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Taking
her husband's hand in hers, she began, "We are all here together in
freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know that you will always be with me
to the end." This was to her husband whose hand had, as we could see,
tightened upon her. "In
the morning we go out upon our task, and God alone knows what may be in
store for any of us. You are going to be so good to me to take me with you.
I know that all that brave earnest men can do for a poor weak woman, whose
soul perhaps is lost, no, no, not yet, but is at any rate at stake, you will
do. But you must remember that
I am not as you are. There is a
poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me, which must destroy me,
unless some relief comes to us. Oh,
my friends, you know as well as I do, that my soul is at stake. And though I know there is one way out for me, you must not
and I must not take it!" She looked appealingly to us all in turn,
beginning and ending with her husband.
"What
is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is that
way, which we must not, may not, take?"
"That
I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before the greater
evil is entirely wrought. I
know, and you know, that were I once dead you could and would set free my
immortal spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of
death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here
now, amidst the friends who love me. But
death is not all. I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is
hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on
my part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the
dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world
holds!"
We
were all silent, for we knew instinctively that this was only a prelude. The
faces of the others were set, and Harker's grew ashen grey. Perhaps, he
guessed better than any of us what was coming.
She
continued, "This is what I can give into the hotch-pot." I could
not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and
with all seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your lives I know,"
she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave men. Your lives are God's, and you can give them back to Him, but
what will you give to me?" She
looked again questionly, but this time avoided her husband's face. Quincey
seemed to understand, he nodded, and her face lit up. "Then I shall
tell you plainly what I want, for there must be no doubtful matter in this
connection between us now. You must promise me, one and all, even you, my
beloved husband, that should the time come, you will kill me."
"What
is that time?" The voice
was Quincey's, but it was low and strained.
"When
you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better that I die
that I may live. When I am thus dead in the flesh, then you will, without a
moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut off my head, or do whatever
else may be wanting to give me rest!"
Quincey
was the first to rise after the pause.
He knelt down before her and taking her hand in his said solemnly,
"I'm only a rough fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should to
win such a distinction, but I swear to you by all that I hold sacred and
dear that, should the time ever come, I shall not flinch from the duty that
you have set us. And I promise you, too, that I shall make all certain, for
if I am only doubtful I shall take it that the time has come!"
"My
true friend!" was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, as
bending over, she kissed his hand.
"I
swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!"said Van Helsing.
"And I!" said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling
to her to take the oath. I followed, myself.
Then
her husband turned to her wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued
the snowy whiteness of his hair, and asked, "And must I, too, make such
a promise, oh, my wife?"
"You
too, my dearest," she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her voice
and eyes. "You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest and
all the world to me. Our souls are knit into one, for all life and all time.
Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killed their
wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into the hands of the
enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more because those that they loved
implored them to slay them. It
is men's duty towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And
oh, my dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be at
the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not forgotten
your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved."
She stopped with a flying blush, and changed her phrase, "to him
who had best right to give her peace. If that time shall come again, I look
to you to make it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving
hand which set me free from the awful thrall upon me."
"Again
I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voice.
Mrs.
Harker smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she leaned back
and said, "And now one word of warning, a warning which you must never
forget. This time, if it ever come, may come quickly and unexpectedly, and
in such case you must lose no time in using your opportunity. At such a time
I myself might be. . .nay! If
the time ever come, shall be, leagued with your enemy against you.
"One
more request," she became very solemn as she said this, "it is not
vital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing for me,
if you will."
We
all acquiesced, but no one spoke. There
was no need to speak.
"I
want you to read the Burial Service."
She was interrupted by a deep groan from her husband.
Taking his hand in hers, she held it over her heart, and continued.
"You must read it over me some day. Whatever may be the issue of
all this fearful state of things, it will be a sweet thought to all or some
of us. You, my dearest, will I
hope read it, for then it will be in your voice in my memory forever, come
what may!"
