Dracula engsub

CHAPTER 13: The Men Exclude Mina

Van Helsing returned briefly to his home in Amsterdam, to consult some of his books, and Jonathan left to check on the cargo that had been removed from the 'Demeter', the boat that had arrived under that strange circumstances at Whitby. Meanwhile, Mina came to the asylum to visit Dr. Seward. She needed to hear the final details of her old friend Lucy's death. If Mina had not read of similar events in Jonathan's journal about Transylvania, she would have thought that Dr. Seward was crazy.

Both of them marveled at the coincidence they had learned of from reading Jonathan's journal, which was that Carfax, the count's recently purchased home, was right next door to the asylum. It was now clear to Dr. Seward why Renfield, his patient who had craved the blood of animals, had been acting so strangely.

In addition, it was becoming clear that at least some of the boxes filled with earth had been unloaded at the Carfax estate. An attendant had reported seeing a large delivery there the other day.

Soon everyone was present and ready to begin getting rid of the evil monster. There was Van Helsing, of course, the unofficial leader of the team; Jonathan Harker, the only man among them who had already faced the count; the cheerful yet dependable Quincey Morris; the smart and scientific Dr. John Seward; and Lord Goldaming, a man of money and manners, both of which would surely come in handy.

"What about me?" Mina asked.

"Your brain is a match for any man's," Van Helsing replied. "But hunting vampires id no job for a lady."

Mina held her tounge.

While Morris went outside to gather the weapons, Van Helsing told the group some key details about vampires. Each time a vampire bit, Van Helsing explained, it grew stronger. It had the power to direct the weather, creating storms, fog, and thunder. It could command rats, owls, bats, and wolves. It could not be seen in mirrors. Just one vampire had the strength of many men. It could grow huge or vanish entirely.

"But we must not forget that we mere men are powerful, too," Van Helsing stressed. "We have science on our side. We have the freedom to think and act. And, the vampire had a few huge weaknesses. His power ends at the rising of the sun each morning. He can only change himself at exact sunrise or sunset. And he is frightened of crucifixes and garlic."

"What is the plan?" Arthur asked.

"We must find each of the fifty boxes and purify the earth inside with blessed wafers so that the count will not be able to return. And then we must find this monster, between dawn and sunset when he is at his weakest, and drive a stake through his heart."

They were interrupted by shattering glass. It was the window beside them breaking. Someone had shot a bullet through it. They ducked, thinking it was the count, but it was only a shaken Quincey Morris, down below. He explained that he had seen a big bat on the windowsill, looking in at the men, and had shot at it with a gun.

"Nice shot," Lord Goldaming teased.

"When do we start?" Mina asked.

"We, not you," Van Helsing reminded her.

Mina began to protest but even Jonathan seemed in agreement. The men were determined to leave her out of it.

An attendant knocked on the door then, with a message for Dr. Seward. Renfield was demanding to see him.

"I would like to meet this Renfield," Van Helsing said. The others decided to come as well.

When the men entered his room, Renfield addressed Dr. Seward. "Dr. Seward," he said camly. "I must leave the hospital at once. For the sake of others, you must let me go."

Van Helsing stared at Renfiels intensely, suspiciously. "What is your real reason for wanting to be free tonight?"

"I cannot tell you," Renfield said.

Dr. Seward refused. Breaking his composure, Renfield threw himself on the floor and begged hysterically. "Oh, please, ;et me out of this house!" he wailed. "You don't know what you are doing by keeping me here. I can't tell you who will be hurt, but please, I beg you, I am no lunatic. I am a sane man fighting for his very soul. Please!"

Dr. Seward was torn. Renfield di seem better, at least before this outburst. However, he seemed to be confused about the count, calling Dracular his "Lord nad Master." Dr. Seward was afraid of doing anything to help the count. "No," he decided, and that was his final answer.

"Just remember what you have done later," Renfield muttered.

"I hope I did the right thing," Dr. Seward said as the group walked back to his office.

"We can only ever do what we think is best at this time," Professor Van Helsing replied.