P 18.....
Just as i had finished packing my suitcase for the trip, the old lady nervously came into my room.
"Yaing Herr, do you really have to go ?" She asked.
I replied i had to go, as it was business. She asked me if i really knew where and what i was going to do. Finally, she got on her knees and begged me not to go."what silliness," i thought. I helped her stand up and told her firmly that it was my business to go, and nothing could interfere with that. She wiped tears from her eyes. Then she took off the crucifix that hung around her neck and put it around my neck.
"For your mother's sake," she said before leaving my room
P 19....
I am writing this as i wait for the coach. There are many townspeople around the inn talking about me. I looked up in my dictionary the few words i could catch. If i am right, these words are "Ordog," which means Satan, and "vrolok," which means something that is either wolf or vampire. These are quaint superstitions.
Here comes tha coach now. Better late than never!
P 20....
5 May
I am at Count Dracula's castle now. The journey took many hours, and it was a strange one.
We soon left the inn behind and entered a wild and beautiful countryside. Before us lay a green sloping land full of forests and woods, with steep hills to the right and left. The afternoon sun brough out all thr glorious colors of this beautiful range.
P 21...
Soon the sun sank low behind us. At dark, the passengers became excited, and it seemed they were urging the driver to go faster. He lashed the horses unmercifully with his long whip to pick up their speed. Then the mountains closed in on either side. We were entering the Borgo Pass.
It was obvious that someting very exciting aas expected, but though i asked each passenger, no one would give me the slightest explanation. I was looking for a driver who would take me to the Count. I expected to see lamps through the blackness, but all was dark. I aas thinking about what i was going to do when the driver, looking at his watch, said,"there is no coach waiting for you here. Perhaps the Count does not expect you after all. You should come on to Bukovina and return tomorrow or the next day, or even better, the day after that.
P 22....
But no sooner had he spoked these words than another coach came up from behind us. This caused our horses to become agitated, and my fellow passengers all shouted and made the sign of the cross. Four beautiful horses pulled the new coach alongside our own. The driver wea a tall man with a long brown beard. A large black hat hid his face from view, but his eyes seemed to glow red in the light of our lamps.
P 23...
He side to the driver,"you are early tonight, my fruend."
The man stammered in plreply,"the English Herr was in a hurry."
To which the stranger replied,"that is why, i suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend. I know too much, and my horses are swift."
As he spoke, he smiled, and the lamplight revealed a hard mohth, with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. "Give me the Herr's luggage," he side, and my bags were quickly handed out and put in the other coach.
As i changed coaches, my new driver leapt down and helped me in . He held my arm in a grip of steel. Then he leapt up to his seat, shook his reins, and we lurched forward, hurtling throng the night.
P 24...
This us where my journey became even stranger. At first