around my neck I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual If this book should ever reach Mina before I do let it bring my good-bye Here comes the coach May 5 The Castle When I got on the coach I saw the driver talking with the lady Every now and then they looked at me Some of the people sitting on a bench outside the door came and listened I could hear a lot of words repeated strange words I quietly got my dictionary from my bag and looked them up I must say they were not cheering to me Among them were Satan hell witch and something that is either werewolf or vampire I must ask the Count about these superstitions When we started the crowd round the door all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fi ngers towards me With some diffi culty I got a fellow passenger to tell me what they meant 8
The fellow explained it was a charm against the evil eye This was not very pleasant for me but everyone seemed so kindhearted Our driver cracked his big whip over his four small horses and we set off on our journey The road was rugged but still we seemed to fl y over it with a feverish haste The only stop the driver would make was a moment’s pause to light his lamps When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement among the passengers They kept speaking to the driver as though urging him to more speed The crazy coach rocked on its leather springs and swayed like a boat tossed on a stormy sea We were nearing the Borgo Pass We could now see the sandy road lying white before us Among a chorus of screams from the peasants a carriage came up behind and pulled up beside the coach The horses were driven by a tall man with a long brown beard and a tall black hat I could 9
only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes which seemed red in the lamplight Give me the Herr’s luggage said the driver With great speed my bags were handed out and put into the carriage Then off the coach swept on their way to Bukovina A cloak was thrown over my shoulders and a rug across my knees Mein Herr my master the Count bade me take all care of you The carriage went at a hard pace straight along Soon we were hemmed in by trees It grew colder and fi ne powdery snow began to fall The baying of wolves sounded nearer and nearer as though they were closing round on us from all sides A dreadful fear came upon me I was afraid to speak or move We kept on ascending Then I realized the driver was pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle 10
chapter 2 Jonathan Harker’s Journal May 5 When the carriage stopped the driver jumped down and held out his hand to assist me His hand seemed like a steel vice that could have crushed mine He took out my luggage and put them on the ground beside me As I stood the driver jumped again into his seat and shook the reins Carriage and all disappeared down a dark opening I did not know what to do There was no sign of bell or knocker on the great old door Was this normal in the life of a lawyer’s clerk sent to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner There was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of bolts drawn back The great door swung back A tall old man with a long 11
