She was right in her instinct. Strange as it all was, bizarre as it mayhereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the tim
e, itcomforted us much; and the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's comingrelapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem so full of despair to anyof us as we had dreaded.
_Jonathan Harker's Journal._
_15 October, Varna._--We left Charing Cross on the morning of the 12th,got to Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in theOrient Express. We travelled night and day, arriving here at about fiveo'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any telegramhad arrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this hotel--theOdessus. The journey may have had incidents; I was, however, too eagerto get on, to care for them. Until the _Czarina Catherine_ comes intoport there will be no interest for me in anything in the wide world.Thank God! Mina is well, and looks to be getting stronger; her colouris coming back. She sleeps a great deal; throughout the journey sheslept nearly all the time. Before sunrise and sunset, however, she isvery wakeful and alert; and it has become a habit for Van Helsing tohypnotise her at such times. At first, some effort was needed, and hehad to make many passes; but now, she seems to yield at once, as if byhabit, and scarcely any action is needed. He seems to have power atthese particular moments to simply will, and her thoughts obey him. Healways asks her what she can see and hear. She answers to the first:--
"Nothing; all is dark." And to the second:--
"I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and the water rushingby. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak. The wind ishigh--I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow throws back the foam."It is evident that the _Czarina Catherine_ is still at sea, hasteningon her way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just returned. He had fourtelegrams, one each day since we started, and all to the same effect:that the _Czarina Catherine_ had not been reported to Lloyd's fromanywhere. He had arranged before leaving London that his agent shouldsend him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported. Hewas to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he might besure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire.
We had dinner and went to bed early. To-morrow we are to see theVice-Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on board the shipas soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will be to geton board between sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes theform of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own volition, andso cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's form withoutsuspicion--which he evidently wishes to avoid--he must remain in thebox. If, then, we can come on board after sunrise, he is at our mercy;for we can open the box and make sure of him, as we did of poor Lucy,before he wakes. What mercy he will get from us will not count for much.We think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or theseamen. Thank God! this is the country where bribery can do anything,and we are well supplied with money. We have only to make sure that theship cannot come into port between sunset and sunrise without our beingwarned, and we shall be safe. Judge Moneybag will settle this case, Ithink!
_16 October._--Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and rushingwater, darkness and favouring winds. We are evidently in good time, andwhen we hear of the _Czarina Catherine_ we shall be ready. As she mustpass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report.
* * * * *
_17 October._--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcomethe Count on his return from his tour. Godalming told the shippers thathe fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen froma friend of his, and got a half consent that he might open it at hisown risk. The owner gave him a paper telling the captain to give himevery facility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship, and alsoa similar authorisation to his agent at Varna. We have seen the agent,who was much impressed with Godalming's kindly manner to him, and weare all satisfied that whatever he can do to aid our wishes will bedone. We have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open.If the Count is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head atonce and drive a stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and Ishall prevent interference, even if we have to use the arms which weshall have ready. The Professor says that if we can so treat the Count'sbody, it will soon after fall into dust. In such case there would be noevidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were aroused. Buteven if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and perhapssome day this very script may be evidence to come between some of usand a rope. For myself, I should take the chance only too thankfullyif it were to come. We mean to leave no stone unturned to carry outour intent. We have arranged with certain officials that the instantthe _Czarina Catherine_ is seen, we are to be informed by a specialmessenger.
_24 October._--A whole week of waiting. Daily telegrams to Godalming,but only the same story: "Not yet reported." Mina's morning and eveninghypnotic answer is unvaried: lapping waves, rushing water, and creakingmasts.
_Telegram, October 24th._
_Rufus Smith, Lloyd's, London, to Lord Godalming, care of H.B.M.Vice-Consul, Varna_
"_Czarina Catherine_ reported this morning from Dardanelles."
