September 6
My dear Art,
I’m afraid today’s news is not as good as I had hoped. Lucy was weaker again this morning.
Still, something useful came from it. Mrs. Westenra was naturally worried about Lucy, so she came to me for medical advice. I took the opportunity to tell her that my old teacher, Professor Van Helsing, the famous specialist, was coming to stay with me. I said that he and I would take care of Lucy together.
That will allow us to come and go without making her suspicious or frightened. A serious shock could kill her because of her heart condition, and Lucy’s present weakness makes the danger even greater.
We are all surrounded by difficulties, my dear old friend. But, God willing, we will somehow get through them.
If I need you, I will write. If you hear nothing from me, assume that I am simply waiting for more information.
Yours always,
John Seward
September 7
The first thing Van Helsing asked me when we met at Liverpool Street was:
“Have you told our young friend, the man who loves her?”
“No,” I replied. “I waited until I had spoken with you, just as I said in my telegram. I only wrote to tell him that you were coming because Miss Westenra was not doing well. I said I would let him know if there was anything he needed to know.”
“Good, my friend. Very good!” he said. “It is better that he does not know yet. Perhaps he never needs to know. I pray that will be so. But if the time comes, then we tell him everything.”
He paused, then looked at me seriously.
“John, you work with people who are not in their right minds. In one way or another, all people are a little mad. You know how to deal with your patients. You do not tell them everything you are doing or why you are doing it. You do not tell them every thought in your head.
“Treat ordinary people the same way. Sometimes knowledge must be kept safe until the right moment.”
He touched his chest, then his forehead, and then did the same to himself.
“I have some ideas already. Later, I will explain them to you.”
“Why not now?” I asked. “Knowing what you suspect might help us decide what to do.”
Van Helsing stopped and looked at me.
“My friend John, have you ever watched a farmer grow corn?”
“Yes.”
“When the corn is still green and not yet ripe, the farmer does not pull it out of the ground just to see whether it is growing. He waits.”
I stared at him, not quite understanding.
He reached over and playfully tugged my ear, just as he used to do during our old lectures.
“A good farmer knows what he has planted. He does not dig it up every day to check. That is what children do when they play at farming.
“I have planted my corn. Now Nature must do her work. If it begins to grow, that gives us hope. I will wait until the ear begins to swell before I judge the harvest.”
He stopped when he saw that I finally understood.
Then his expression became serious again.
“You were always a careful student, John. Your case notes were fuller than anyone else’s. You were a student then. Now you are the doctor in charge, and I hope you have kept that habit.
“Remember this: knowledge is stronger than memory. We must trust written records more than what we think we remember.
“This young lady’s case may be very important. I say may be. It could teach us something that will matter not only to us, but to others.
“So write everything down. Nothing is too small. Record even your doubts and guesses. One day, you may discover that one of your guesses was correct.
“We learn from our mistakes more than from our successes.”
I told him that Lucy’s symptoms were the same as before, only much worse.
He became very serious but said nothing.
He had brought a large medical bag filled with instruments and medicines. He had once jokingly called such equipment “the horrible tools of our useful profession.”
When we entered the house, Mrs. Westenra came to meet us. She was clearly worried, though not nearly as frightened as I had expected.
Nature seemed to be protecting her in a strange way. Even the terrible change in her daughter did not seem to affect her as deeply as it should have. It was almost as though her mind had wrapped itself in a layer of numbness to protect her from something too painful to face.
Perhaps that was why I decided she should spend as little time thinking about Lucy’s illness as possible.
I explained that she should not stay with Lucy unless absolutely necessary.
She agreed immediately.
Once again, I felt that strange instinct of nature trying to protect her from the truth.
Van Helsing and I went upstairs.
The moment I saw Lucy, I was horrified.
She looked even worse than the day before.
Her skin was as white as chalk. There was almost no color left in her lips or gums. Her face had become painfully thin, and the bones stood out beneath her skin.
Even her breathing was difficult to watch.
Van Helsing’s face hardened. His eyebrows drew together until they nearly met.
Lucy lay motionless.
She did not seem to have enough strength even to speak.
For a moment, none of us said anything.
Then Van Helsing motioned for me to follow him.
We quietly left the room.
The moment the door closed, he hurried to the next room and pulled me inside.
“My God!” he whispered. “This is terrible. We have no time to lose.”
He looked at me urgently.
“She is dying because she has lost too much blood. Her heart cannot keep working properly without it. We must give her blood immediately.”
He looked directly at me.
“Will it be you or me?”
“I’m younger and stronger, Professor. It should be me.”
“Then prepare yourself. I will bring my equipment. I am ready.”
We went downstairs.
Just as we reached the hall, someone knocked at the front door.
The maid opened it.
Arthur rushed inside.
“Jack!” he whispered anxiously. “I was terribly worried. I could tell from your letter that something was wrong. I’ve been in agony.
“My father is doing better, so I came here to see Lucy myself.”
Then he noticed Van Helsing.
“Is that Professor Van Helsing? Sir, I’m so grateful that you came.”
At first, Van Helsing had been irritated by the interruption.
But as he looked at Arthur’s strong young body, his expression changed.