"But
oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death is afar off from you."
"Nay,"
she said, holding up a warning hand. "I
am deeper in death at this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay
heavy upon me!"
"Oh,
my wife, must I read it?" he said, before he began.
"It
would comfort me, my husband!" was all she said, and he began to read
when she had got the book ready.
How
can I, how could anyone, tell of that strange scene, its solemnity, its
gloom, its sadness, its horror, and withal, its sweetness. Even a sceptic,
who can see nothing but a travesty of bitter truth in anything holy or
emotional, would have been melted to the heart had he seen that little group
of loving and devoted friends kneeling round that stricken and sorrowing
lady. Or heard the tender passion of her husband's voice, as in tones so
broken and emotional that often he had to pause, he read the simple and
beautiful service from the Burial of the Dead.
I cannot go on. . . words. .
.and v-voices. . .f-fail m-me!
She
was right in her instinct. Strange
as it was, bizarre as it may hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent
influence at the time, it comforted us much.
And the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's coming relapse from her
freedom of soul, did not seem so full of despair to any of us as we had
dreaded.
JONATHAN
HARKER'S JOURNAL
15
October, Varna.--We left Charing Cross on the morning of the 12th, got to
Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in the Orient
Express. We traveled night and
day, arriving here at about five o'clock. Lord Godalming went to the
Consulate to see if any telegram had arrived for him, whilst the rest of us
came on to this hotel, "the Odessus."
The journey may have had incidents. I was, however, too eager to get
on, to care for them. Until the Czarina Catherine comes into port there will
be no interest for me in anything in the wide world. Thank God!
Mina is well, and looks to be getting stronger. Her color is coming
back. She sleeps a great deal.
Throughout the journey she slept nearly all the time. Before sunrise and
sunset, however, she is very wakeful and alert. And it has become a habit
for Van Helsing to hypnotize her at such times.
At first, some effort was needed, and he had to make many passes.
But now, she seems to yield at once, as if by habit, and scarcely any
action is needed. He seems to have power at these particular moments to
simply will, and her thoughts obey him.
He always asks her what she can see and hear.
She
answers to the first, "Nothing, all is dark."
And
to the second, "I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and the
water rushing by. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak. The wind
is high. . .I can hear it in
the shrouds, and the bow throws back the foam."
It
is evident that the Czarina Catherine is still at sea, hastening on her way
to Varna. Lord Godalming has
just returned. He had four telegrams, one each day since we started, and all
to the same effect. That the
Czarina Catherine had not been reported to Lloyd's from anywhere. He had
arranged before leaving London that his agent should send him every day a
telegram saying if the ship had been reported. He was to have a message even
if she were not reported, so that he might be sure that there was a watch
being kept at the other end of the wire.
We
had dinner and went to bed early. Tomorrow
we are to see the Vice Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on
board the ship as soon as she arrives.
Van Helsing says that our chance will be to get on the boat between
sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes the form of a bat, cannot
cross the running water of his own volition, and so cannot leave the ship.
As he dare not change to man's form without suspicion, which he evidently
wishes to avoid, he must remain in the box. If, then, we can come on board
after sunrise, he is at our mercy, for we can open the box and make sure of
him, as we did of poor Lucy, before he wakes.
What mercy he shall get from us all will not count for much.
We think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or the
seamen. Thank God! This is the
country where bribery can do anything, and we are well supplied with money. We have only to make sure that the ship cannot come into port
between sunset and sunrise without our being warned, and we shall be safe.
Judge Moneybag will settle this case, I think!
16
October.--Mina's report still the same.
Lapping waves and rushing water, darkness and favoring winds.
We are evidently in good time, and when we hear of the Czarina
Catherine we shall be ready. As she must pass the Dardanelles we are sure to
have some report.
