Jona!

an Harker’s Diary

y story begins about seven years ago, in 1875. My name

is Jonathan Harker, and I live and work in London. My job
is to buy and sell houses for other people. One a day a
letter arrived for me from a very rich man who lived in
Transylvania. He wanted to buy a house in England and he
needed (necesitaba) my help. The man was Count Dracula, and I
agreed (aceptar; estar de acuerdo) to help him.

I found a house for him, and he asked me to take all the papers for it
to Transylvania. I was not very pleased about this. I was planning to
get married (casarse) in the autumn, and I did not want to leave my
beautiful Mina.

‘But you must go, Jonathan,’ she said. ‘The Count is rich, and perhaps
(quizás) he will give you more work later.’

So I agreed to go. I did not know then of the terrible danger which
waited (esperar) for me in Transylvania.

And so, on 4th May I arrived at a little town called Bistritz. Transylvania
was a strange and beautiful country. There were mountains, trees and
rivers everywhere (por todos lados). And somewhere high in the
mountains was the Count’s home, Castle Dracula.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 1

I had six hours to wait before the coach (carroza) came to take me The coach travelled up into the mountains. Higher and higher it went,
there, so I went into a little hotel. Inside the hotel it was warm and faster and faster, the sun was bright, but above the trees there was
friendly. The people there were all laughing and talking. snow on the mountain tops (cima). Then suddenly the sun went down
behind the mountains and everywhere was dark. In the forest around
ʻWhere are you going?’ they us, the wolves were howling (aullando). It was a terrible sound.
asked me.
Suddenly the coach stopped. A small carriage came down the narrow
‘To Castle Dracula,’ (estrecho) road on the right. Four black horses were pulling it, and the
I replied. driver was dressed in black, with a black hat pulled down over his face.

Suddenly (de repente) the ‘Where’s the Englishman?’ he called. ‘I’ve come from Castle Dracula!’
room was silent and everyone
turned to look at me. I could He looked strange, standing there in the moonlight (luz de la luna), and
not understand why they all suddenly I was afraid. But it was too late. I could not go back
looked afraid (asustado). (regresar) now.

‘Don’t go there,’ someone Soon (pronto) we were on our way to Castle Dracula. The mountains
said. were all around us and the moon was behind black clouds. I could see
nothing – but I cold still hear the wolves. The horses went faster and
‘But I have to,’ I answered. ‘It’s faster, and the driver laughed wildly.
business.’
Suddenly the carriage stopped. I opened the door and got out. At once
They began to talk again, buy the carriage drove away (se marchó) and I was alone in front of the
they were no longer (ya no) laughing. Slowly the hotel keeper’s (dueño dark (oscuro), silent castle. I stood there, looking up at it, and slowly,
del hotel) wife took the gold cross from her neck and put into my the big wooden door opened. A tall man stood in front of me. His hair
hand. ‘Take this,’ she said. ‘There is danger at Castle Dracula. Perhaps was white he was dressed in black from head to foot.
this will help you.’
‘Come in, Mr Harker,’ he said. ‘I am Count Dracula,’ He held out
When the coach arrived and I got into it, a crowd of people came to (extender) his hand and I took it. It was as cold as ice!!
watch, and I heard the word ‘vampire’.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 2

 I went into the castle and the ‘Go anywhere in the castle,’ it said, ‘but some of the rooms are locked.
Count carefully locked the door Do not try to go into these rooms.’
behind me. He put the key into his
pocket and turned to go upstairs When the Count came back in the evening, he wanted to know all
(hacia arriba). I followed him, and about his new house in England.
we came to a room where a wood
fire (chimenea) burned brightly. In ‘Well,’ I began, ‘it’s a very big house, old and dark, with a high wall
front of it there was a little table (muro) round it. There are trees everywhere. That’s why the house is
with food and drink on it. dark. It has a little church too.’ And I showed him some pictures of it.

