CHAPTER 14 - Carfax Revisited

“The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old Quatre Face, as the house is four-sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of the compass. It contains in all some twenty acres, quite surrounded by the solid stone wall above mentioned. There are many trees on it, which make it in places, gloomy, and there is a deep dark-looking pond or small lake, evidently fed by some springs, as the water is clear and flows away in a fair-sized stream. The house is very large and of all periods back, I should say, to medieval times, for one part is of stone immensely thick, with only a few windows high up and heavily barred with iron. It looks like part of a keep, and is close to an old chapel or church.”

Jonathan Harker’s Journal,

Dracula,

by Bram Stoker

5 August, 1914 - Carfax Revisited

The rusted oak and iron gates, normally barring the entrance to Carfax, were leaning against the stone wall. Workmen were already busy fashioning a new set of gates as Lucy watched.
“Are you ready?” Mina grasped Lucy’s hand, giving her a quick squeeze.
She took in a deep breath and nodded her head. This, pilgrimage, as she thought of it, could not be any harder than the ordeal she and Camilla endured this morning. Stabs of pain accompanied her retelling of the events of yesterday, and the waves of guilt that flooded her thoughts left her speechless for moments at a time.
So now, they were all outside of Carfax, excepting Mrs. Seward, who was comforting Bram,and looking after Aggie and Lily; waiting for her and Camilla to retrace their footsteps.
She understood their reasoning; no one was eager to set foot on the property, but, as Lady Victoria suggested, it was time to address Carfax directly, as ignoring it all these years has not not been a wise course.
She took a step forward, and everyone followed after her. She walked over to the foot path and proceeded towards the ruined chapel, trying not to mind those following her. The plan was to recreate their exact circuit, but, as the pond came into view, she could not avoid looking in that direction. Some distance away on the left, and, out of the corner of her eye she saw movement; stopping, she turned full round to face the willow tree and pond.
It was her father who found Jack last night; his legs twisted among the tree roots, and his body face down in the water. He was unable to pry Jack loose from the roots until he emptied the pockets weighed down with gold coins; the coins still lying where her father scattered them. And now, she saw the outline of faint wisps hovering above the ground, like mayflies during their courtship dance.
She stood still, watching the dance, feeling a hatred she could taste.
“Oh,” her mother gasped, “I see them.”
The rest crowded round; but Lucy paid them no heed. She noted the wisps’ dance becoming erratic, and encouraged by the thought that she may be causing that frenzy, she concentrated all her rage and torment towards them.
“I see a disturbance above the ground, like a shimmer, but nothing visible,” Lady Victoria offered, as she looked over at Lucy, noting how stiff she was standing, staring towards the pond.
She touched Mina gently, and pointed to Lucy. They both watched her for a moment, and then glanced back at the pond, only to gasp again.
“Now I see the shimmer,” Lord Godalming exclaimed.
Mina hurried over to Lucy, grasping her arms, “Dear, what are you doing? Those, things, are becoming clearer!”
Camilla let out a little cry.
Lady Victoria came to Lucy’s side, “Lucy, they are getting stronger. Stop whatever you are doing.”
Mina shook her gently, trying to get her attention. Her father turned her around, away from the pond; kneeling down so she could see his face, “They are feeding off of your emotions, that is their food, you are their food.”
Lucy’s face contorted into a grimace, and clutching her stomach, she bent forward, overcome by nausea. Her father picked her up, carrying her back to the gates, “Enough for today!”

