Текст книги "Дракула / Dracula"

I asked him: what dates must I put on the letters? He calculated a minute, and then said, “The first letter must be June 12, the second June 19, and the third June 29.”

I know now the span of my life. God help me!

28 May. – There is a chance of escape, or to send word home. A band of gypsies[57]57
  a band of gypsies – цыганский табор


[Закрыть] have come to the castle, and are encamped in the courtyard. There are thousands of them in Hungary and Transylvania, who are almost outside all law. They are fearless and without religion.

I shall write some letters home, and shall give them to the gypsies. I have already spoken to them through my window. They took their hats off and made many signs, which, however, I could not understand.

I have written the letters. Mina’s letter is in shorthand. I have given the letters; I threw them through the bars of my window with a gold piece. The gypsy man who took them pressed them to his heart and bowed, and then put them in his cap. I could do no more.

The Count has come. He sat down beside me, and said in his smoothest voice as he opened two letters, “The gypsies have given me these letters. I do not know not whence they come, but I shall, of course, take care. See! One is from you, and to my friend Peter Hawkins. The other is not signed. Well!” And he calmly held letter and envelope in the flame of the lamp.

Then he went on, “I shall send, of course, the letter to Hawkins. Your letters are sacred to me.”

When he went out of the room I heard the key. The door was locked.

An hour or two after, the Count came quietly into the room. He was very courteous and very cheery, and he said, “So, my friend, you are tired? Get to bed.”

I passed to my room and went to bed, and slept without dreaming.

31 May. – This morning when I woke I decided to take some paper and envelopes from my bag and keep them in my pocket. But again a surprise, again a shock!

Every paper was gone, and with it all my notes, my memoranda, my letter of credit, in fact all that can be useful to me.

Moreover: the suit in which I had travelled was gone, and also my overcoat and rug…

17 June. – This morning the gypsies brought great, square boxes, with handles of thick rope. The boxes were packed in a great heap in one corner of the yard.

24 June, before morning. – Last night the Count left me early, and locked himself into his own room. Something is going on.

The gypsies are in the castle and are doing some work with the boxes.

When I watched from the window, it was a new shock to me. The Count put on my suit and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag! This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think.

In a couple of hours I heard something in the Count’s room, something like a sharp wail; and then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. I tried the door; but I was locked in my prison, and could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried.

I heard a sound in the courtyard – the agonized cry of a woman. I rushed to the window, and peered out between the bars. There, indeed, was a woman. She was holding her hands over her heart. She was leaning against a corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window, she threw herself forward, and shouted, “Monster, give me my child!”

She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the same words. Then she threw herself forward. Her naked hands were beating against the door.

Somewhere I heard the voice of the Count, his harsh, metallic whisper. Suddenly the wolves appeared… There was no cry from the woman. The wolves went away, licking their lips.

What shall I do? What can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful castle of night and gloom and fear?

25 June, morning. – I must take action. Last night one of my letters went to post, the first of that fatal series. Action! I have not yet seen the Count in the daylight. Does he sleep when others wake? I want to get into his room! But there is no possible way. The door is always locked, no way for me.

Yes, there is a way! He crawled from his window. Why can’t I imitate him? I shall risk it. God help me in my task! Goodbye, Mina, if I fail; goodbye, my faithful friend and second father; goodbye, all, and last of all Mina!

Same day, later. – I have made the effort, and have come safely back to this room. I got outside on the narrow ledge of stone which runs around the building. The stones are big and roughly cut. I took off my boots, I knew pretty well the direction and distance of the Count’s window. I did not feel dizzy – I suppose I was too excited – and the time seemed ridiculously short. I was filled with agitation.

I bent down and slid in through the window. Then I looked around for the Count, but, with surprise and gladness, made a discovery. The room was empty! The furniture was covered with dust. I looked for the key, but it was not in the lock, and I could not find it anywhere. The only thing I found was a great heap of gold in one corner – gold of all kinds, Roman, and British, and Austrian, and Hungarian, and Greek and Turkish money, covered with a film of dust. There were also chains and ornaments, all of them old and stained.

At one corner of the room was a heavy door. I tried it. It was open, and led through a stone passage to a circular stairway. I descended. At the bottom there was a dark, tunnel-like passage, through which came a deathly, sickly odour. At last I pulled open a heavy door, and found myself in an old, ruined chapel, which was used as a graveyard. There were great wooden boxes, those which the gypsies had brought. In two of these boxes I saw nothing except fragments of old coffins and piles of dust; in the third, however, I made a discovery.