The Count asked (pedir) me to sit He was pleased about the church. ‘Ah, so I shall be near the dead.’
down and eat, but he did not eat
with me. Later, we sat and talked We talked for a long time and once I fell asleep. I woke up suddenly and
by the fire. His English was very found the Count’s face near me. The smell (olor)which came from him
good, and while we talked, I had was terrible. It was the smell of death.
time to look at him carefully (atentamente). His face was very white, ‘You’re tired,’ the Count said. ‘Go to bed now.’ And when he smiled, his
his ears were like the ears of a cat, and his teeth were strong like the face was the face of a wolf.
teeth of an animal. There was hair on his hands and his fingers were
very long. When he touched me, I was afraid. Our business (negocio) was now finished. The Count had all the papers
for his new house, and there was nothing to keep me (mantenerme) in
It was nearly morning when I went to bed, and outside, the wolves Transylvania or in Count Dracula, but the Count did not want me to
were still howling. leave. I was alone with him in the castle, but I never saw him in the
daytime (a la luz del día). I only saw him at night when he came and
The next morning I found my breakfast on the little table in front of sat with me. We always talked until the morning and he asked me
the fire. Now that it was light, I could see that Castle Dracula was old many questions about England. ‘I have plans to go there myself soon,’
and dirty. I saw no servants all that day. he said. ‘Tell me about sending (enviar) things to England by ship.’ So
we talked about ships and the sea, and I thought about Mina, and her
The Count did not come to breakfast, but there was a letter from him friend Lucy.
on the table.
Lucy and her mother were staying by the sea, and Mina was planning
to visit them there some time. Stupidly, I told the Count about them.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 3

There was no mirror in my bedroom, but I had one with me, a present knew that the Count planned to read it. I could not tell Mr Hawkin that
from Mina. One morning I was standing in front of it and I was shaving I was a prisoner in Count Dracula!
(afeitarse). Suddenly a hand touched me and a voice said, ‘Good That evening the Count did not stay and talk with me, but before he
morning.’ The Count was standing next to me. He was standing next to left the room, he turned (dirigirse) to me and said. ‘My young friend,
me, but I could not see him in the mirror! sleep only in this room or your bedroom. You must never fall asleep in
any other room in the castle. You will be in danger if you do.’
My hand shook (temblar) and I cut myself. Blood began to run down
my face and I saw that Count Dracula was watching it hungrily. When he left, I went to my room, but I could not rest and began to
Suddenly he put out his hand. He had a wild (salvaje) look in his eyes, walk round the castle. Many of the doors were locked, but I found one
and I was afraid. But his hand touched the gold cross at my neck and which was open. I pushed back (empujé) the door and saw that there
his face changed. He took the mirror from me, went to the window, was a window in the room. It was a
and a minute later the mirror was lying in a thousand pieces far below. beautiful night and the mountains looked wonderful in the soft yellow
He did not speak, but he left the room quickly. And I stood there, and light of the moon.
asked myself why I could not see this man in the mirror.
Suddenly, something moved below me. It was the Count. Slowly, he
I went over to the window and looked out. I was high above the came out of the window – first those hands, like the hands of an
ground. Many of the doors in the castle were locked. Suddenly, I animal, and then his head. He began to move down the wall, head first.
understood. I was a prisoner! With his black cloak (capa) around him, he looked like a horrible black
bird – and my blood ran cold. What was Count Dracula?

I shivered (temblé), and sat down for a minute. The room was warm
and friendly. I think that many years ago it was a room for the ladies of
the castle, and I decided not to go back to my cold, dark room, but to
ne evening the Count said, ‘You must write to your London sleep in this room. So I lay down and closed my eyes.
office and tell Mr Hawkin that you’ll be here for another
month.’ Suddenly I felt that I was not alone. In the moonlight from the window I
saw three beautiful young women. They were watching me, and talking
When I heard this, I went cold. Another month! But what could I do? I quietly. ‘He is young and strong,’ one of them said.
worked for Mr Hawkin, and the Count’s business was important to him,
so if the Count needed me, then I had to stay. I wrote my letter, but I ‘Yes. There are kisses for all of us,’ another answered.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 4

I was excited and afraid. I knew that I wanted those soft (suave) red try to escape. But the Count took away all my other clothes and my
mouths to touch me. travel papers, and he locked the door of my room.

One of the women came nearer. Her strong white teeth touched my A week or two later, I heard noises (ruido) in the castle, the sound of
neck. I closed my eyes and waited. ‘Kiss me! Kiss me!’ I thought. men working. ‘Perhaps one of them will take a letter out of the castle
for me,’ I thought.
Suddenly there was a cry of anger. It was the Count! He pulled the But it was too late! It was already June 29th, and that evening from my
woman away from me, and her bright blue eyes turned red with a wild window I saw the Count leave the castle, with my letter to Mina in his
anger. I looked at the Count and his eyes were burning with all the fires hand. He was going to post it! I knew that I must do something before
of hell. it was too late.

