand. Reluctantly they let themselves bepulled along. Everybody was laughing and clapping. Niko started another Georgian song, and Alexandra sang itsstrange, sad, melody."Ah," cried Alexandra, "where is the wine?""Over there! Only it’s beer, dark, dangerous beer!"Katharina pointed towards the pink octagonal church tower above the trees. "It is only ten minutes from here." A deepgorge with a water mill and a bridge separated them from the Holy Mountain. Laughing they chased each other down thesteep path to the bridge, Friedrich in pursuit of blond Katharina. Claudia smiled knowingly at Alexandra."Remember, dear would-be matchmaker, it was not I who set this trap!" said Alexandra with a frown. Sooner or later shewould have to console Konrad."You godless heathens, do as you please. I will go inside and pray to the Virgin Mother for all of us," exclaimed Katharinawhen they had, out of breath, reached the church.Alexandra joined her.In the cavernous entry hall Katharina dipped her finger into the holy water and made a cross, first on Alexandra’s, thenon her own forehead. With an effort she pulled the heavy door open into another world.This was not the serenely elegant space of St. Anna’s but a peasant church, sturdy in proportions yet of a lovablecheerfulness. Alexandra slipped into a pew worn bare by generations of pilgrims next to two peasant women. Letting herfingertips run over the backrest of the bench she could feel the fine, exposed grain of the larchwood.The Gothic columns and the ribs of the high ceiling were covered with delicately colored Baroque ornaments on areseda-green ground. A lovely Gothic Virgin with her child on the high altar had been reset in an overwhelming aura ofgolden rays. High above her, on the second level, floated Christ on the cross. A curvy balustrade waved along the walls.From one of its bends the life-sized figure of a white-haired saint in a flowing red coat was making ready to jump or flydown onto the altar. The benevolent faces of the local prince and his wife smiled from a trompe d’oeil window high up inthe wall.The woman next to Alexandra was following the lines in her prayer book with an arthritic index finger, her lips murmuredsilent prayers. It was all so familiar, even if the setting appeared far away from the churches of her childhood.Katharina knelt on her left and prayed with closed eyes. A wave of affection overcame Alexandra.Katharina sat up and whispered, "Is this not a place to find your happiness again, if you are confused and restless?"Alexandra nodded. She was controlling a sudden desire to kiss and hug Katharina.A little later Katharina said, "Come, let’s light some candles for the people we love."Alexandra counted the tapers in her mind and bought six, Katharina only three."So many?" asked Katharina.One by one Alexandra put the candles into the rack. "For my mother, for Aunt Sophia and for Niko, for Konrad—whoneeds one badly—for Claudia, and this one is for us to rekindle our love!"She glanced furtively at Katharina.Katharina gave her a quick kiss."This is for Konrad—do you think two will be too many for him? This is for you, and the last one is for silly Friedrich." Sheblushed. "I really like this man."When they turned around, they noticed the others sitting in the last bench silently gazing at the church’s splendor.Alexandra felt Konrad’s eyes on her.Katharina took Alexandra by the hand. "Come, let me show you a secret place." Katharina opened a small door in theentry hall and pulled Alexandra onto a narrow spiral staircase that led into the onion dome. From a landing among thebeams she pushed out a dormer window. "Look!" she called out of breath.Alexandra stuck her head out and cried, "My God, Zedazeni!"Alexandra explained to her, that the tower of Zedazeni was her favorite place in Georgia, from where one could see halfthe Caucasus.They noticed their friends below searching for them in front of the church."Hey," shouted Katharina, "come up here. There is a marvelous view today!"Alexandra could no longer hold back her emotions. She put her arms around Katharina and fervently kissed Katharina onthe mouth. Blushing deeply, Alexandra looked at the familiar face, searching for an explanation to her sudden passion."I love you Katharina. Please, do remain my friend."Surprised, Katharina stroked Alexandra’s hair and then put a finger on her friend’s mouth, as if to seal a secret.90