There lay the Count! He was either dead or asleep – for his eyes were open and stony. I fled from the place, and left the Count’s room by the window, crawled again up the castle wall. In my room, I tried to think…

29 June. – Today is the date of my last letter. I came to the library, and read there till I fell asleep.

I was awakened by the Count. He said, “Tomorrow, my friend, we must part. You return to your beautiful England, I – to some work. We may never meet. In the morning my carriage will come for you, and will bring you to the Borgo Pass to meet the diligence from Bukovina to Bistritz. But I hope to see you again at Castle Dracula.”

“Why may I not go tonight?”

“Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away.”

“But I can walk with pleasure. I want to get away at once.”

He smiled, a soft, smooth, diabolical smile. He said, “And your baggage?”

“I do not care about it. I can send for it some other time.”

The Count stood up, and said, “Come with me, my dear young friend. Come!”

He, with the lamp, went down the stairs and along the hall. Suddenly he stopped.

“Hark!”

I heard the howling of many wolves. Their red jaws, with ugly teeth, came in through the opening door. I knew then that to struggle at the moment against the Count was useless. With such allies as these, I could do nothing. But still the door continued slowly to open. As a last chance I cried out, “Shut the door! I shall wait till morning”. And covered my face with my hands to hide my tears of bitter disappointment.

The Count shut the door. In silence we returned to the library, and after a minute or two I went to my own room. Count Dracula was smiling.

When I was in my room, I heard voices at my door. I went to it softly and listened. I heard the voice of the Count, “Back, back, to your own place! Your time is not yet come. Wait! Have patience! Tonight is mine. Tomorrow night is yours!”

In a rage I opened the door, and saw three terrible women licking their lips. They all joined in a horrible laugh, and ran away.

I came back to my room. It is then so near the end? Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Lord, help me, and those to whom I am dear!

30 June, morning. – These may be the last words I ever write in this diary. I slept till just before the dawn. I came down and drew back the massive bolts. But the door would not move. Despair seized me. I pulled, and pulled, at the door, and shook it. No luck. It was locked.

Where is the key? I decided to crawl the wall again and get to the Count’s room. It was empty, but that was as I expected. I could not see a key anywhere, but the heap of gold. I went through the door in the corner and down the winding stair and along the dark passage to the old chapel. I knew now well enough where to find the monster.

The great box was in the same place. There lay the Count, but he looked much younger than before. The white hair and moustache were changed to dark grey; the cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed red; the mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood. I stopped and looked at the Count. There was a mocking smile on the face. I must rid the world of such a monster. I seized a shovel, and lifted it high. But as I did so the head turned. The sight paralyzed me, and the shovel turned in my hand and glanced from the face. The shovel fell from my hand across the box, and as I pulled it away the edge of the lid moved and hid the horrid Count from my sight.

I ran from the place to the Count’s room and listened. I heard downstairs the grinding of the key in the great lock and the falling back of the heavy door. Then there came the sound of many feet. I turned and ran down again towards the vault, where I might find the new entrance. But alas! I was again a prisoner.

I am alone in the castle with those awful women. They are real devils! I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to crawl the castle wall. I shall take some of the gold with me. I may find a way from this dreadful place.

And then away for home! Away to the quickest and nearest train! Away from this cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his children still walk with earthly feet!

The precipice is steep and high. But it is better to try to escape than to stay here.

Goodbye, all! Mina!

Letter from Miss Mina Murray to Miss Lucy Westenra[58]58
  Lucy Westenra – Люси Вестенра


[Закрыть]

9 May.

My dearest Lucy,

I want to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely. Jonathan and I sometimes write letters in shorthand, and he is keeping a stenographic journal of his travels abroad. When I am with you I shall keep a diary in the same way. I shall try to do what I see journalists do: interviewing and writing. I will tell you of my little plans when we meet. I have just received a few lines from Jonathan from Transylvania. He is well, and will return in about a week. It’s ten o’clock. Goodbye.

Your loving

Mina

P. S. Tell me all the news when you write. I hear rumours, and especially of a tall, handsome, curly-haired man???

Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray

17, Chatham Street,

Wednesday.

My dearest Mina,

I have nothing to tell you. There is really nothing to interest for walks and rides in the park. As to[59]59
  as to – что касается


[Закрыть] the tall, curly-haired man, that is Mr. Holmwood.[60]60
  Holmwood – Холмвуд


[Закрыть] He often comes to see us.

