23 September.—Jonathan feels better today. He has a lot of work to do. This work helps him. He does not think about the scary things in his past. I am very happy for my husband. He is doing his new job very well. He is a good man. Jonathan will be away all day. He cannot eat lunch at home today. I have finished my housework. Now I will read his journal (a book where you write your daily thoughts). I will go to my room and lock the door. I want to read his story.
24 September.—I did not write anything last night. Jonathan’s journal made me very sad. My poor husband suffered a lot. Are the things in the journal true? Or was Jonathan just very sick? I do not know. I am afraid to ask him about it.
But we saw a strange man yesterday. Jonathan was sure the man was the Count. Jonathan became very upset. He believes his journal is true. He once told me a secret. He said he might have a duty to remember the "bitter hours."
Now I am worried. That scary Count is coming to London. London has millions of people. This is a big danger. I must be ready to help. I will get my typewriter (a machine used for printing letters on paper) now. I will copy Jonathan’s journal. Then other people can read it. I will speak for Jonathan. He will not be worried or tired. Maybe one day he will want to tell me everything. Then I can comfort him.
Letter from Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker.
"24 September.
Dear Madam,
Please forgive me for writing to you. I am the man who sent the news about Lucy Westenra’s death. I am reading Lucy's papers now. I found your letters to her. You were a very good friend to Lucy. I need your help. I want to stop a great evil. I want to help other people. You can trust me. I am a friend of Dr. John Seward and Arthur.
This matter is a secret. I want to come to Exeter to see you. Please tell me when I can come. I know your husband is sick. Please do not tell him about this. It might hurt him.
VAN HELSING."
Telegram from Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing.
"25 September.—Please come today on the ten-fifteen train. I can see you any time.
WILHELMINA HARKER."
MINA HARKER’S JOURNAL.
25 September.—I am very excited. Dr. Van Helsing is coming soon. I think he can explain Jonathan’s story. He was Lucy’s doctor. He can tell me about her. He is coming to talk about Lucy and her sleep-walking (walking while you are asleep). He is not coming to talk about Jonathan.
I am being silly. That scary journal is changing my thoughts. Of course he wants to talk about Lucy. She was very sick at Whitby. She probably told him about the night on the cliff. I knew all about that night. Now the doctor wants more information. I hope he does not blame me for Lucy’s illness. I have a lot of worry right now. I cannot bear any more trouble.
I cried a little bit. Sometimes a cry is good for a person. I am also sad because Jonathan is away. This is the first time we are apart since our marriage. I hope Jonathan is safe. It is now two o’clock. The doctor will arrive soon. I will not talk about Jonathan’s journal. But I have my own typed journal ready. I can give it to the doctor. It will save time.
Later.—Dr. Van Helsing came and then he left. My head is spinning! Is this a dream? Is the story true? I read Jonathan’s journal first. So, I think it is possible. Poor Jonathan! He suffered so much. I want to help him. Maybe the truth will help him. He will know he is not crazy.
Dr. Van Helsing is a good man. He is smart and kind. He is a friend of Arthur and Dr. Seward. He came all the way from Holland. I like him very much. He will come back tomorrow. Then I will ask him about Jonathan.
The doctor arrived at half-past two. I was brave and waited for him. My maid, Mary, opened the door. She announced "Dr. Van Helsing." I bowed to him. He is a strong man of medium weight. He has a big chest and a noble head. His face is clean-shaven. He has a strong chin and a large mouth. His nose is straight. He has a large forehead and reddish hair. His eyes are dark blue and very kind.
"Are you Mrs. Harker?" he asked. I said yes. He said he came to talk about Lucy Westenra. I told him he was a good friend to Lucy. I gave him my hand. He was very polite.
He said, "I read your letters to Lucy. I know you were with her at Whitby. Lucy wrote a diary. She wrote that you saved her when she walked in her sleep. Please tell me everything you remember."
I told him I wrote it all down. He was surprised. He asked to see my notes. I gave him my shorthand (a fast way of writing using special signs) diary. He could not read it. He looked sad. Then I gave him the typed copy. I told him I did this to save time.