‘Get off him!’ ‘He’s not for you! Stay away from him.’ A second later, Vampires can only come out at night, so I knew that there was no
the women were no longer there. They did not leave by the door, but danger during the day. The next morning I decided to visit the Count’s
they were no longer there! room to see what I could find. To do this I had to get into it by the
window. This was possible because his room was just below my
I remember no more of that night. When I woke (despertar), I was in bedroom, and there were little holes (agujero) in the wall between the
bed in my room. My gold cross lay on the table next to me, bright in stones. I could put my feet in these, and I could use the heavy curtains
the morning sun. from my window to hold onto (agarrarse). It was dangerous, but I had
I knew then that those women were vampires, and that they wanted to try.
my blood.
Slowly I moved down the wall. Once or twice I almost fell, but at last I
Two nights later, the Count came to me. ‘Write to Mina,’ he said. ‘Tell found myself in the Count’s bedroom.
her that your work in Transylvania is finished and that you are coming
home.’ The room was empty. The Count was not there. I looked for the castle
keys, but I could not find them. Over in one corner of the room there
How pleased I was when I heard this! But then the Count said, ‘Say that was some gold, and on the other side of the room there was a big
you are at Bistritz, and put June 29th on the letter.’ wooden (de madera) door. It was open and I saw that there were some
stairs going down. I went down them, and I came to another door. This
I shivered when he said this. I knew then the Count planned to kill me was open too, and I found myself in a room with a stone floor. Slowly, I
on that day. What could I do? There was nothing. I could only wait and looked around me. There were about fifty wooden boxes in the room.
They were coffins (ataúd), and they were full of earth. In one of them

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 5

lay the Count! I could not say if he was dead or asleep (dormido). His Just then I heard the sound of voices. The workmen were going back. I
eyes were open and looked cold and stony, but his face did not look hurried back upstairs to the Count’s room. Below, I heard the noise of
like the face of an old man. His lips (labio) were still very red, but he a key. The workmen were opening a door. So there was another door
did not move. Slowly I went nearer. I thought perhaps that he had the to the outside down there! I listened carefully, and heard the sound of
key castles on him. But when I looked at those cold, stony eyes, my hammers. They were
blood ran cold. Afraid, I turned and ran back to the window. I did not getting the coffins ready
stop to think until I was back in my room. (preparar) for a journey –
perhaps to England. I
That night the Count came to me again. ‘Tomorrow you will return to remembered the Count’s
England,’ he said – and I knew that tomorrow was the day of my death. words about his plans to
visit my country.
I lay down (tumbarse) on my bed, but I did not sleep very well. During
the night I heard women’s voices outside my door, and then the Count, I turned to run back
saying, ‘Wait, your time has not yet come. Tomorrow night – you can downstairs, to find this
have him them.’ The women laughed, a low, sweet (dulce) sound, and I open door. But I was too
shook with fear. late. A cold wind ran
through the castle and,
Morning came at last, and I was still alive (vivo). ‘I must escape,’ I with a crash, the door at
thought. But first I had to get the keys. Once again, I went down the the top of the stairs
wall and into the Count’s room. I ran down the stairs, to the room with (escalera) closed and
the coffins. locked itself. I could not get back down the stairs.

The Count was there, in his coffin, but he looked younger and his hair Soon I saw from the window the heavy carts full of coffins, and the
was no longer white. There was blood on his mouth, which ran down workmen drove away. I was alone in the castle with those terrible
across his neck. My hands were shaking, but I had to touch him, to look vampire women.
for the keys. I felt all over his body, but they weren’t there. Suddenly I
wanted to kill Count Dracula. I took a workman’s hammer (martillo), While I was writing these words in my diary, I decided what to do. I
and began to bring it down hard on to that horrible, smiling face. But must try to escape. I shall try to get down the wall outside. The
just then the head turned and the Count’s burning eyes looked at me. window is high above the ground, but I have to try. I shall take some of
His bloody mouth smiled more horribly than ever. I dropped (soltar) the the gold with me – if I escape, perhaps it will be helpful (útil) later.
hammer and stood there, shaking. What could I do now?

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 6

 If I die, it will be better than the death that waits for me here. Lucy met (recibir) me at the station, and it was wonderful to see her
Goodbye, Mina! Will I ever see you again? again. She was full of life and talked happily of her plans. ‘Oh, Mina,’
she said to me. ‘I am really happy. I love Arthur very much.’

Mina’s Story
But sometimes it was hard for me, because when Lucy talked of
Arthur, I thought of Jonathan again.
The weather was good and Lucy and I walked a lot, sometimes by the
sea, but we often went up to the old church on the hill (colina).