17
October.--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcome the Count
on his return from his tour. Godalming told the shippers that he fancied
that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen from a friend of
his, and got a half consent that he might open it at his own risk. The owner
gave him a paper telling the Captain to give him every facility in doing
whatever he chose on board the ship, and also a similar authorization to his
agent at Varna. We have seen the agent, who was much impressed with
Godalming's kindly manner to him, and we are all satisfied that whatever he
can do to aid our wishes will be done.
We
have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open. If the Count
is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head at once and drive a
stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and I shall prevent
interference, even if we have to use the arms which we shall have ready. The
Professor says that if we can so treat the Count's body, it will soon after
fall into dust. In such case
there would be no evidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were
aroused. But even if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and
perhaps some day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us
and a rope. For myself, I
should take the chance only too thankfully if it were to come. We mean to
leave no stone unturned to carry out our intent. We have arranged with
certain officials that the instant the Czarina Catherine is seen, we are to
be informed by a special messenger.
24
October.--A whole week of waiting. Daily
telegrams to Godalming, but only the same story.
"Not yet reported." Mina's morning and evening hypnotic
answer is unvaried. Lapping waves, rushing water, and creaking masts.
TELEGRAM,
OCTOBER 24TH RUFUS SMITH, LLOYD'S, LONDON, TO LORD GODALMING, CARE OF
H.
B. M. VICE CONSUL, VARNA
"Czarina
Catherine reported this morning from Dardanelles."
DR.
SEWARD'S DIARY
25
October.--How I miss my phonograph! To
write a diary with a pen is irksome to me!
But Van Helsing says I must. We
were all wild with excitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from
Lloyd's. I know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is
heard. Mrs. Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotion.
After all, it is not strange that she did not, for we took special care not
to let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show any
excitement when we were in her presence.
In old days she would, I am sure, have noticed, no matter how we
might have tried to conceal it. But in this way she is greatly changed
during the past three weeks. The lethargy grows upon her, and though she
seems strong and well, and is getting back some of her color, Van Helsing
and I are not satisfied. We talk of her often.
We have not, however, said a word to the others. It would break poor
Harker's heart, certainly his nerve, if he knew that we had even a suspicion
on the subject. Van Helsing examines, he tells me, her teeth very carefully,
whilst she is in the hypnotic condition, for he says that so long as they do
not begin to sharpen there is no active danger of a change in her.
If this change should come, it would be necessary to take steps!
We both know what those steps would have to be, though we do not
mention our thoughts to each other. We should neither of us shrink from the
task, awful though it be to contemplate.
"Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I am
grateful to whoever invented it.
It
is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at the rate the
Czarina Catherine has come from London. She should therefore arrive some
time in the morning, but as she cannot possibly get in before noon, we are
all about to retire early. We shall get up at one o'clock, so as to be
ready.
25
October, Noon.--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker's hypnotic
report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possible that we may get
news at any moment. We men are all in a fever of excitement, except Harker,
who is calm. His hands are cold as ice, and an hour ago I found him whetting
the edge of the great Ghoorka knife which he now always carries with him. It
will be a bad lookout for the Count if the edge of that "Kukri"
ever touches his throat, driven by that stern, ice-cold hand!
Van
Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker today. About noon she
got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like. Although we kept silence
to the others, we were neither of us happy about it.
She had been restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad
to know that she was sleeping. When,
however, her husband mentioned casually that she was sleeping so soundly
that he could not wake her, we went to her room to see for ourselves. She
was breathing naturally and looked so well and peaceful that we agreed that
the sleep was better for her than anything else. Poor girl, she has so much
to forget that it is no wonder that sleep, if it brings oblivion to her,
does her good.
Later.--Our
opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleep of some hours she
woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she had been for days.
At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. Wherever he may be in
the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his destination.
To his doom, I trust!
26
October.--Another day and no tidings of the Czarina Catherine. She ought to
be here by now. That she is still journeying somewhere is apparent, for Mrs.
Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the same. It is possible that
the vessel may be lying by, at times, for fog. Some of the steamers which
came in last evening reported patches of fog both to north and south of the
port. We must continue our
watching, as the ship may now be signalled any moment.
27
October, Noon.--Most strange. No
news yet of the ship we wait for. Mrs. Harker reported last night and this
morning as usual. "Lapping
waves and rushing water," though she added that "the waves were
very faint." The telegrams from London have been the same, "no
further report." Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now
that he fears the Count is escaping us.
He
added significantly, "I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's.
Souls and memories can do strange things during trance." I was about to
as k him more, but Harker just then came in, and he held up a warning hand.
We must try tonight at sunset to make her speak more fully when in
her hypnotic state.
28
October.--Telegram. Rufus Smith, London, to Lord Godalming, care H. B. M. Vice
Consul, Varna
"Czarina
Catherine reported entering Galatz at one o'clock today."
DR.
SEWARD'S DIARY
28
October.--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in Galatz I do not
think it was such a shock to any of us as might have been expected. True, we
did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt would come. But I think we
all expected that something strange would happen. The day of arrival at
Varna made us individually satisfied that things would not be just as we had
expected. We only waited to
learn where the change would occur. None
the less, however, it was a surprise. I suppose that nature works on such a
hopeful basis that we believe against ourselves that things will be as they
ought to be, not as we should know that they will be.
Transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels, even if it be a
will-o'-the-wisp to man. Van
Helsing raised his hand over his head for a moment, as though in
remonstrance with the Almighty. But he said not a word, and in a few seconds
stood up with his face sternly set.
Lord
Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heavily. I was myself half
stunned and looked in wonder at one after another. Quincey Morris tightened
his belt with that quick movement which I knew so well.
In our old wandering days it meant "action." Mrs. Harker
grew ghastly white, so that the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she
folded her hands meekly and looked up in prayer. Harker smiled, actually
smiled, the dark, bitter smile of one who is without hope, but at the same
time his action belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the
hilt of the great Kukri knife and rested there.
"When
does the next train start for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us
generally.
"At
6:30 tomorrow morning!" We
all started, for the answer came from Mrs. Harker.
"How
on earth do you know?" said Art.
"You
forget, or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan does and so does Dr. Van
Helsing, that I am the train fiend. At home in Exeter I always used to make
up the time tables, so as to be helpful to my husband.
I found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study of the
time tables now. I knew that if anything were to take us to Castle Dracula
we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through Bucharest, so I learned the
times very carefully. Unhappily
there are not many to learn, as the only train tomorrow leaves as I
say."
"Wonderful
woman!" murmured the Professor.
"Can't
we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming.
Van
Helsing shook his head, "I fear not.
This land is very different from yours or mine.
Even if we did have a special, it would probably not arrive as soon
as our regular train. Moreover, we have something to prepare.
We must think. Now let us organize.
You, friend Arthur, go to the train and get the tickets and arrange
that all be ready for us to go in the morning.
Do you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and get from him
letters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make a search of the ship
just as it was here. Quincey Morris, you see the Vice Consul, and get his
aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to make our way smooth, so
that no times be lost when over the Danube. John will stay with Madam Mina
and me, and we shall consult. For so if time be long you may be delayed.
And it will not matter when the sun set, since I am here with Madam
to make report."
"And
I," said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her old self than she had
been for many a long day, "shall try to be of use in all ways, and
shall think and write for you as I used to do. Something is shifting from me
in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have been of late!"
The
three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to realize the
significance of her words. But
Van Helsing and I, turning to each other, met each a grave and troubled
glance. We said nothing at the time, however.
When
the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Helsing asked Mrs. Harker to
look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of Harker's journal at
the Castle. She went away to get it.
When
the door was shut upon her he said to me, "We mean the same! Speak
out!"
"Here
is some change. It is a hope that makes me sick, for it may deceive us."
"Quite
so. Do you know why I asked her
to get the manuscript?"