We met some time ago a very interesting man. He is handsome and rich. He is a doctor and really clever. He is only nine-and-twenty, and he has his own lunatic asylum.[61]61
  lunatic asylum – психиатрическая больница


[Закрыть] Mr. Holmwood introduced him to me, and he often comes now. He seems absolutely imperturbable. Arthur is not against him. Oh, Arthur!

Mina, we have told all our secrets to each other since we were children; we have slept together and eaten together, and laughed and cried together. Oh, Mina, can you guess? I love him. Arthur. I think he loves me, too, although he has not told me so in words. But oh, Mina, I love him; I love him; I love him! Please, tell me all that you think about it.

Mina, I must stop. Goodnight. Bless me in your prayers; and, Mina, pray for my happiness.

Lucy

P. S. Of course, this is a secret. Goodnight again.

Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray

24 May.

My dearest Mina,

Thanks, and thanks, and thanks again for your sweet letter. My dear, I shall be twenty in September, and yet I never had a proposal[62]62
  I never had a proposal – мне никогда не делали предложения


[Закрыть] till today, not a real proposal, and today I have had three. Three proposals in one day! Isn’t it awful! I feel sorry, really and truly sorry, for two of the poor fellows. Oh, Mina, I am so happy that I don’t know what to do with myself. And three proposals!

Well, my dear, number One came just before lunch. I told you of him, Dr. John Seward,[63]63
  Dr. John Seward – доктор Джон Сьюворд


[Закрыть] the lunatic-asylum man,[64]64
  lunatic-asylum man – психиатр


[Закрыть] with the strong jaw and the good forehead. He was very cool outwardly, but was nervous all the same. He spoke to me, Mina, very straightforwardly.[65]65
  very straightforwardly – весьма прямолинейно


[Закрыть] He told me how dear I was to him. He said that he was my friend. My dear, I must stop here at present, I feel so miserable, though I am so happy.

24 May, evening.

Arthur has just gone, so I can go on. Well, my dear, number Two came after lunch. He is an American from Texas, and he looks young and fresh. Mr. Quincey P. Morris[66]66
  Mr. Quincey P. Morris – мистер Квинси П. Моррис


[Закрыть] telling us his stories, and Arthur never told any, and yet —

My dear, Mr. Morris is really well educated and has exquisite manners. He took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly, “Miss Lucy, you are an honest hearted girl, I know. Tell me, is there any one else that you love? And if there is I’ll be just a very faithful friend.”

My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little worthy of them? I was able to look into Mr. Morris’s brave eyes, and I told him, “Yes, there is some one I love.”

Ever your loving

Lucy.

P. S. Oh, about number Three – I needn’t tell you of number Three, need I? Besides, it was all so confused. When he entered the room, he kissed me. I am very, very happy, and I don’t know what I have done to deserve it. God Himself sent me such a lover, such a husband, and such a friend.

Goodbye.

Dr. Seward’s Diary

25 May. – No appetite today. I cannot eat, cannot rest. The only cure for this is work, so I went to the asylum. There is a patient there who is of great interest to me.

R. M. Renfield,[67]67
  R. M. Renfield – Р. М. Ренфилд


[Закрыть] 59. Sanguine temperament;[68]68
  sanguine temperament – сангвинический темперамент


[Закрыть] great physical strength; morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, fixed ideas.[69]69
  fixed ideas – навязчивые идеи


[Закрыть]

Mina Murray’s Journal

24 July. Whitby.[70]70
  Whitby – Уитби (город в английском графстве Норт-Йоркшир).


[Закрыть] – Lucy met me at the station, she looks sweeter and lovelier than ever. This is a lovely place. The little river, the Esk,[71]71
  the Esk – Эск (название реки)


[Закрыть] runs through a deep valley. The valley is beautifully green. The houses of the old town are all red-roofed; there is a legend that one can see a white lady in one of the windows. Between it and the town there is a church. This is the nicest spot in Whitby.

I shall go home at the moment. Lucy with her mother will be home soon.

1 August. – I came up here an hour ago with Lucy, and we had a most interesting talk with my old friend. Lucy looks sweetly pretty in her white dress; she has got a beautiful colour since she has been here. She is so sweet with old people; I think they all fell in love with her.

Lucy told me all over again about Arthur and their future marriage. That made me just a little sad, for I haven’t heard from Jonathan for a whole month.

Same day, later. – I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no letter for me. Where is Jonathan? Does he think of me?

Dr. Seward’s Diary

5 June. – The case of Renfield becomes more interesting. He has certain qualities; selfishness, secrecy, and purpose.[72]72
  purpose – здесь: целеустремлённость


[Закрыть] He has some scheme, but what it is I do not yet know. He loves animals and insects very much, though his love is very strange. Just now his hobby is catching flies. What will he do with them? I must watch him.

