18 The Group Closes In on the Count

CHAPTER 18 The Group Closes In on the Count It was not smooth sailing for anyone in the group, either on or off the water. Lord Godalming's boat was briefly delayed, due to a minor accident that occurred 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 with very bright eyes. He feared that the curse of the place was upon her, tainted as she was with 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 the three sisters Jonathan had described in his journal. Seeing her scar, the women smiled at Mina, calling to her, "Come, sister, come! 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 the 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, beautiful 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 safely sleeping in the circle. Just as he woke her, however, to prepare her to 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 Quincey 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 horseback, rushing to the scene. 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, determined 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,