She could hear bits of conversation drift through her thoughts.
“They seem to be attached to the coins.”
“But I had no difficulty taking coins from the Count’s castle.”
“Could that be why these things were now protecting the gold?”
“No, I took the coins after he had left the castle.”
“Well, we will have to definitely go back.”
A slight pause, “Yes, but not with Lucy.”
“We need her Jonathan, we have to find a way.”
Lucy struggled to a sitting position, noticing she was in Dr. Seward’s study, “I will help.” A cool cloth dropped from off her forehead; Bram ran over to retrieve it for her. He wore such a sad face for one so young.
She smiled and patted the seat next to her inviting him to sit with her. She found comfort in Bram’s company because he too was as devoted to Jack as she was, and was as devastated as she. Both their worlds had grown dark and now they clung together for comfort.
Her mother sat on the other side, “How are you feeling dear?” She felt her forehead.
“What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“Oh.”
“Do you think you will be able to help us?” Lady Victoria asked. “There is no denying we need to ‘assemble more knowledge’ as the professor would say,” smiling at Lucy, “but not at the expense of your health or well-being.”
Lucy took a deep breath, “No, I am fine. I didn’t know how much hate I could feel, it confused me.” She looked at her mother, “I will be better prepared next time.”
“Well,” Lady Victoria relaxed back into her chair, “I think we will all be better prepared.”
Lord Godalming reflected, “It appears that whatever they are, their only concern is the coins.”
“Yes,…..” Lady Victoria slowly agreed. “But Jonathan, you said you found poor Jack with his legs twisted among the willow roots. Do you think that was…, normal?”
It was Harker’s time to think before answering. “As I mentioned earlier, I remember that I had no success in untangling his legs until after I had emptied his pockets of the coins.”
There was a momentary pause in the conversation.
Lucy looked around the room, concerned about Mrs. Seward’s feelings. “Where’s Mrs. Seward?”
“She’s keeping vigil over Jack; if you will excuse me, I would like to relieve her for a while,” Dr. Seward crossed the room, gently taking Lucy’s hand to check her pulse.
“Let me come with you,” Lucy entreated. Bram slipped his hand into Lucy’s, “Let us both come with you.”
“But you have already paid your respects, and I am, preparing, him for his final journey.”
“We will watch, or help. Please.”
He turned to the others, looking for guidance, but he saw consternation and confusion in their eyes, and so, turned back to the two youngsters, “Very well then, come with me.”
He led them down into the basement, a part of the home she had never seen. A draft of cold air greeted them as they entered what appeared to be a workshop, or laboratory, dominated by a large table in the center, covered with white sheets. Mrs. Seward was bending over the table, whispering. She looked up as they came in, surprise showing on her face.
“They wished to see Jack again.”
She looked at them with understanding, and brought a stool over for Bram.
Dr. Seward removed his coat and put on a white apron and rubber gloves. “We decided to accept Lord Godalming’s offer to inter Jack in the mausoleum at the Institute. It may be a comfort for us, later on.”
Lucy nodded as she looked down at Jack.  Already she could see changes from this morning; Jack was slipping away, and in his place was this gray stranger. Surprisingly she found peace in that thought. Her memories of Jack were more alive, untouched by death.
Bram handed a little toy soldier to his mother, “Can you put this in Jack’s pocket?”
Tears flowed freely as Mrs. Seward took the toy, “Of course dear.”
Lucy undid a red ribbon from her hair and handed it to Mrs. Seward silently. Both items were laid on a shelf which contained Jack’s Sunday suit, all cleaned and pressed.
Dr. Seward gently rolled his son’s body on its side as he washed him. Jack’s head rocked back, revealing an object protruding from his mouth. Mrs. Seward backed away with a gasp, as Lucy grabbed Bram who lost his footing on the stool.
A slow moan issued from Mrs. Seward as she sank to the floor.
“Marie!” Dr. Seward rushed to his wife’s side. “Marie, speak to me!”
She limply raised her hand towards Bram, “Send him away, he must not see this.”
Lucy bent down in front of Bram, holding both his shoulders, “ Bram, this is important. Do you think you can go upstairs and bring the others back here?”
“I don’t want to leave,” he pleaded, with a scared look on his face.
“Someone needs to tell the others, come back here with them, and you can stay with me.”
He reluctantly nodded.
“And don’t run, be careful,” she called to him as he began running towards the door.
Dr. Seward positioned his wife more comfortably against the bank of drawers lining the wall, “What happened, are you sick?”
Mrs. Seward looked at Lucy, the doctor  followed her gaze.
Shakily she answered, “It’s Jack. There is something, in his mouth.”
Dr. Seward stood up so quickly he nearly dislodged his wife.
With an exclamation, Dr. Seward began examining Jack’s body, while Lucy helped Mrs. Seward up from off the floor.
By then, advancing footsteps announced the arrival of the Godalmings and the Harkers, with Camilla and Bram following close behind. With so many adults crowding around the table, Lucy stepped back with Camilla and Bram.
“What happened?”
“This was dislodged from Jack’s mouth.”
“How?”
“I was turning Jack over when it became noticeable.”
“What is it? Is there only one?”
“I don’t know, I hadn’t intended to perform an autopsy.”
A small silence ensued as all realized a more thorough examination might be necessary.
Mrs. Seward gripped the table. “We need all the knowledge we can obtain. There is no outsider that will understand what has happened, they will not look for Jack’s murderer, yes, that is what I said. Jack was murdered, by who or what I do not know. But it is only we here that will know when justice has been done.”
She looked over at her husband, “I am a trained nurse and this is my son, I will help you.”
The two ladies on either side of her gave her an affectionate squeeze.
“Lucy,” Dr. Seward looked round for her, “Lucy, could you come here and see if this looks like the wisps you spoke of?”
They cleared a way for her, righting the stool so that she could see the object better.
It looked like a mangled, or deformed, moth, mostly made up of several pairs of delicate wings. The wings were broken, with gauze like shreds clinging to filament. Dr. Seward turned the wisp over, using long tweezers, revealing a tiny body, smaller than a fly, the most prominent feature being large red eyes. She gulped, trying to ignore the queasiness in her stomach.
She shook her head, “I don’t know, what I saw was always moving, so I can’t say.”
Lord Godalming nodded his head, “Well said, well said. This would be the worse time to make any assumptions. John, the coroner will be here tomorrow, I could not delay him any further. We are all here at your service.”
“Yes, well, if you could manage the household while Marie and I begin here, we may have something to report by dinner time. When will Dr. Jacobs be here tomorrow?”
“He said he would call at one in the afternoon.”
“Do not concern yourself too much with Dr. Jacobs, he and I have collaborated on many a case together, and he knows us well.”
As Lucy left she saw Dr. Seward lift the specimen into a metal tray and place it on the back corner, while Mrs. Seward put on an over-sized apron and rubber gloves.
“We need netting, and gloves,” Lady Victoria announced as they ascended the stairs.
“My dear, what are your plans? What are you thinking?”
“We went into Carfax this morning, unprotected. Anything could have happened.”
“The gloves?”
“We need to capture one, to study.”
Stunned silence followed her reply.
“Yes,” Mina sighed, “You are right, we must at least attempt a try.” She turned to Bram, “Dear, do you know where your father keeps his equipment?”
Bram nodded, “Joseph has the keys.”
“Well let’s go find him then.”