He held out his hand.
“You have arrived at exactly the right time.”
Arthur stared at him.
“You are the man who loves our dear Lucy. She is very ill. Very, very ill.”
Arthur suddenly went pale and nearly collapsed into a chair.
Van Helsing caught him with his eyes.
“My boy, do not lose courage. You are here to help her. You may be able to do more for her than anyone else.”
“What can I do?” Arthur asked hoarsely. “Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
He clenched his fists.
“My life belongs to her. I would give every drop of blood in my body for her.”
Van Helsing smiled faintly.
“My young friend, I do not ask for quite that much. Not every drop!”
Arthur looked at him impatiently.
“What do you want me to do?”
There was determination burning in his eyes.
Van Helsing put a hand on his shoulder.
“Come. You are a strong young man, and that is exactly what we need.”
Arthur looked confused.
Van Helsing explained.
“Lucy needs blood. Without it, she will die.
“John and I were preparing to perform a blood transfusion. John was going to give his blood because he is younger and stronger than I am.”
Arthur immediately took my hand and squeezed it.
“But now that you are here, you are the better choice. You are young, strong, and full of life. We doctors spend too much time thinking and working. Our strength is not what it once was.”
Arthur looked at him.
“If you only knew how willingly I would die for her, you would understand.”
His voice broke.
Van Helsing nodded.
“Good boy. One day, you will be glad you did everything you could for the woman you love.
“Come now. Say nothing. You may kiss her once before the operation begins. Then you must leave when I tell you.
“And do not say anything to Mrs. Westenra. You understand what her condition is. Any shock could be dangerous.”
We went upstairs.
Arthur remained outside the room as Van Helsing had instructed.
Lucy turned her head toward us.
She was awake, but she was too weak to speak.
Her eyes were the only way she could communicate with us.
Van Helsing took several things from his bag and placed them on a small table out of Lucy’s sight.
Then he prepared a sedative.
He approached the bed with a cheerful expression.
“Now, little miss, here is your medicine. Drink it all like a good girl.”
He gently helped her sit up.
“I’ll hold you so you can swallow it easily.”
Lucy managed to drink it.
I was surprised by how long the medicine took to work.
Then I realized what that meant.
Lucy was so weak that even the drug took a long time to affect her.
At last, her eyelids began to grow heavy.
Soon she fell into a deep sleep.
When Van Helsing was satisfied, he called Arthur into the room.
“Take off your coat.”
Arthur obeyed.
Then Van Helsing smiled.
“You may give her one little kiss while I prepare the table.”
He turned to me.
“John, help me.”
Neither of us looked toward Arthur as he bent over Lucy.
Then Van Helsing turned to me.
“He is young and strong, and his blood is very healthy. We do not need to treat it before using it.”
He began the transfusion.
Everything was done quickly and carefully.
As Arthur’s blood flowed into Lucy, a little color slowly returned to her cheeks.
Arthur, however, became paler and paler.
Even though he was strong, I could see the blood loss beginning to weaken him.
It made me realize just how much Lucy must have suffered. What drained Arthur so badly only brought Lucy back from the edge of death.
Van Helsing watched both of them carefully, checking the time and observing their condition.
Then he quietly said:
“Do not move. It is enough.”
I wanted to protest.
“You took much more from Arthur.”
Van Helsing gave me a sad smile.
“He is her lover and fiancé. You have much work ahead of you, for her and for others. This amount is enough for now.”
We stopped the transfusion.
Van Helsing turned his attention to Lucy while I pressed my fingers against the wound in my own arm.
I lay down because I felt weak and slightly sick.
After a while, Van Helsing bandaged my wound and told me to go downstairs for some wine.
As I left the room, he followed me and spoke quietly.
“Remember, no one must know about this.”
He paused.
“If the young lover comes back unexpectedly, as he did before, do not tell him anything. It would frighten him and might make him suspicious. We must avoid that.”
When I returned, he looked me over carefully.
“You are not badly affected. Go into the other room and rest on the sofa. Then eat a good breakfast and come back.”
I followed his instructions.
I knew he was right.
I had done my part. Now I needed to regain my strength.
I was extremely weak, and as I lay there, I kept wondering how Lucy could have become so much worse.
How could she have lost so much blood without leaving any obvious evidence?
Eventually, I fell asleep.
Even in my dreams, my thoughts returned to the strange little wounds on Lucy’s throat.
Those two tiny punctures.
The edges looked ragged and exhausted, as if something had repeatedly irritated them.
I could not stop thinking about them.
Lucy slept well into the day.
When she woke, she was fairly strong and seemed much better, though she was not as healthy as she had been the day before.
After examining her, Van Helsing went outside for a walk.
Before leaving, he gave me strict instructions.
“You must not leave her alone for even a moment.”
I heard him asking someone downstairs where the nearest telegraph office was.
Lucy talked with me quite freely.
She seemed completely unaware that anything unusual had happened.
I tried to keep her cheerful and occupied.
Later, her mother came to see her.
She did not seem to notice any obvious change in Lucy.
Instead, she turned to me with a grateful smile.
