The body turned from side to side and a horrible scream came 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 and lay quiet.
The hammer fell from Arthur’s hand, and he stood there, white and shaking. Van Helsing went over to him. ‘And now you may kiss her,’ he said. ‘See! The vampire is dead, and the real Lucy has come back.’
It was true. Lucy’s face was pale and still, but it was now quiet and restful. Arthur kissed her softly on the mouth, and then Van Helsing closed the coffin again, this time, for ever.
‘Now, my friends,’ Van Helsing said, ‘we have only just begun. We must find the vampire that killed Miss Lucy. It will be difficult and dangerous. Will you help me?’
‘Yes,’ we said. ‘We will.’