Dracula engsub

CHAPTER 18: The Group Closes In on the Count

It was not smooth sailing for anyone in the group, either in or off the water. Lord Godalming's boat was briefly delayed, due to a minor accident that occured while trying to force their way up a rapid. And despite confirming that the count was still on the water, Mina was becoming more and more difficult to hypnotize.

As they drew closer to the castle, Mina began to sleep all day. At night Van Helsing would awaken to find her staring at him very bright eyes. He feared that the curse of the place was upon her, tainted as she was wih the count's spell. He had to believe in the strength of her will, however, and that her soul, at least for a little longer, was pure.

Still, Van Helsing made a small circle of blessed wafers around them at the spot where they stopped to camp for the night.

"Will you come out to the fire?" Van Helsing asked Mina. It was a test, for the fire was outside the circle.

"You know I can't," she replied sadly.

Suddenly the horses began to scream. Van Helsing walked back into the circle just as the mist began to whirl around. Van Helsing and Mina watched as figures began to form in the fog. It was three sisters Jonathan had decribed in his journal.

Seeing her scar, the women smiled at Mina, calling to her, "Come, sister, come!" But there was nothing but disgust in Mina's eyes, which comforted Van Helsing. He charged out of the circle, holding some wafers, and the women ran off. However, the evil sisters had not left empty-handed. The horses were dead.

Van Helsing left Mina sleeping within the circle and walked to the castle alone. Breaking in, he traced the path described in Jonathan's diary to find the chapel. Somewhere, he knew, there would be at least three graves to sterilize, holding three sisters. He found and took care of all three.

And then he saw it, there, in the darkest, deepest corner of the chapel: an enormous, beatiful old tomb. On it was but one word: 'DRACULA'. Opening it and finding it empty, Van Helsing sprinkled in some broken wafers, banishing the count from his hundreds-of-years-old home. Forever.

When Van Helsing returned to their camp he found Mina, still soundly and safety sleeping in the circle. Just as he woke her, however, to prepare her walk back to the castle, they heard the distant howling of wolves and some kind of commotion quickly approaching.

"There is no time," he cried. "Hurry, we must hide!" Van Helsing found a narrow hollow in a rock face, and both of them ducked inside. From there, they would be able to defend themselves from either man or wolf.

As high up in the mountains as they were, they had a clear view down. Venturing out briefly, Mina spotted something hurrying up one side of the mountain. It was a group of Gypsies, transporting a cart that carried a large, square box. The count! The Gypsies were racing against the sunset, as they had surely been instructed and paid by the count to get him home before the magic hour.

Behind that group, however, there were two other horsemen following fast. It was Quncey Morris and Dr. Seward! And on the other side of the mountain, where there was another path to the clearing, Mina saw two other men, her dear Jonathan and Lord Godalming, also on horse back, rushing to the sence. It was like a beautiful dance. When Mina told Van Helsing, he shouted with glee like a schoolboy.

Closer and closer, the Gypsies drew. Van Helsing and Mina remained hidden in the rocks, holding their weapons ready, determinded the Gypsies would not pass. All parties reached the clearing at the same time. From opposite sides the hunters on horseback yelled, "Stop!" The Gypsies may not have understood the language, but there was no mistaking the meaning of that word, or the waepons being aimed at them.

Jonathan and Quincey Morris rushed at the cart. Jonathan, more than any of the others, seemed to have a strange power, a superhuman strength. Dodging the Gypsies' knives, he reached over to the great earth bow, raised it up. and flung it to the ground.

Quincey Morris rushed to help, also dodging knives, but not as successfully. One of the knives pierced his side, and he began to bleed heavily. Still, he continued to fight. Together, while the others stood guard with their weapons, the two men priedthe lid off the great box.

And there he was, the creature they had been hunting for all this time: Dracula. Lying quietly within the box, the count was deathly pale, like a wax figure. His eyes, however, were open, and they glared with the evil look that all knew so well.

Just then those eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in them turned to triumph. The count thought he had won once again. Once the sun set he would be safe from any harm.

But not so fast! In that instant Jonathan and Quincey Morris attacked, piercing Dracula's heart and cutting off his head with their knives. Before their eyes, the count's whole body crumbled into dust and disappeared.

The Gypsies, frightened by the disappearance of the dead man, turned and rodeaway for their lives. Even the wolves retreated to a safe distance, Leaving the group alone.

Quincey Morris, who had sunk to the ground, leaned on his elbow, holding his hand pressed to his side. Mina noticed that blood was rushing through his fingers. She ran to him, as did the two doctors, but there was nothing to be done. With a sigh, Quincey Morris took Mina's hand and smiled at her sweetly.

"I am happy to have been of service," ha said. Suddenly he laughed, poiting at her forehead. "Oh, look! It was worth to see this. Look! Look!"

The setting sun's red rays fell upon Mina's face, bathing it in a rosy light. As they all followed the path of Quincey Morris's pointing finger, they could see what he was referring to. The scar was gone. Mina's forehead was as stainless as the snow. The curse had passed away.

Quincey Morris died then, a gallant gentleman to the end.

Seven years later Mina and Jonathan returned to Transylvania. They brought with them their son Quincey, named for their old, brave friend. Walking over the ground that was so full of vivid and terrible memories, Quincey Junior's little hands in theirs, they could look back without despair, remembering the great things that people can do for love.

THE END.