11 October, Evening.
Dr. Seward writes in his diary. Jonathan Harker is very tired. He cannot write tonight. He wants Dr. Seward to write down everything.
The group met Mrs. Harker before sunset. They now understand something important. Mrs. Harker is free at sunrise and sunset. At these times, her old self returns. No evil force controls her then. This happens for a short time every morning and evening.
Tonight, Mrs. Harker looked worried. She fought a struggle inside herself. Soon, she was in control. She sat on a sofa and Jonathan Harker sat next to her. The other men moved their chairs close to her. Mrs. Harker took Jonathan Harker’s hand.
Mrs. Harker said, “We are all here and free. Maybe this is the last time. Tomorrow we go on our journey. Only God knows what will happen. You are taking me with you. You are brave and good men. But I am not like you.”
“There is a poison (a thing that makes you sick or kills you) in my blood,” Mrs. Harker said. “It can destroy my soul. My soul is in danger. There is one way to stop it. But we must not take that way yet.”
Dr. Van Helsing asked, “What is that way?”
Mrs. Harker answered, “I could die now. If I die, my spirit will be free. But I believe God wants me to live. I must do this difficult task. I will go into the dark and fight the evil.”
The men were very quiet. Jonathan Harker’s face was very pale. Mrs. Harker looked at the men. She said, “You give your lives to God. But what will you give to me? You must promise me one thing. If I change, you must kill me.”
Quincey Morris asked, “When is that time?”
Mrs. Harker said, “You will know. I will change and become evil. When that happens, you must drive a stake (a pointed piece of wood) through me. Then you must cut off my head. This will give me peace.”
Quincey Morris stood up and knelt before her. He promised to do his duty. He said he would kill her if she changed. Mrs. Harker cried and kissed his hand. Then Dr. Van Helsing promised. Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward promised too.
Finally, Jonathan Harker looked at his wife. His face was very white. He asked, “Must I promise too?” Mrs. Harker said, “Yes, my dearest. You love me most. If I must die, I want your hand to set me free.”
Dr. Van Helsing promised to help Jonathan Harker. Mrs. Harker smiled and felt better. She gave them a warning. She said she might change quickly. If she changed, she would be an enemy.
Mrs. Harker had one more request. She wanted Jonathan Harker to read the Burial Service (the prayers for a dead person). Jonathan Harker was very sad, but he began to read. It was a strange and sad scene. The friends knelt around the lady and listened to the holy words.
Jonathan Harker’s Journal.
15 October, Varna.
The group left London on October 12. They went to Paris and took the Orient Express train. They arrived in Varna at five o’clock. Lord Godalming went to find telegrams. The rest of the group went to a hotel.
Jonathan Harker only cared about the ship. The ship's name was the Czarina Catherine. Mrs. Harker felt better and stronger. She slept a lot during the journey.
At sunrise and sunset, Dr. Van Helsing used hypnosis (a way to put someone in a deep sleep to see their thoughts). Mrs. Harker fell into a trance (a state like a deep sleep). Dr. Van Helsing asked what she could see and hear.
Mrs. Harker said, “Everything is dark. I hear the waves. I hear the water. I hear the wind in the sails. The ship is moving fast.”
The Czarina Catherine was still at sea. Lord Godalming received four telegrams. The ship was not in Varna yet. They planned to wait. They wanted to go on the ship between sunrise and sunset.
Count Dracula cannot move across water during the day. He must stay in his box. If the men find the box during the day, they can kill him. They have a lot of money to pay the workers. They will be ready.
16 October.
Mrs. Harker said the same thing today. She heard water and waves. The ship was still coming.
17 October.
Everything is ready. Lord Godalming talked to the ship agents. They have permission to open the box. If Count Dracula is inside, Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward will kill him. The other men will watch with guns.
24 October.
They waited for one week. Every day, the telegrams said the same thing. The ship was not there. But today, a telegram arrived. The Czarina Catherine was at the Dardanelles. It was close to Varna.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
25 October.
Everyone was excited. But the group did not tell Mrs. Harker. She was different now. She was very sleepy. Dr. Van Helsing looked at her teeth every day. He wanted to see if they were becoming sharp. If they became sharp, she was changing into a vampire (an evil monster that drinks blood).
The ship should arrive soon. They decided to get up at one o’clock in the morning.
25 October, Noon.
The ship is not here. Mrs. Harker is sleeping deeply. Jonathan Harker is very calm. He is sharpening his kukri (a large, heavy knife). He is ready to fight the Count.
26 October.
The ship is still not here. There is a lot of fog at sea. The group is still watching and waiting.
27 October, Noon.
This is very strange. There is no news. Mrs. Harker says the waves are very faint now. Dr. Van Helsing is worried. He thinks Count Dracula is escaping.
28 October.
A telegram arrived. The Czarina Catherine was in Galatz. It arrived at one o’clock today.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
28 October.
The news was a surprise. The ship was in a different city! Count Dracula was not in Varna. The group felt many emotions. Dr. Van Helsing was angry. Lord Godalming was pale. Quincey Morris was ready for action.
Mrs. Harker was very white. Jonathan Harker had a dark smile. He touched his knife. Dr. Van Helsing asked, “When is the next train to Galatz?”
Mrs. Harker answered, “At 6:30 tomorrow morning.”
Mrs. Harker knew all the train times. She was a train fiend (a person who studies train times). She said they must go through Bucharest to reach Galatz.
Dr. Van Helsing made a plan. Lord Godalming went to buy tickets. Jonathan Harker went to see the agents. Quincey Morris went to see the Vice-Consul. Dr. Seward stayed with Mrs. Harker and Dr. Van Helsing.
Mrs. Harker felt better. She wanted to help again. When she left the room, Dr. Van Helsing spoke to Dr. Seward. He said, “The Count is trying to escape. He saw Mrs. Harker’s mind. He knows we are in Varna. So, he went to Galatz.”
Dr. Van Helsing said the Count is a criminal (a person who breaks the law). He has a “child-brain.” A criminal always does the same thing. The Count is selfish. He fled back to his home because he was afraid.
Mrs. Harker returned with some papers. She also thought the Count was a criminal. She said, “He is selfish. He wants to be safe. He does not care about anything else. He stopped looking at my mind so I could not see him.”
Dr. Van Helsing said, “Yes! But he made a mistake. You can still see his mind at sunrise and sunset. He does not know this. We will follow him. We will not stop. God is with us.”
Dr. Seward wrote everything down. They were ready to follow Count Dracula to Galatz.