"No!"
said I, "unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone."
"You
are in part right, friend John, but only in part. I want to tell you
something. And oh, my friend, I
am taking a great, a terrible, risk. But
I believe it is right. In the moment when Madam Mina said those words that
arrest both our understanding, an inspiration came to me.
In the trance of three days ago the Count sent her his spirit to read
her mind. Or more like he took her to see him in his earth box in the ship
with water rushing, just as it go free at rise and set of sun. He learn then
that we are here, for she have more to tell in her open life with eyes to
see ears to hear than he, shut as he is, in his coffin box.
Now he make his most effort to escape us. At present he want her not.
"He
is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his call. But he
cut her off, take her, as he can do, out of his own power, that so she come
not to him. Ah!
There I have hope that our man brains that have been of man so long
and that have not lost the grace of God, will come higher than his
child-brain that lie in his tomb for centuries, that grow not yet to our
stature, and that do only work selfish and therefore small.
Here comes Madam Mina. Not
a word to her of her trance! She knows it not, and it would overwhelm her
and make despair just when we want all her hope, all her courage, when most
we want all her great brain which is trained like man's brain, but is of
sweet woman and have a special power which the Count give her, and which he
may not take away altogether, though he think not so.
Hush! Let me speak, and you shall learn. Oh, John, my friend, we are in awful straits.
I fear, as I never feared before. We can only trust the good God.
Silence! Here she
comes!"
I
thought that the Professor was going to break down and have hysterics, just
as he had when Lucy died, but with a great effort he controlled himself and
was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker tripped into the room, bright
and happy looking and, in the doing of work, seemingly forgetful of her
misery. As she came in, she
handed a number of sheets of typewriting to Van Helsing.
He looked over them gravely, his face brightening up as he read.
Then
holding the pages between his finger and thumb he said, "Friend John,
to you with so much experience already, and you too, dear Madam Mina, that
are young, here is a lesson. Do not fear ever to think.
A half thought has been buzzing often in my brain, but I fear to let
him loose his wings. Here now, with more knowledge, I go back to where that
half thought come from and I find that he be no half thought at all. That be
a whole thought, though so young that he is not yet strong to use his little
wings. Nay, like the `Ugly
Duck' of my friend Hans Andersen, he be no duck thought at all, but a big
swan thought that sail nobly on big wings, when the time come for him to try
them. See I read here what
Jonathan have written.
"That
other of his race who, in a later age, again and again, brought his forces
over The Great River into Turkey Land, who when he was beaten back, came
again, and again, and again, though he had to come alone from the bloody
field where his troops were being slaughtered, since he knew that he alone
could ultimately triumph.
"What
does this tell us? Not much?
No! The Count's child
thought see nothing, therefore he speak so free. Your man thought see
nothing. My man thought see
nothing, till just now. No! But there comes another word from some one who speak without
thought because she, too, know not what it mean, what it might mean.
Just as there are elements which rest, yet when in nature's course
they move on their way and they touch, the pouf!
And there comes a flash of light, heaven wide, that blind and kill
and destroy some. But that show
up all earth below for leagues and leagues.
Is it not so? Well, I shall explain. To begin, hav e you ever study the
philosophy of crime? `Yes' and `No.' You, John, yes, for it is a study of
insanity. You, no, Madam Mina, for crime touch you not, not but once. Still,
your mind works true, and argues not a particulari ad universale.
There is this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant, in all
countries and at all times, that even police, who know not much from
philosophy, come to know it empirically, that it is.
That is to be empiric. The criminal always work at one crime, that is
the true criminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none
other. This criminal has not full man brain. He
is clever and cunning and resourceful, but he be not of man stature as to
brain. He be of child brain in much. Now
this criminal of ours is predestinate to crime also.
