The Cable Car – Part 1: Stuck Above the Old Town

The cable car stopped halfway between the old town and the fortress, with a jolt that rattled the glass. Nino grabbed the rail and stared down. The rooftops of Tbilisi were tiny below, and the Kura River was a bright ribbon.

"Oh no," she said.

"It happens," said the man across from her. "The wind is strong today. Please, do not scream. I will be very offended."

She looked up. He was sitting calmly on the bench with a paper bag on his knee, a tall man in a grey jumper with a short dark beard and amused eyes.

"I do not scream," said Nino. "I am from Tbilisi. We are very brave."

"Then you will not mind if I eat," said the man, and opened the bag. "Churchkhela. Walnuts in grape juice. It is the only proper cable-car food."

He held one out. After a moment, she took it.

It was sweet, chewy, rich with walnut. She closed her eyes.

"Better?" he asked.

"Slightly," she said. "I am Nino."

"Giorgi." He smiled. "I am an engineer, so I can tell you that this cable car has twelve safety systems, and that I have no idea which one has failed."

She laughed, and the fear in her chest eased.

They sat for an hour as the wind rocked the car and the sun slid towards the mountains. Giorgi told her about the house in Mestia where he grew up, the cow who had once eaten his school bag. She told him about the pharmacy she worked in, the neighbours who brought her plum brandy at Easter, the grandmother's recipe for khachapuri that no one could copy.

"You sound like you miss someone," said Giorgi.

"My grandmother," said Nino. "She died in the spring."

Giorgi was silent for a moment. Then he said, very gently, "Then let us make her khachapuri. When this machine decides to move."

"You cannot cook."

"I cannot," said Giorgi. "But I am a very enthusiastic eater. Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"May I hold your hand? Only until the car moves. I am afraid of heights, and I have been pretending for an hour."

Nino stared at him. Then she burst out laughing.

"Yes," she said. "Of course."

His fingers closed over hers, warm and slightly shaking.

"Green?" he asked.

"Green," said Nino. "Very green. Do not look down, Giorgi."

"I am looking at you," said Giorgi. "It is much safer."