At night, Lucy and I slept in one room, but sometimes she walked in
hile Jonathan was away, I was very unhappy. He did not
her sleep. She began to sleep badly, and her mother and I decided to
write to me often, and when he did, his letters were
lock the bedroom door at night.
strange and very short. I knew that something was
wrong (ir mal). But what? Was Jonathan in danger? I
Then one day the weather changed. The sky was black and heavy, and
thought about him all the time. Why didn’t he come back to England
that night there was a terrible storm (tormenta). Lucy was very
and to me?
excited (nerviosa) by it, and she sat by the window all night and
watched the sea.
I felt better when, at last (por fin), I did get a letter from him.
Jonathan said that he was coming home and was at Bistritz. But again
The next morning there was a ship on the beach.
it was a short, strange letter. ‘Perhaps he’s ill,’ I thought.
‘It’s a Russian ship, from Varna on the Black Sea (Mar Negro),’ Lucy’s
servant told us. ‘There are coffins on it, and they’re full of earth. And a
My friend, Lucy, also wrote to me. ‘I know that you will be happy for
big black dog jumped off the ship and ran up the hill!’
me,’ she wrote. ‘Arthur has asked me to marry him! Isn’t it wonderful?
‘And is everyone on the ship alive?’ Lucy asked.
I love him very much. He’s away just now, and you know that Mother
and I are staying at Whitby, by the sea. Please come and stay with us,
‘That’s the strange thing about it,’ the servant replied. ‘There was no
and I can tell you all about it.’
one on the ship, either dead or alive.’
Everybody in the town was very excited by this strange ship, but there
Arthur Holmwood loved Lucy very much. I was really pleased to hear
were no answers to the mystery. And nobody saw the big black dog
her news and I decided to go immediately. And it would help me not to
again.
think about Jonathan all the time.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 7

That night I woke up and found that the bedroom door was open and (con el paso de los días). He did not want to talk about his time in
Lucy was not there. I looked for her everywhere in the house, but I Castle Dracula, but he gave me his diary to read. And so I learn about
could not find her. ‘I’m afraid for her, I don’t know why,’ I said to her Count Dracula and Jonathan’ terrible adventure in the castle. But he
mother. escaped! And when he fell ill in the mountains, some workmen found
him and took him to the hospital. Poor Jonathan! His face was white
I knew that Lucy sometimes liked to go and sit quietly in the and thin, and he was still very afraid, but now we were together again
churchyard (cementerio), so I hurried out (darse prisa) into the night and everything was all right.
to look for her. She was sitting in the churchyard, white in the
moonlight, and I thought I saw something dark behind her – something Jonathan and I were married on September 1st, and then we began our
dark and horrible. Slowly, its head moved nearer to Lucy. Afraid, I journey home. We arrived back in England on September 18th, and it
called out, ‘Lucy! Lucy!’ A white face and burning red eyes looked up was wonderful to be home again. Everyone looked happy on that warm
at me – and then, nothing! Lucy was alone, asleep in the moonlight. autumn evening, when we drove through the streets of London.
Jonathan smiled and said softly. ‘Oh, Mina, I love you.’
I woke her, and she gave a little cry (grito). She put her hands to her
neck, and I saw that there were two little drops of blood there. ‘I love you, too, Jonathan,’ I replied. I was truly happy.
After that night Lucy was worse. She left her bed every night and her And then, suddenly, Jonathan’s face went white, and he cried out. He
lovely face was white. I was afraid for her and locked the door at night. was looking at a carriage, outside a shop. In it there was a pretty girl
And still I did not hear from Jonathan. I was unhappy and did not sleep with dark hair. She was waiting for someone. And near the carriage,
well myself, so one night I went for a walk alone. ‘Lucy will be all right,’ watching the pretty girl, there was a man – a tall, thin man, with long
I thought. ‘The door is locked. She can’t get out, and no one can get white teeth and a very red mouth. ‘It’s the Count!’ Jonathan cried.
in.’ But when I came back, I found Lucy by the open window. ‘Lucy!’ I ‘Here in London!’
cried. But she did not reply. She was asleep, and near her, just outside
the open window, there was something black, like a big bird. Jonathan put his head in his hands and said nothing for the rest of the
journey. I was very afraid for him. Was it really true – that this horrible
A day or two later, I had a letter. Jonathan was ill and in hospital in Count Dracula was here in London?
Budapest. ‘Of course, I must go to him immediately,’ I said to Lucy. I
did not want to leave her, but Jonathan was everything to me. ‘He When we arrived home, there was a letter from Arthur Holmwood. Lucy
needs me,’ I said. was dead! My dearest Lucy, dead! It could not be true!

And when at last I arrived in Budapest and held Jonathan in my arms, I Later we read the letter again.
felt happy. Jonathan was very ill but he was getting better every day

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 8

‘Soon after you left,’ Arthur wrote, ‘Lucy began to get worse. I did not Van Helsing was right. With Arthur’s blood in her, Lucy began to get
what to do. I knew only that I must do something quickly, so I asked better (mejorar) immediately. But before he left, Van Helsing did one
our old friend, Jack Seward, to come and see her. “He’s a doctor,” I more thing. He brought some flowers with a very strong smell, and he
thought. “Perhaps he can do something to help Lucy.” He came at put a circle of them round Lucy’s neck. ‘My dear,’ he said, ‘these are
once, but in the end nobody (nadie) could help poor Lucy, and she died garlic (ajo) flowers. Do not take them from your neck tonight, and do
yesterday.‘ not open your window.’

