Atlas Nightshade

Day 48

"I write this in case anything should happen. I go alone to watch in

that churchyard. It pleases me that the Un-Dead, Miss Lucy, shall not

leave to-night, that so on the morrow night she may be more eager.

Therefore I shall fix some things she like not--garlic and a

crucifix--and so seal up the door of the tomb. She is young as Un-Dead,

and will heed. Moreover, these are only to prevent her coming out; they

may not prevail on her wanting to get in; for then the Un-Dead is

desperate, and must find the line of least resistance, whatsoever it may

be. I shall be at hand all the night from sunset till after the sunrise,

and if there be aught that may be learned I shall learn it. For Miss

Lucy or from her, I have no fear; but that other to whom is there that

she is Un-Dead, he have now the power to seek her tomb and find shelter.

He is cunning, as I know from Mr. Jonathan and from the way that all

along he have fooled us when he played with us for Miss Lucy's life, and

we lost; and in many ways the Un-Dead are strong. He have always the

strength in his hand of twenty men; even we four who gave our strength

to Miss Lucy it also is all to him. Besides, he can summon his wolf and

I know not what. So if it be that he come thither on this night he shall

find me; but none other shall--until it be too late. But it may be that

he will not attempt the place. There is no reason why he should; his

hunting ground is more full of game than the churchyard where the

Un-Dead woman sleep, and the one old man watch.

"Therefore I write this in case.... Take the papers that are with this,

the diaries of Harker and the rest, and read them, and then find this

great Un-Dead, and cut off his head and burn his heart or drive a stake

through it, so that the world may rest from him.

"If it be so, farewell.

"VAN HELSING."

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_28 September._--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for

one. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrous

ideas; but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on

common sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if his

mind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be _some_

rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it possible that

the Professor can have done it himself? He is so abnormally clever that

if he went off his head he would carry out his intent with regard to

some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loath to think it, and indeed

it would be almost as great a marvel as the other to find that Van

Helsing was mad; but anyhow I shall watch him carefully. I may get some

light on the mystery.

* * * * *

_29 September, morning._.... Last night, at a little before ten o'clock,

Arthur and Quincey came into Van Helsing's room; he told us all that he

wanted us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if all

our wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we would

all come with him too, "for," he said, "there is a grave duty to be done

there. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?" This query was

directly addressed to Lord Godalming.

"I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble

around my house of late that I could do without any more. I have been

curious, too, as to what you mean. Quincey and I talked it over; but the

more we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself

that I'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything."

"Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically.

"Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of

you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he can

even get so far as to begin."

It was evident that he recognised my return to my old doubting frame of

mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he said

with intense gravity:--

"I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, I

know, much to ask; and when you know what it is I propose to do you will

know, and only then, how much. Therefore may I ask that you promise me

in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for a

time--I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may

be--you shall not blame yourselves for anything."

"That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the Professor.

I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest; and that's good

enough for me."

"I thank you, sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the

honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is dear

to me." He held out a hand, which Quincey took.

Then Arthur spoke out:--

"Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a pig in a poke,' as they

say in Scotland, and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentleman

or my faith as a Christian is concerned, I cannot make such a promise.

If you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either of

these two, then I give my consent at once; though for the life of me, I

cannot understand what you are driving at."

"I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is

that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will first

consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your

reservations."

"Agreed!" said Arthur; "that is only fair. And now that the

_pourparlers_ are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?"

"I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard at

Kingstead."

Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way:--

"Where poor Lucy is buried?" The Professor bowed. Arthur went on: "And

when there?"

"To enter the tomb!" Arthur stood up.

"Professor, are you in earnest; or it is some monstrous joke? Pardon me,

I see that you are in earnest." He sat down again, but I could see that

he sat firmly and proudly, as one who is on his dignity. There was

silence until he asked again:--

"And when in the tomb?"

"To open the coffin."

"This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again. "I am willing to be

patient in all things that are reasonable; but in this--this desecration

of the grave--of one who----" He fairly choked with indignation. The

Professor looked pityingly at him.

"If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend," he said, "God knows I

would. But this night our feet must tread in thorny paths; or later, and

for ever, the feet you love must walk in paths of flame!"

Arthur looked up with set white face and said:--

"Take care, sir, take care!"

"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing.

"And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go

on?"

"That's fair enough," broke in Morris.

After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort:--