“Dr. Seward, we owe you so much for everything you have done. But you must take care of yourself now. You look pale.
“You really need a wife to look after you.”
Lucy immediately turned bright red.
The color lasted only a moment.
Her weakened body could not handle even that small rush of blood.
She quickly became pale again and looked at me pleadingly.
I smiled and nodded.
Then I touched my finger to my lips.
Lucy sighed and sank back against her pillows.
Van Helsing returned a couple of hours later.
He looked at me.
“Now you go home. Eat well and drink enough. You must regain your strength.
“I will stay here tonight and sit with little miss myself.
“You and I must continue watching this case, and no one else must know about it.”
He became very serious.
“I have good reasons for saying this.”
“Can you tell me what they are?”
“No. Do not ask.”
He looked directly at me.
“Think whatever you wish. Do not be afraid to consider even the most unlikely possibility.”
Then he nodded.
“Good night.”
As I went downstairs, two of the maids stopped me.
“Doctor, could one of us stay with Miss Lucy tonight?”
They begged me to allow it.
I explained that Professor Van Helsing wanted either him or me to stay with her.
The women pleaded with me to persuade the “foreign gentleman” to change his mind.
Their concern touched me deeply.
Perhaps I was more emotional because of my own weakness. Perhaps it was because Lucy inspired such devotion.
Whatever the reason, I had seen many examples of this kind of kindness from women.
I returned home in time for a late dinner.
Everything was quiet during my rounds, so I wrote these notes while waiting for sleep.
I can feel it coming.
September 11
I went to Hillingham this afternoon.
Van Helsing was in excellent spirits, and Lucy looked much better.
Soon after I arrived, a large package from abroad was delivered to the Professor.
He opened it with great ceremony and revealed a huge bundle of white flowers.
“These are for you, Miss Lucy,” he said.
“For me?” Lucy exclaimed. “Oh, Professor!”
“Yes, my dear. But they are not for playing with. They are medicine.”
Lucy immediately made a face.
Van Helsing laughed.
“Do not worry. You do not have to drink them. So there is no need to wrinkle that pretty nose.”
He smiled mischievously.
“If Arthur were here, I would have to warn him that he might see that beautiful nose become even more distorted.”
Lucy laughed.
“These flowers will help you sleep. I will put some around your window and make a wreath for you to wear around your neck.
“They will bring you peaceful sleep and help you forget your troubles.”
Lucy picked up the flowers and smelled them.
Then she suddenly dropped them.
“Professor, are you joking with me? These are just ordinary garlic!”
To my surprise, Van Helsing became extremely stern.
“No joking! I never joke about things like this.”
His jaw tightened.
“Everything I do has a serious purpose. Do not interfere with me. Be careful, for your own sake and for the sake of others.”
Lucy looked frightened.
Van Helsing immediately softened.
“Oh, little miss, do not be afraid of me. I am only trying to help you.
“These ordinary flowers have great value. I will put them around your room myself and make a wreath for you.”
He lowered his voice.
“But do not tell anyone about this. People ask too many questions.”
He looked at her kindly.
“We must obey, and keeping silent is part of obeying.
“Obedience will help make you strong again, so you can return to the arms of the man who loves you.”
Then he turned to me.
“Come, John. Help me decorate the room with my garlic.”
He explained that the garlic had been sent from Haarlem, where his friend Vanderpool grew it in greenhouses throughout the year.
“I had to send a telegram yesterday to get it here so quickly.”
We carried the flowers into Lucy’s room.
Van Helsing’s actions were strange—far stranger than anything I had ever seen in a medical textbook.
First, he closed and secured the windows.
Then he took handfuls of garlic and rubbed it all around the window frames.
He made sure the smell covered every place where air might enter.
Next, he rubbed garlic along the entire doorframe, above, below, and on both sides.
He even rubbed it around the fireplace.
The whole thing seemed almost ridiculous to me.
Finally, I said:
“Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this is certainly difficult to understand.
“If there were a skeptic here, he might think you were casting some kind of spell to keep an evil spirit out.”
Van Helsing quietly replied:
“Perhaps I am.”
Then he began making the garlic wreath that Lucy was supposed to wear.
We waited while Lucy prepared for bed.
Once she was lying down, Van Helsing carefully placed the wreath around her neck.
His final instructions were serious.
“Do not disturb it. And even if the room feels stuffy, do not open the window or the door tonight.”
“I promise,” Lucy said.
Then she smiled at us.
“And thank you both a thousand times for everything you have done for me. I do not know what I have done to deserve such wonderful friends.”
Later, Van Helsing and I left the house together.
As we climbed into my waiting carriage, he seemed completely confident.
“Tonight I can finally sleep peacefully. I need it badly.
“I have spent two nights traveling, reading during the day, worrying about this case, and staying awake all night.
“Tomorrow morning, you come for me early. Then we will return together and see our pretty little patient.
“She will be much stronger because of my little ‘spell.’”
He laughed.
“Ho! Ho!”
His confidence made me uneasy.
Two nights earlier, I had felt just as confident myself.
And then Lucy had nearly died.
For some reason, I could not shake the feeling that something terrible was still waiting for us.