Van Helsing had to return to Holland for a few days and before he left,

Jack Seward’s "ory

he told us: ‘You must watch Lucy every night, and be sure that she
wears the garlic flowers.’

Lucy’s mother was ill herself - her heart was not strong – and Arthur
had to go back home because his father was dying. So for I week I
watched over Lucy myself at night, and sometimes, when I sat by her
bed, I heard strange noises at the window. Perhaps it was a tree, or
hen I heard from Arthur the terrible news of Lucy’s
the wind, I thought.
strange illness, I went to her immediately. I could see
that she was very ill. She lay in bed all day and did not
I was working at my hospital during the day, and after a week I was
move. She was as white as a ghost and she was very
very tired, so one night I did not go to Lucy’s house. I needed to sleep,
thin. When night came, she was afraid to sleep, and in the morning, on
and I knew that Lucy’s mother and the servants were there. Also, Van
her neck there were two strange little wounds (heridas).
Helsing sent new garlic flowers every day, for Lucy to wear at night.

I did not know what was wrong with Lucy. She was losing blood. But
The next morning at the hospital I had a note from Van Helsing. ‘Watch
how? Was it through these two little wounds in her neck?
(vigilar) Lucy carefully tonight,’ he wrote. ‘I shall be with you
tomorrow.’ But that was now today! The note was too late!
I decided to send for my old teacher Professor Van Helsing from
I did not wait for breakfast, but hurried to the house immediately. I
Holland. Perhaps he could help.
knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Just then Van Helsing
He came immediately, and when saw how ill Lucy was, he said, ‘We
arrived.
must give her blood at once.’
‘She can have my blood!’ cried Arthur. ‘All of it – to the last drop!’
‘What happened?’ he cried. ‘Did you not get my note? Quick! Perhaps
we are already too late!’

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 9

We knocked again, but there was still no answer. We went round to the One of us sat with Lucy all the time, and that night Arthur and Van
back of the house and Van Helsing broke the kitchen window and we Helsing slept in the sitting-room, while I watched over Lucy.
went in.
When Van Helsing came back up to me at six o’clock, Arthur was still
It was dark in the kitchen, but we could see the bodies of the four asleep downstairs. Van Helsing went over to Lucy and looked at her.
servants on the floor. They were not dead, but asleep. ‘The wounds on her neck have gone,’ he said. ‘She will soon be dead.
‘Someone put something in their drinks,’ said Van Helsing. ‘Come! We Bring Arthur.’
must find Lucy. If we are not too late!’
When Arthur and I came back, Lucy opened her lovely eyes. ‘Oh,
We ran up to Lucy’s room, and stopped outside it. With white faces Arthur,’ she said softly. ‘Kiss me, my love.’
and shaking hands, we opened the door softly and went into the room.
He moved his head nearer to her, but Van Helsing pulled him back.
How can I describe what we saw? The bodies of two women – Lucy and ‘No!’ he cried. For a minute, Lucy’s face was hard and angry. She
her mother – lay on the bed. The faces of both women were white, and opened her mouth, and her teeth looked very long and sharp (afilado).
on the mother’s face there was a look of terrible fear. In her hand she Then her eyes closed and she slept. Soon she woke again, took Van
held the flowers from Lucy’s neck, and on the floor there was glass Helsing’s hand and said softly, ‘My true friend.’
from the broken window.
And then, quietly, Lucy died.
Van Helsing looked down at the two women. ‘The poor mother is
dead,’ he said. ‘But for Lucy it is not too late! Go and wake the ‘She’s gone,’ aid Van Helsing, and Arthur put his head in his hands and
servants!’ cried.
Later, I went back into Lucy’s room, and Van Helsing and I looked down
I ran downstairs to wake them. ‘Put her in a hot bath,’ Van Helsing together at her beautiful face.
said.
‘Poor girl,’ I said. ‘It is the end.’
After a time, Lucy began to show some life, and they took her and put
her in a warm bed. From time to time she slept, but she did not fight ‘No,’ he replied. ‘This is only the beginning.
to stay alive. She could not eat anything, and she was very weak
(débil). We sent for Arthur, and when he came, he was very unhappy. Some days later there were strange stories in the newspapers, stories
His father was now dead, and he could see that Lucy was very, very ill. about young children who went out at night and did not go home until
the next morning. And when they did go home, they talked about a