18 June. – He has turned to spiders, and has got several very big spiders in a box. He feeds them with his flies.

1 July. – He disgusted me much. While with him, a horrid fly came into the room, he caught it, held it for a few moments between his finger and thumb, and, before I knew what he was going to do, put it in his mouth and ate it. I scolded him for it, but he argued quietly that it was very good and very wholesome. He has evidently some deep problem in his mind, for he keeps a little notebook in which he is always writing down something. Whole pages of it are filled with figures.

8 July. – There is a method in his madness. He has managed to get a sparrow.[73]73
  he has managed to get a sparrow – ему удалось поймать воробья


[Закрыть] The spiders have diminished.

19 July. – We are progressing. My friend has now a whole colony of sparrows, and his flies and spiders almost disappeared. When I came in he ran to me and said he wanted to ask me a great favour – a very, very great favour. I asked him what it was, and he said, with a sort of rapture in his voice, “A kitten, a nice little, sleek playful kitten, I want to play with it, teach it, and feed it – and feed – and feed!”

I could see his face; there was a warning of danger in it, for there was a sudden fierce, sidelong look which meant killing. The man is a maniac.

20 July. – I visited Renfield very early. He was spreading out his sugar, which he had saved. I looked around for his birds, and did not see them. I asked him where they were. He replied that they had all flown away. There were a few feathers in the room and on his pillow a drop of blood. I said nothing.

20 July, 11 a.m. – The attendant said that Renfield was very sick and disgorged a whole lot of feathers. “I am sure, doctor,” he said, “that he has eaten his birds!”

Mina Murray’s Journal

26 July. – I am anxious. I am unhappy about Lucy and about Jonathan. I had not heard from Jonathan for some time; but yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins, who is always so kind, sent me a letter from him. It is only a line dated from Castle Dracula, and says that he is just starting for home. That is not like Jonathan; I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy. Then, too, Lucy, although she is so well, has lately taken to her old habit of walking in her sleep.[74]74
  old habit of walking in sleep – старая привычка ходить во сне


[Закрыть] Her mother has spoken to me about it, and we have decided that I must lock the door of our room every night. Mrs. Westenra is naturally anxious about Lucy, and she tells me that her husband, Lucy’s father, had the same habit.

27 July. – No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him. Lucy walks more than ever, and each night she moves about the room. Fortunately, the weather is so hot that she cannot get cold.

3 August. – Still no news from Jonathan, not even to Mr. Hawkins. Oh, I hope he is not ill. I look at his last letter, but somehow it does not satisfy me. I think it is not his letter writing. Lucy has not walked much in her sleep the last week, but even in her sleep she is watching me. She tries the door, and if it is locked, she goes about the room and searches for the key.

6 August. – Another three days, and no news. It is getting dreadful. Where to write? Where to go? No one has heard a word of Jonathan since that last letter. I must only pray to God for patience. Lucy is more excitable than ever.

One day the coastguard[75]75
  coastguard – охранник береговой службы


[Закрыть] came along, with his spyglass[76]76
  spyglass – подзорная труба


[Закрыть] under his arm. He stopped to talk with me, as he always does, but all the time he was looking at a strange ship.

“I can’t understand what ship it is,” he said. “Look there! Who is the captain? The ship changes about with every puff of wind.[77]77
  changes about with every puff of wind – меняет направление с каждым порывом ветра


[Закрыть] We’ll hear more of this ship before this time tomorrow.”

9 August. Whitby. – As to the strange ship… There was a dead man steering it. The man was simply fastened by his hands, tied one over the other, to a spoke of the wheel. It is a Russian ship, and is called the Demeter.[78]78
  Demeter – «Деметра» (название корабля)


[Закрыть] There were some great wooden boxes filled with mould on it. This cargo was consigned to a Whitby solicitor, Mr. S. F. Billington,[79]79
  Mr. S. F. Billington – мистер С. Ф. Биллингтон


[Закрыть] of 7, The Crescent,[80]80
  The Crescent – Кресент (улица в Лондоне)


[Закрыть] who this morning went aboard and took the boxes. There was a dog on the ship, but it ran away and nobody could find it.

Log of the Demeter[81]81
  Log of the Demeter – Судовой журнал «Деметры»


[Закрыть]

6 July. Varna to Whitby. – We finished taking in cargo, silver sand[82]82
  silver sand – серебристый песок


[Закрыть] and boxes of earth. East wind, fresh. Five sailors… two mates, cook, and myself (captain).

