Lucy's Fear of Sleep and Mysterious Illness

Lucy's Fear of Sleep

I was awake all night watching Lucy. This morning she woke up much better. This evening I went to Lucy’s room again to keep her company during the night. She was happy that I was there. Whenever she seemed to be falling asleep, she forced herself to wake up again. She did this two or three times.

"Don’t you want to sleep?" I asked. "No, I’m afraid," she replied. "Afraid to go to sleep? Why? Everybody likes sleeping," I said. "Not if you are like me. Sleep, for me, is the beginning of horror," she said. "The beginning of horror. What does that mean?" I asked. "I don’t know. I don’t know," she said, "and that is what makes it so horrible! A weakness comes to me when I am asleep."

"But my dear girl," I said, "you can sleep tonight. I am here watching you, and I promise you that nothing will happen."

"Ah, I can trust you," she said. "I promise you that if I see that you are having a bad dream, I will wake you at once," I said. "You will? Oh, will you really wake me? You are very good to me. Then I will sleep!" And as soon as she had finished the sentence, she fell asleep.

A Disturbing Morning

"You are not going to stay awake tonight, Lucy said to me. There is a nice room next to mine where you can sleep. If there is any problem, I will call you immediately. Tonight you must sleep." I was so tired that I accepted her offer and slept in the other room.

The professor put his hand on my head, and I woke up immediately. "And how is our patient?" he said. "She was well when I left her, or rather when she left me," I answered. "Come, let us go and see," he said. And we went to her room. The blind was down, and the room was dark. I raised the blind, and the room filled with light.

A Pale Discovery

"My God!" said the professor. His face became pale, and he pointed at the bed. There on the bed was poor Lucy. She appeared to have lost consciousness. "Quick!" he said. "We must give her another transfusion, and this time Arthur is not here—your blood."

Professor Van Helsing's Treatment

This afternoon I went to Lucy’s house and found the professor very happy, and Lucy much better. A moment after my arrival, a big parcel from abroad arrived for the professor. He opened it and pulled out some white flowers.

"These are for you, Lucy," he said. "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" While he was speaking, Lucy was looking at the flowers and smelling them. Then she threw them down and said, "Oh, Professor, I think you are joking with me. These flowers are only common garlic."

Serious Intentions

To my surprise, the professor became angry and said, "I never joke! Everything I do is serious. Do not try to block my work." Then he saw that he had frightened Lucy and he said quietly, "Oh, Lucy, do not be afraid of me. I am doing this for your good."

After we had finished, I said, "Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason, but I don't understand what you are doing. A skeptic would say that you are using magic to keep out an evil spirit."

"Perhaps I am!" he answered quietly as he began to make the garlic necklace.