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 10

‘beautiful lady’. All these children had drops of blood and two little ground, by the tomb. Van Helsing held it out to me, and I looked at its
wounds on their necks. neck. ‘There are no wounds on the child’s neck,’ I said.
Van Helsing read these stories, and he brought the paper round to me. ‘No,’ Van Helsing replied. ‘We are just in time.’
‘What do you think of that?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘These two little wounds sound like poor Lucy’s The next day, Van Helsing and I went back into the tomb again and
wounds, but how can that be?’ opened the lid (tapadera) of the coffin. This time Lucy’s body lay
there. She died more than a week ago – but she did not look dead. Her
Then Van Helsing explained. At first I could not believe it, and we mouth was red and her face was more beautiful than ever. Then Van
talked for a long time. At last I said, ‘Are you saying that Lucy was Helsing pulled back her mouth and showed me her long, sharp teeth.
killed by a vampire, and that now the vampire is taking blood from
these children too?’ ‘Now do you believe me?’ he said. ‘Lucy is now one of the Un-Dead,
and with these white teeth she will soon kill one of these poor little
‘No,’ Van Helsing replied. ‘You haven’t understood. The vampire which children. We must stop her before she does.’ He stopped for a minute
is taking blood from these children is … Lucy herself.’ and thought. ‘But we must send for Arthur. He, too, must see – and
believe this.’
I was very angry. ‘That’s not true!’ I cried.
Arthur was very unhappy, and also angry. He could not believe that
‘Then come with me,’ he said. ‘And I will show you.’ Lucy was now one of the Un-Dead, but in the end he agreed to come
So that night he took me to Lucy’s tomb. He had the key and we went with us to the tomb.
outside. I was very afraid. In the dark, with the dead flowers lying on
Lucy’s coffin, the tomb was a terrible place. Slowly, Van Helsing began It was just before midnight when we got to the churchyard. The night
to open the coffin. Then he turned to me, and said, ‘Look.’ was dark, but now and then, a little moonlight came through the
clouds. Van Helsing opened the door of the tomb and we all went in.
I came nearer and looked. The coffin was empty. ‘Now, Jack,’ he said to me,’ you were with me yesterday afternoon.
For me, it was a terrible surprise, but Van Helsing only shook his head. ‘Was Miss Lucy’s body in that coffin then?’
‘Now we must wait outside,’ he said. ‘It was,’ I replied.

We waited all night. I was cold and afraid, and angry with myself and Slowly, Van Helsing opened the coffin. Arthur’s face was white when
with Van Helsing. Then, suddenly, something white moved in the trees he moved nearer. We all looked down. The coffin was empty!
near the tomb. We went nearer, and we found a little child on the

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 11

For a minute, no one spoke. Then Van Helsing said, ‘Now we must go loved Lucy. You must bring her back to us. You must take this piece of
outside and wait.’ wood in your left hand, and the hammer in your right hand. Then you
must drive the wood through Lucy’s heart. It isn’t easy for you, but it
It was good to be outside again, away from the dark, smelly tomb. We will soon be done. Can you do this for her?’
stood and waited in silence. Then, through the trees, we saw
something white. It was moving nearer to us. Its face was white, its ‘I can,’ Arthur replied strongly.
mouth was red, and drops of blood fell from it. Suddenly it saw us
and stopped. It gave us a look of terrible anger, and Arthur gave a little His face was very pale, but he held the piece of wood over Lucy’s
cry. ‘It’s Lucy!’ heart, and brought the hammer down hard.

She smiled. ‘Oh, Arthur, come to me. Leave those others, and come to The body turned from side to side and a horrible scream (grito) came
me, my love,’ she said sweetly. from the open red mouth. Arthur did not stop. Harder and harder he
hit the wood with the hammer, until, at last, the body stopped moving
Arthur took his hands from his face and opened his arms to her. She and lay (quedarse) quiet.
was moving nearer to him when Van Helsing ran between them, and
held out his little gold cross. Lucy stopped and stood back from it. The hammer fell from Arthur’s hands, and he stood there, white and
Then, with a look of terrible anger on her face, she went to the tomb shaking. Van Helsing went over to him. ‘And now you may kiss her,’ he
and through the door. The door was closed, but she went through it! said. ‘See! The vampire is dead, and the real Lucy has come back.’
‘Now, Arthur, my friend,’ Van Helsing said, ‘do you understand?’
It was true. Lucy’s face was pale and still, but it was now quiet and
Arthur put his face in his hands and cried, ‘I do! Oh, I do!’ restful. Arthur kissed her softly on the mouth, and then Van Helsing
The next day, Arthur, Van Helsing, and I went back to the tomb. Van closed the coffin again, this time, for ever.
Helsing had a bag with him, and when we were in the tomb, he again
opened Lucy’s coffin. The body lay there, horribly beautiful. Arthur was ‘Now, my friends,’ Van Helsing said, ‘we have only just begun. We must
white and he was shaking. ‘Is this really Lucy?’ he asked. find the vampire that killed Miss Lucy. It will be difficult and dangerous.
Will you help me?’
‘It is, and it is not. But wait, and you will see the real Lucy again,’ Van
Helsing replied. ‘Yes,’ we said. ‘We will.’