Once fully outfitted, they again went to the entrance of Carfax. Lord Godalming spoke with the foreman briefly, and soon they proceeded inside the property. This time they went directly to the pond.
“Are they still there Lucy?” Lady Victoria inquired.
Lucy saw them clearly; she nodded her head, finding that the anger she felt this morning had dissipated, leaving a bit of curiosity in its place.
“First we need to survey the buildings, and then walk the perimeter of the wall to ensure there are no more accidental entries. Lucy, please show us the chapel.”
She held her father’s hand as they walked around the chapel, and then inside. Either Camilla or Lucy pointed out what they had seen and heard yesterday.
“Here is where I saw that blue glow. Jack did not see it, but he did investigate that spot.”
“Is there a glow now?”
“No, father.”
“What did he want to show you here?”
“He found a coin in the large room in front, and he wanted us to help him look for more.”
“It appears he found it. Did he tell you where he found it?”
“No, Camilla and I were outside these doors, we wanted to leave.”
“Dear, don’t wander off too far”, Lord Godalming called after his wife, who was making her way to the front of the building.
“Come with me Mina, I want to see the rest of the house before we leave.”
“Be careful.” Shouted Lord Godalming after them.
Harker took Lucy’s hand, “Walk with us around the house and see if you notice anything, glowing or otherwise.”
They inspected the house and wandered around the perimeter and the grounds, ending in front of the pond, a goodly distance from the willow tree.
“Are the wisps still there?”
“Yes.”
“Above the coins?”
“I can’t tell, I’ll have to get closer.”
“Wait,” her father said, adjusting her face netting, “not without me.” She smiled up at him.
Lucy decided to approach a small group some distance from the tree. Their presence stirred no reaction and so Lucy slowly stepped close enough to make out three coins in their vicinity.
“Three coins, three wisps.”
“Are they attacking?”
“No.” Lucy could not help but smile at the question.
She knelt down, wondering if she could catch one in her butterfly net. They were in constant motion, never alighting. Her swipes were fruitless, but gave her a chance to watch them. They maneuvered out of the reach of the net, but immediately took their position above the coins.
On a hunch she quickly dropped a coin into the net and watched the wisp hover above it, in the net, she closed the top with her hand and slowly stood up.
“Do you have one?”
She nodded.
“Slowly back away, but keep your eyes on the others, I’ll watch your steps.” He grabbed her elbow, and guided her backwards. Halfway to the others waiting on the path, Lucy stopped suddenly.
“Oh!”
Her father turned around in time to see the bottom of the net drop to the ground.
Turning back towards the others waiting, he yelled, “Run, leave this place!”
Mina headed towards them. Jonathan waved her back, “Go! We are right behind you! Lucy, what are they doing?”
“Nothing.”
He pulled her in front of him and holding onto her, they made their way to the gates and beyond, stopping by the carpenters who had stopped their work.
“Anything following?”
Lucy shook her head. The workmen followed her gaze, their eyes wide with fright. Lord Godalming, seeing their consternation, tried to put them at ease. “Well, that was a fright!” He laughed. “Not sure what the young lady saw, might have been a hawk.”
They relaxed enough to go about their work, and Lord Godalming ushered their little group along exclaiming about over-active imaginations.  