_Dr. Seward's Diary._
_24 October._--How I miss my phonograph! To write diary with a penis irksome to me; but Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild withexcitement to-day when Godalming got his telegram from Lloyd's. I knownow what men feel in battle when the call to action is heard. Mrs.Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotion. Afterall, it is not strange that she did not; for we took special care notto let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show anyexcitement when we were in her presence. In old days she would, I amsure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to conceal it;but in this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeks. Thelethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and isgetting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are not satisfied. Wetalk of her often; we have not, however, said a word to the others. Itwould break poor Harker's heart--certainly his nerve--if he knew thatwe had even a suspicion on the subject. Van Helsing examines, he tellsme, her teeth very carefully, whilst she is in the hypnotic condition,for he says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is noactive danger of a change in her. If this change should come, it wouldbe necessary to take steps!... We both know what those steps would haveto be, though we do not mention our thoughts to each other. We shouldneither of us shrink from the task--awful though it be to contemplate."Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I am grateful towhoever invented it.
It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at therate the _Czarina Catherine_ has come from London. She should thereforearrive some time in the morning; but as she cannot possibly get inbefore then, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up at oneo'clock, so as to be ready.
_25 October, Noon._--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker'shypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possiblethat we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a fever ofexcitement, except Harker, who is calm; his hands are as cold as ice,and an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka knifewhich he now always carries with him. It will be a bad look out for theCount if the edge of that "Kukri" ever touches his throat, driven bythat stern, ice-cold hand!
Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker to-day. Aboutnoon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like; although wekept silent to the others, we were neither of us happy about it. She hadbeen restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad to knowthat she was sleeping. When, however, her husband mentioned casuallythat she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her, we went toher room to see for ourselves. She was breathing naturally and looked sowell and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her thananything else. Poor girl, she has so much to forget that it is no wonderthat sleep, if it brings oblivion to her, does her good.
_Later._--Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleepof some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she hasbeen f
or days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. Wherever hemay be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his destination. Tohis doom, I trust!
_26 October._--Another day and no tidings of the _Czarina Catherine_.She ought to be here by now. That she is still journeying _somewhere_is apparent, for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still thesame. It is possible that the vessel may be lying by, at times, for fog;some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches of fogboth to north and south of the port. We must continue our watching, asthe ship may now be signalled any moment.
_27 October, Noon._--Most strange; no news yet of the ship we wait for.Mrs. Harker reported last night and this morning as usual: "lappingwaves and rushing water," though she added that "the waves were veryfaint." The telegrams from London have been the same: "no furtherreport." Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now that hefears the Count is escaping us. He added significantly:--
"I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's. Souls and memories can dostrange things during trance." I was about to ask him more, but Harkerjust then came in, and he held up a warning hand. We must try to-night,at sunset, to make her speak more fully when in her hypnotic state.
_28 October._--Telegram. _Rufus Smith, London, to Lord Godalming, careof H.B.M. Vice-Consul, Varna_
"_Czarina Catherine_ reported entering Galatz at one o'clock to-day."
_Dr. Seward's Diary._
_28 October._--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in GalatzI do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have beenexpected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt wouldcome; but I think we all expected that something strange would happen.The delay of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied that thingswould not be just as we had expected; we only waited to learn where thechange would occur. None the less, however, was it a surprise. I supposethat nature works on such a hopeful basis that we believe againstourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not as we shouldknow that they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels,even if it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. It was an odd experience, andwe all took it differently. Van Helsing raised his hands over his headfor a moment, as though in remonstrance with the Almighty; but he saidnot a word, and in a few seconds stood up with his face sternly set.Lord Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heavily. I was myselfhalf stunned and looked in wonder at one after another. Quincey Morristightened his belt with that quick movement which I knew so well; in ourold wandering days it meant "action." Mrs. Harker grew ghastly white, sothat the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her handsmeekly and looked up in prayer. Harker smiled--actually smiled--the darkbitter smile of one who is without hope; but at the same time his actionbelied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of thegreat Kukri knife and rested there. "When does the next train start forGalatz?" said Van Helsing to us generally.
"At 6.30 to-morrow morning!" We all stared, for the answer came fromMrs. Harker.
"How on earth do you know?" said Art.