He took from his bag a long piece of wood and a hammer. Arthur and I
stood silently and watched. Then Van Helsing said to Arthur, ‘You

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 12

Jona!an Harker’s Diary
many questions, I learnt that the coffins were now in the Count’s
house in London.

I hurried back to London and to Jack Seward’s house. When I told Van
Helsing this news, he called us all together, and said, ‘Now the danger
begins. I have learnt much about vampires from old books, and I know
they can come out only at night. During the day they are like dead
ome days after Mina got the letter from Arthur, with the bodies and must have a place to hide (esconderse). I think that Count
news of Lucy’s death, she had another letter. This was from Dracula uses his coffins for his daytime hiding-places. If we find him in
Professor Van Helsing, a friend of Arthur’s. In it he wrote, ‘I a coffin, we can kill him. But let’s go to his house tonight. We’ll put
know, from your letters to Lucy, that you were her dearest holy bread in the coffins, and then the Count cannot get back into
friend. I would very much like to meet you, to talk about the them. He’ll then have no place to hide during the day, and he will be
time when you were with Lucy at Whitby.’ weaker, and easier to fight when we find him.’

So the Professor came to see us at our house, and we learnt the full So that night Van Helsing,
story of poor Lucy’s terrible death. Then Mina gave Van Helsing my Jack, Arthur, and I went out
diary to read, and he learnt about my time at Castle Dracula. He was together to the Count’s
very excited. house. Mina, of course, did
not come with us. I was
‘Ah!’ he cried. ‘Now I begin to understand so many things! This Count afraid to leave her alone,
Dracula – he was the vampire that killed poor Miss Lucy. Will you help but she said that there was
us to find him?’ more danger for us than for
her.
Of course, Mina and I agreed to help. When I saw Count Dracula in
London, I was very afraid, but now I felt stronger because I had work Jack had some old keys
to do. with him, and with one of
these we got into the
We began at once. Mina went to stay with Jack Seward at his house, house. It was old and dirty,
to tell him and Arthur all about the Count, and I went to Whitby. I and the smell was blood
wanted to find about the coffins that were in the ship on the night of was everywhere. We walked
the storm – the ship that brought Count Dracula to England. After through the cold, empty

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 13

rooms and at last we found the coffins. I ran to her and tried to pull him away
from her. Van Helsing ran at the Count
From his bag Van Helsing took some holy bread. ‘We must put a piece and held up his gold cross.
of this in each coffin,’ he said. When he saw the cross, Count Dracula
moved back and dropped Mina’s body.
We worked hard. It took a long time to break open each coffin and put She gave a terrible cry and fell across
holy bread inside. We were just opening the last coffin when Van the bed. A cloud moved across the
Helsing gave a cry. ‘We are too late! The Count is coming!’ moon, and when the moon came from
behind it, Count Dracula was not there.
We looked up from our work and saw Count Dracula. He came through
the dark room like a black cloud. His angry face was white and his eyes ‘Oh, Mina, my love!’ I cried. I took her in
burned like red fires. Van Helsing held out his gold cross, and the Count my arms. ‘What has happened? Tell us!’
stopped. Afraid for our lives, we ran from the house. I was wild with fear.

‘Quick!’ cried Van Helsing. ‘We must get back! Now he has seen us, Mina shivered. ‘Don’t leave me!’ she cried. ‘Oh, please don’t leave me!’
Mina may be in danger!’ Her face was pale, and we could see two little wounds on her neck. She
put her head in her hands and gave a long, terrible scream. ‘Stay with
My heart nearly stopped when I heard this. ‘Oh, Mina!’ I cried silently. ‘I me!’ she cried.
cannot lose Mina!’ And I held her in my arms until the first light of day showed in the east.

But when we got back to Jack’s house, everything was quiet. I ran
upstairs. The bedroom door was locked. I called out to my friends.
‘Help me! Oh, help me!’