Lord Godalming presided over dinner. “It is with a heavy heart that we once again gather together; for celebrating a life cut too short, and to gain comfort surrounded by friends and family who are the only ones understand the dangers that surround us. May we continue to gain solace and strength from one another as we follow a path few would dare to take. We cannot turn away as the danger only increases when so-called acclaimed wise men say that evil does not exist.
“Today we have welcomed the next generation into our council as we realize that attempting to shield the young from horrors only delays their exposure, it does not protect them.
“Let us also remember that a part of our circle is facing other dangers in another country and they need to be remembered in our thoughts and in our plans to re-unite us all once again.”
It went unsaid that any talk of the autopsy would be reserved for the council’s gathering after the meal. Most of the conversation revolved around memories of Jack, and a few even elicited laughs. For the first time since Jack’s death, Lucy understood how life goes on, and how enfolding all their memories into their hearts allowed him to live on.

“He did not die from drowning in water.” Dr.Seward stood by the mantel, eyes downcast. “He drowned in his own blood. This was no accident; as Marie said, it is murder.”
All had sadly come to that conclusion themselves, but to have it declared out loud gave it a finality that could not be ignored.
“There were lacerations in Jacks mouth, and even in his nostrils, with bits of wings stuffed into the nasal cavity. We did not see that at first, the water may have washed away any trace.” Dr. Seward choked on the last few words.
Marie, drawing herself up, continued, “The autopsy showed internal bleeding from those lacerations. We did examine the creature,” here she nodded at Lucy, “but we did not test the wings for sharpness. I’m really not sure if there is enough to test.”
Harker turned to Lucy, “Does that make sense? Did you see anything that could explain how the net was shredded?”
“No, the creature was flying around, and where it touched the net, a hole formed, but that is all I could see.”
“John, do you think we could test with what is left in the lab?”
“Maybe, we can try tonight if you wish.”
“There are so many questions,” Lady Victoria murmured.
Lucy fidgeted in her seat, “Why can’t we just burn the buildings with the gold coins in it, and chop down that horrible tree?”
No one spoke for a moment; it was obvious from looking around the room that each one was deep into their own thoughts.
Finally her father spoke, “We must be careful what we destroy, it may be we make matters worse. It is man that abuses nature and its powers and we must erase that abuse, not destroy nature.”
“We have learned a hard lesson young lady,” Lord Godalming interjected, “eliminating the Count did not keep us safe. Everything he has touched is tainted; that is why he threatened us, saying his revenge is spread over centuries, that time is on his side. And here we are, seventeen years later, feeling the truth of his words.”
“But then, how?” Not hiding her frustration.
“We have planned for this day for some years now,” Lady Victoria offered. “The Professor and I have discussed what could be done to make Carfax whole again. What was not in our plan was the presence of the gold coins, and whatever that creature is we found on Jack.”
Mina leaned over and patted Lucy’s hand, “The other lesson we learned so long ago was to expect the unexpected. Our carefully drawn out plans to thwart the Count had to be thrown away and modified on the fly because the Count was cunning.
“There is nothing to be gained by trying to do something quickly, just for the sake of doing something.”
Mina looked at the others, “And one question I have is, how did that hole in the wall come to be? We checked the rest of the wall, and there is no other such damage.”
She swung around to face Dr. Seward, ”John, have you given the order to repair that hole yet?”
“No, I told them to finish the gates first.”
“Well ,before you give the order, I would like to see it again.”
“Agreed, we can investigate the wall in the morning. Everyone, please stay for the night. Your support and companionship has sustained us through this ordeal, and look, the young ones are already half asleep. We can take a moment to see them to bed and re-convene in the laboratory.”