His eyes began to shine. He asked to read it immediately. I went to prepare lunch. When I came back, the doctor was very excited. He took my hands.
"Oh, Madam Mina!" he said. "This paper is like sunshine. It explains many things. I am very grateful to you. You are a clever woman. I will always be your friend. I will help you and the people you love. You are a light in the dark."
He praised me very much. He said he studied the brain and people all his life. He read my letters to Lucy. He said I was a noble woman. Then he asked about Jonathan. I told the doctor that Jonathan had a shock. Jonathan saw a man in London. This man was from his scary past.
I became very emotional. I knelt down and asked the doctor to help Jonathan. He was very sweet. He made me sit on the sofa. He held my hand. He said his life was lonely. He said he was happy to meet good people. He promised to help Jonathan.
"Now you must eat," the doctor said. "Jonathan wants you to be healthy. I will stay in Exeter tonight. I must think about your story. Tomorrow you can tell me about Jonathan’s trouble. Now, let us eat lunch."
After lunch, we went to the drawing-room. I was afraid to tell him the story. I thought he might laugh at me. But he was very kind. He said he had an open mind. He said he believed in strange things. I gave him Jonathan’s typed journal. I asked him to read it and judge for himself.
He took the papers. He will come back tomorrow at half-past eleven. He will eat breakfast with us. Then he will take the train back to London. I am sitting here now and thinking.
Letter from Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker.
"25 September, 6 o’clock.
Dear Madam Mina,
I read your husband’s journal. You can sleep well tonight. The story is strange and terrible, but it is true! I promise you. Jonathan is a noble man. He is very brave. His brain is healthy. He is not crazy. I will see you tomorrow.
Your friend,
ABRAHAM VAN HELSING."
Letter from Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing.
"25 September, 6:30 p.m.
My dear Dr. Van Helsing,
Thank you for your letter. I feel much better now. But the story is very scary. Is that monster really in London? Jonathan is coming home tonight at 10:18. Please come to breakfast at eight o’clock tomorrow.
Your grateful friend,
MINA HARKER."
JONATHAN HARKER’S JOURNAL.
26 September.—I am writing in my diary again. Mina told me about Van Helsing’s visit. She gave him the diaries. She showed me the doctor’s letter. The doctor said my story was true. Now I feel like a new man! I was sick because I doubted myself. I was in the dark. But now I know the truth. I am not afraid of the Count. Van Helsing will help us find him.
I went to the hotel to meet the doctor. He looked at me closely. He said, "Mina told me you were ill." I smiled. I told him his letter cured me. I told him it is hard to doubt your own senses. He laughed and said I was a smart man. He praised Mina. He said she was a very noble woman. We shook hands and became friends.
Then he asked for my help. He is starting a great task. He wants to know about my time in Transylvania. I asked if his task was about the Count. He said yes. I told him I was with him heart and soul. I gave him a bundle of papers to read.
I went to the train station with him. He looked at a newspaper called "The Westminster Gazette." Suddenly, his face became very white. He read something and groaned. He was very upset. The train started to move. He called out, "I will write to you soon!"
DR. SEWARD’S DIARY.
26 September.—I am starting my record again. Renfield is better now. He is catching flies and spiders. Arthur and Quincey Morris are also doing well. I was starting to feel happy again. But everything changed today.
Van Helsing went to Exeter yesterday. He came back today at five o'clock. He was very excited. He gave me a newspaper. He pointed to a story about children in Hampstead. The children were lost. When they returned, they had small wounds on their throats.
"These wounds are like Lucy’s wounds," I said.
Van Helsing was very serious. He asked if I knew why Lucy died. I said she lost too much blood. He said I was too prejudiced. He said science does not know everything. He talked about strange things in nature. He talked about bats that drink blood. He talked about people who live forever.
I was confused. I asked him to tell me his main idea. He said, "I want you to believe in things that seem impossible. Have an open mind."
I asked, "Did the same thing hurt the children and Lucy?"
Van Helsing said, "No. It is worse. Lucy made those holes in the children’s throats!"