Together we broke down the door – and then my blood ran cold. A tall he next day Van Helsing, Jack Seward, Arthur, and I made
dark man was standing in the moonlight, by the window. In his arms he our plans. Mina was there too. She was very pale, but she
held my wife, my Mina! Her white nightdress had blood on it, and her wanted to help us. We knew that we had to kill Dracula
face lay against Count Dracula. Blood dropped from his mouth, and he before Mina died.
was holding Mina to him while she drank his blood!
‘If we don’t,’ Van Helsing said, ‘Mina will die and will be a vampire for
ever. I have been back to the Count’s house this morning, and the last

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 14

coffin has gone. We must find it. Count Dracula will be in it during the We took the first train to Galatz, but we were too late. The box was no
day. If we can find him before dark, we can kill him.’ longer on the ship. ‘Someone came and took it this morning,’ one of
‘But where is it now?’ I asked wildly. the sailors told us.

Of course, we did not know the answer. But then Mina spoke. ‘I feel We hurried back to our hotel to tell my dear Mina the news, but we
that I am half a vampire already, and sometimes strange thoughts saw that she knew it already, and her face was white with fear. ‘He has
come into my head. I think that these thoughts are Count Dracula’s. gone,’ she said quietly, ‘and he is taking me with him. Oh my dear
Just now, when you were speaking, I thought that I could hear the friends! Before I change into a vampire, you must kill me! Then you
sound of a ship moving through water.’ must do what you did to poor Lucy, to give me rest (descanso,
‘Of course!’ cried Van Helsing. ‘Dracula has decided to leave England! tranquilidad). Tell me that you will do this for me!’
He knows that we are his enemies and that it is dangerous for him
here. So he is going back to Transylvania – by ship! We must find out I held her hands, but I could not speak. If that day ever comes, I don’t
which ships left for the Black Sea last night.’ know how I shall live through it.

At the London shipping office we learnt that one ship sailed for Varna Later, while Mina slept, we tried to make new plans.
in the Black Sea the night before. We also learnt of a passenger who ‘She is right,’ said Van Helsing unhappily. ‘Our poor Mina is in great
arrived at the last minute – a tall thin man in black. He had a pale face, danger. She is already beginning to change – her teeth are getting
burning eyes, and a very red mouth. And he had with him a long box! longer and sharper, and when the Count reads her thoughts, her eyes
are hard and cold. We must find him and kill him – before it is too late!’
‘So,’ said Van Helsing. ‘The ship will take about three weeks to sail
(navegar, llegar) to Varna, but we will take the train across Europe and I can remember little of the next few days. I was wild with fear and
get there much faster. We leave tomorrow!’ anger. We learnt that the Count’s coffin was travelling by boat up the
river, and Jack Seward, Arthur, and I began to follow in another boat.
We left London on a cold October day and four days later we were in Van Helsing took my Mina with him in a carriage, and they began to
Varna. We made our plans, and waited for the ship to arrive. Every day drive across the mountains to Castle Dracula. When I said goodbye to
Mina told us that she could still hear the sound of water. But three her, my heart was breaking. Perhaps I shall never see her again.
weeks went by, and the ship did not arrive.
Then, at last, we had news – the ship was not coming to Varna, and We followed the Count’s boat for five days, but we could not catch it.
was already at Galatz! Then we learnt from some villagers that he was now travelling by road,
so we bought horses and rode (cabalgar) like the wind through the
night.

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 15

By late afternoon on the next day, we were getting near to Castle
Dracula. ‘We must ride faster!’ I cried to the others. The sun was
beginning to go down, and suddenly, we saw on the road in front of us
some men with a cart. And on the back of the cart was the coffin.

I had only one thought in my head – to kill the vampire, to finish him
for ever. Arthur and Jack were right behind me when I got to the cart. I
jumped from my horse onto the cart, and while Jack and Arthur fought
the driver and the other men, I pushed the coffin to the ground. It fell
and broke open. Count Dracula lay there, and the last light from the
sun fell on his terrible face. His eyes burned red and they looked at me
in hate. In a few seconds, when the sun went down, he would be free
to move. I jumped down to the ground, held my knife high over his
heart, and brought it down as hard as I could. It went straight through
the vampire’s heart. Count Dracula gave a horrible scream, and then
lay quiet. In the same second the sun went down, and when we looked
into the coffin again, it was empty …

Above us on the hill was Castle Dracula, and soon we saw Van Helsing.
He hurried down the hill to us, and my dear Mina was with him. I ran
and took her in my arms. Her lovely face was bright and happy again.
‘It’s all right, my love,’ she said softly. ‘We found the tombs of the
three vampire women. They cannot hurt (hacer daño) us now, and
Dracula is dead at last! We can begin to live again.’

J. Prieto. ies ramón y cajal! 16