Dracula engsub

CHAPTER 10: Van Helsing Asks for Faith

Jonathan's recovery came even faster now with Mina by his side. Life, however, remained bitter sweet. Mr. Hawkins had recently passed away and in his will had led them a beautiful old hous in Exeter. They were grateful and happy, but they both missed Jonathan's old friend and mentor. And only a few days ago, they had learned of the unfortunate deaths of Lucy and her mother.

Other strange things were going on in London as well, with nightly news reports of people being kidnapped and returning with small holes on their throats - bites of some sorts. These certainly were scary and confusing times.

Professor Van Helsing had written Mina, asking if he would come and visit her in Exeter. Although Jonathan was recovering, Mina thought Van Helsing might be able to help him, too. There were times when he still seemed quite shaky.

For example, at Mr. Hawkins's funeral, in London, they were sitting there quietly when Jonathan had clutched Mina's arm and muttered under his breath. "My God." She had turned to see what he was looking at. There was a tall, thin man with a black mustache and pointed beard. His face was hard and cruel and his big white teeth, which looked all the whiter because his lips were so red, were long and pointed like an animal's.

"It is him," Jonathan muttered. "But how can it be? He has grown so young!"

Worried about him, Mina pulles Jonathan away from the funeral's crowd.

"Please don't be angry," she began. "But I must understand what happened to you when you were away. Jonathan, may I read your journal?"

Upon starting to read the journal later that day, it was almost impossible to believe what Jonathan had experienced. She rewrote his shorthand into long hand as she read. Just as she finished the last page, Dr. Van Helsing arrived.

Her questions for him would have to wait, for he had many questions for her about what had happened to Lucy, especially at Whiby. Mina was an observant young woman who had kept the diary for her own, and Van Helsing asked if he could read it.

"Dr. Van Helsing," Mina said, "I would be more than happy to give you any imformation I can about Lucy, but will you please also help my husband?"

"Why, of course," Van Helsing replied. "What can I do?"

"I am going to show you something," Mina said. "It is a transcript of my husband's journal." She clutched the papers close. "But you will promise me that you will not laugh or judge him. The things he writes of ... well, they are not ordinary things."

"Do not fear," Van Helsing assured her. "I am used to strange things." Van Helsing promised to take the transcript home with him to read.

A few days later Mina received a four-word telegram. IT IS ALL TRUE, the telegram read.

At the same time, back in London, Arthur Holmwood was struggling with his own awful realizations. Standing at Lucy's body with John Seward while the doctor prepared her for her burial, Arthur asked, "Oh, John, is she really dead?"

Even in death, Lucy looked strangely healthy. Something was going on, and Dr. Seward needed to know what it was. Later, when Dr. Seward was alone with Van Helsing, he demanded to know the full truth.

"You have no suspicions?" Van Helsing asked.

Dr. Seward shook his head.

"I am not surprised," Van Helsing said, "for you are a man of science. Sometimes for men such as you, things cannot be explained except perhaps by magic are very hard to understand. For exemple, can you tell me why some spiders live only a few days and other great spiders live for centuries in the tower of old Spanish churches, and grow and grow until they can drink all of the oil in the church lamps?"

"Spiders?" Dr. Seward asked.

"And why does the tortoise live longer than generations of men?" Van Helsing continued. "Why does the telephant go on until he has seen several dynasties?"

Dr. Seward's head was spinning. "Look, Professor," he cried, "just tell me! Is this some kind of mystery illness, caused perhaps by the bite on her neck? Those people who were found in town with small holes in their necks - were they bitten by the same creature that bit Miss Lucy? I can't figure it out. Why do you talk of spiders and tortoises and elephants when what I need is for you to tell me what to do?"

"What you must do." Van Helsing said quietly, "is to believe in the very things you cannot. You must have faith. Can you do that?"

Dr. Seward promised to try.