11 July. – At dawn entered Bosphorus.[83]83
  Bosphorus – Босфор (пролив между Европой и Малой Азией, соединяющий Чёрное море с Мраморным).


[Закрыть]

12 July. – Through Dardanelles.[84]84
  Dardanelles – Дарданеллы (пролив между европейским полуостровом Галлиполи и западной частью Малой Азии)


[Закрыть] At dark passed into Archipelago.

13 July. – Passed Cape Matapan.[85]85
  Cape Matapan – мыс Матапан


[Закрыть] Crew dissatisfied about something. Seemed scared.

14 July. – Somewhat anxious about crew. Something wrong; crew crossed themselves.[86]86
  to cross oneself – креститься


[Закрыть]

16 July. – One of crew, Petrofsky,[87]87
  Petrofsky – Петровский


[Закрыть] is missing. Could not find him. Men say that there was something aboard. Mate gets very impatient; feared some trouble ahead.

17 July. – Yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren,[88]88
  Olgaren – Олгарен


[Закрыть] came to my cabin, and in an awestruck told me that he thought there was a strange man aboard the ship. He said he saw a tall, thin man, who was not like any of the crew. That man went along the deck, and disappeared. He followed cautiously, but he found no one, and the hatchways were all closed. He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread.

We searched everywhere. There were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide. First mate scowled, but said nothing.

22 July. – Rough weather last three days – no time to be frightened. Passed Gibraltar.[89]89
  Gibraltar – Гибралтар (небольшое государство на юге Пиренейского полуострова)


[Закрыть] All well.

24 July. – Last night another man lost. Like the first, he came off his watch[90]90
  came off his watch – закончил свою вахту


[Закрыть] and disappeared. Men all in a panic of fear; ask to have double watch,[91]91
  to have double watch – нести вахту вдвоём


[Закрыть] as they fear to be alone. Mate angry. Fear there will be some trouble.

28 July. – Four days in hell, maelstrom, a tempest. No sleep for any one. Men all worn out.

29 July. – Another tragedy. Second mate disappeared. Thorough search, but found no one. We are now without second mate, and crew in a panic.

30 July. – Last night. We are near England. Weather is fine. Slept soundly;[92]92
  slept soundly – спал крепко


[Закрыть] awaked by mate. He said that both man of watch and steersman were missing. Only myself and mate and two hands sailors left.

1 August. – Two days of fog. Mate now demoralized.

2 August, midnight. – Could see nothing in fog. Rushed on deck. No sign of man on watch. One more gone.[93]93
  One more gone. – Пропал ещё один.


[Закрыть] Lord, help us! Only God can guide us in the fog, which moves with us.

3 August. – I did not find the man at the wheel. After a few seconds he rushed up on deck in his flannels.[94]94
  in his flannels – в нижнем белье


[Закрыть] He looked haggard. He came close to me and whispered hoarsely, with his mouth to my ear, “It is here; I know it now. On the watch last night I saw It, like a man, tall and thin, and ghastly pale. I crept behind It, and gave It my knife;[95]95
  gave It my knife – ударил Его своим ножом


[Закрыть] but the knife went through It, empty as the air.” And as he spoke he took his knife and drove it savagely into space. Then he went on, “But It is here, and I’ll find It. It is perhaps in one of those boxes. I’ll open them and see.” He is mad, stark, raving mad. He can’t hurt those big boxes: they are marked as “clay”. So here I stay, and write these notes. I can only trust in God and wait till the fog clears.

The mate ran up on the deck. “Save me! Save me!” he cried, and then looked round. His horror turned to despair, and in a steady voice he said, “Come with me too, captain, before it is too late. He is there. I know the secret now. The sea will save me from Him!” Before I could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea. I suppose I know the secret too, now. It was this madman who had killed the men one by one,[96]96
  one by one – одного за другим


[Закрыть] and now he has followed them himself. God help me! When I get to port! Will that ever be?

4 August. – Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce. I know there is sunrise because I am a sailor. I dared not leave the helm; so here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the night I saw It – Him! God forgive me, but the mate was right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man; to die like a sailor in blue water. But I am captain, and I must not leave my ship. But I shall baffle this fiend or monster, for I shall tie my hands to the wheel, and along with them I shall tie that which He – It! – dare not touch: the cross; and then, I shall save my soul, and my honour as a captain. I am growing weaker, and the night is coming on. If He can look me in the face again, I may not have time to act…