He, too, have child brain, and it is of the child to do what he have
done. The little bird, the little fish, the little animal learn not
by principle, but empirically. And
when he learn to do, then there is to him the ground to start from to do
more. `Dos pou sto,' said
Archimedes. `Give me a fulcrum,
and I shall move the world!' To do once, is the fulcrum whereby child brain
become man brain. And until he have the purpose to do more, he continue to
do the same again every time, just as he have done before! Oh, my dear, I
see that your eyes are opened, and that to you the lightning flash show all
the leagues, "for Mrs. Harker began to clap her hands and her eyes
sparkled.
He
went on, "Now you shall speak. Tell
us two dry men of science what you see with those so bright eyes."
He took her hand and held it whilst he spoke. His finger and thumb
closed on her pulse, as I thought instinctively and unconsciously, as she
spoke.
"The
Count is a criminal and of criminal type.
Nordau and Lombroso would so classify him, and qua criminal he is of
an imperfectly formed mind. Thus, in a difficulty he has to seek resource in
habit. His past is a clue, and
the one page of it that we know, and that from his own lips, tells that once
before, when in what Mr. Morris would call a`tight place,' he went back to
his own country from the land he had tried to invade, and thence, without
losing purpose, prepared himself for a new effort. He came again better
equipped for his work, and won. So he came to London to invade a new land.
He was beaten, and when all hope of success was lost, and his
existence in danger, he fled back over the sea to his home. Just as formerly
he had fled back over the Danube from Turkey Land."
"Good,
good! Oh, you so clever
lady!" said Van Helsing, enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her
hand. A moment later he said to me, as calmly as though we had been having a
sick room consultation, "Seventy-two only, and in all this excitement.
I have hope."
Turning
to her again, he said with keen expectation, "But go on. Go on!
There is more to tell if you will.
Be not afraid. John and I know.
I do in any case, and shall tell you if you are right.
Speak, without fear!"
"I
will try to. But you will forgive me if I seem too egotistical."
"Nay!
Fear not, you must be egotist, for it is of you that we think."
"Then,
as he is criminal he is selfish. And
as his intellect is small and his action is based on selfishness, he
confines himself to one purpose. That
purpose is remorseless. As he fled back over the Danube, leaving his forces
to be cut to pieces, so now he is intent on being safe, careless of all. So
his own selfishness frees my soul somewhat from the terrible power which he
acquired over me on that dreadful night. I felt it!
Oh, I felt it! Thank
God, for His great mercy! My soul is freer than it has been since that awful
hour. And all that haunts me is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may
have used my knowledge for his ends."
The
Professor stood up, "He has so used your mind, and by it he has left us
here in Varna, whilst the ship that carried him rushed through enveloping
fog up to Galatz, where, doubtless, he had made preparation for escaping
from us. But his child mind only saw so far.
And it may be that as ever is in God's Providence, the very thing
that the evil doer most reckoned on for his selfish good, turns out to be
his chiefest harm. The hunter is taken in his own snare, as the great
Psalmist says. For now that he think he is free from every trace of us all,
and that he has escaped us with so many hours to him, then his selfish child
brain will whisper him to sleep. He think, too, that as he cut himself off
from knowing your mind, there can be no knowledge of him to you.
There is where he fail! That terrible baptism of blood which he give
you makes you free to go to him in spirit, as you have as yet done in your
times of freedom, when the sun rise and set.
At such times you go by my volition and not by his.
And this power to good of you and others, you have won from your
suffering at his hands. This is now all more precious that he know it not,
and to guard himself have even cut himself off from his knowledge of our
where. We, however, are not selfish, and we believe that God is with us
through all this blackness, and these many dark hours. We shall follow him,
and we shall not flinch. Even
if we peril ourselves that we become like him.
Friend John, this has been a great hour, and it have done much to
advance us on our way. You must be scribe and write him all down, so that
when the others return from their work you can give it to them, then they
shall know as we do."
And
so I have written it whilst we wait their return, and Mrs. Harker has
written with the typewriter all since she brought the MS to us.
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