The group crowded round the laboratory table while Dr. Seward removed the creature from the tray. Using two sets of tweezers he straightened a small section of wing and held it tight as Marie lowered a piece of fabric onto the edge of the wing. There was no resistance as the fabric was cleanly cut in half.
All leaned back with varying exclamations or sighs.
“Well I think we can safely assume the wings cut the netting.” Lord Godalming remarked.
“But Jack showed me the coin he found when he visited Westenra. He didn’t have any cuts on him then.”
“What could be the difference?” Lady Victoria asked, not to anyone in particular.
“Could it be a different coin?” Harker posited. “I took several coins from the Count’s room with no difficulty.”
Lucy involuntarily shuddered when her father spoke those words. She could not imagine what he had lived through.
“Does anyone know if we are talking about more than one type of coin?”, Lady Victoria volunteered.
Lord Godalming inquired, “Lucy, didn’t you tell us this morning that Jack told you he found the coin in the central room, not in the chapel?”
Lucy nodded, unable to speak, remembering again that it was she who told Jack about the blue glow.
Silence ensued. Lady Victoria turned to Marie, “Could we check Jack’s room and see if there is a coin among his possessions?”
“Let me come with you, I have seen the coin before, I can help.”, Lucy offered.
“Before you leave, are we sure we have seen everything we wish to see here? I need to contain this specimen as we still have no idea of its capability even in death.”
All looked at each other and shook their head.
“Well then let’s meet in the study and see what the search of Jack’s room uncovers. Marie I’ll join you as soon as I close the lab.”

“Harker didn’t you mention something about this in your diary?” It was Lord Godalming who now presided over the mantel.
“Yes, I saw what looked to me like a blue flame where the driver, whom I later determined was the Count, would construct a stone landmark wherever he found the flame. He said that on one night a year, May 4th to be exact, on the eve of St. George’s Day, the hiding place of gold was revealed. I saw it easily.”
“But you didn’t see any blue flame near the coins in Carfax?”
Harker shook his head.
“But Lucy did.”
He looked at Lord Godalming, “so she said.”
“Jonathan, when the Count was cornered in the house at Piccadilly, weren’t coins spilled on the floor when you attacked him? If I remember correctly, some were scattered when the Count escaped.” Both men nodded. “There was no trouble with those coins?”
“No,” Jonathan answered, “they were mostly sovereigns, we picked up the ones he dropped, and they are still in the office safe at Westenra, along with the diaries.”
“So we have those to examine.”
“Here is the coin,” Lucy announced as she entered the room with Dr. And Mrs. Seward.
“Any wisp?” Lucy shook her head.
Her father took the coin from her hand and offered it to Lord Godalming. “It appears to be a Spanish doubloon.”
“So it does,” Lord Godalming answered, “quite old too, there is no year stamped on it.”
“Then I wonder what is out by the pond.” Lady Victoria mused.
Her husband looked at her, “Are you suggesting another venture into Carfax?”
“We need to know; if we are earnest about reclaiming that property.” She leveled her gaze on him, waiting for some indication of understanding and support.
He sighed and looked at Mina, and then Harker, “What do you think?”
Harker  took Lucy’s hand, “Do you think you could help us again? We will all be there, if we can get close enough to look at the coins, but we need you to warn us of any stirrings or activity of the wisps.”
“I want to help.”
“Then it is decided.”
“There is one more thing I would like to discuss.”
This time all heads turned to Lady Victoria. Lucy suddenly realized that, for some reason, Lady Victoria was leading this group in its investigation of Carfax. It was more than just the fact that she and the professor had been the only council members giving serious thought to Carfax for many years, there was an underlying respect being shown to her by everyone.
 She wondered how it must have felt over the years to understand a danger, and not be able to persuade the others to  take action.
Thinking about this, Lucy determined that she would give all her attention to Lady Victoria’s, and the professor’s, ideas, and also their knowledge.
“Arthur, I will have to go north, to see father.” Lucy could tell this was a discussion they must have had many times; so much seemed to lie behind those words.
Lord Godalming, looking concerned and resigned, nodded reluctantly.
“And I will need to take Camilla and Lucy with me.”