Fear factor
Aditya Rishi

JONATHAN Harker gets a telegram from Vladimir: "A place has been reserved for you on the stagecoach tomorrow. The Count's own carriage will meet you at the Borgo's Pass." The next day at dawn, Harker boards the carriage to Borgo's Pass. Harker (to the carriage man): "Why was everybody at the inn looking at me so strangely?"

Man: "They know your destination. The mountains in the north of Transylvania are rich in legend, yet behind the legend - behind the fantasy - there are certain facts. Occasionally, a glimmer of the truth reaches us." Harker (several hours later): "Excuse me, how far is it to the Borgo's Pass?" Man: "We'll be there by nightfall."

Harker: "And from the pass to Count Dracula's castle?" Man: "You'd best ask whoever meets you, sir. To tell the truth, I've never seen the place and, please God, I never shall."

At nightfall, the coach halts. Man: "This is the Borgo's Pass; may God protect you, sir." Harker dismounts and another carriage approaches.

The new driver (offering a flask of alcohol to Harker): "The night is cold and my master, the Count, ordered me to take all care of you." Harker: "No, thank you. I don't need it." Driver: "As you wish, but it gives both warmth and courage."

(Later) Dracula: "Welcome to my house. It is late and my servants have gone to bed. I will see to your comfort myself." Dracula shows Harker to bedchamber, passes in front of a mirror. Harker notes that Dracula casts no reflection.

Harker: "You do not dine, sir?" Dracula: "I have already dined." Harker: "I hope then you should see the purchase document, it's duly receipted, the title deed to the house, the plans, everything. However, this London house you want has remained empty for quite a long time."

Dracula: "An empty house is what I require." Harker: "Why, and what about this great castle? It is, I presume, the family home?" Dracula: "You ask too many questions. Save the rest for tomorrow. Good night."

It's past midnight when Harker awakens and sees Dracula climbing up the castle wall. He feels two marks on his neck, climbs out of his bedroom window, crawls along a ledge and enters another window. Inside the chamber he saw Dracula enter, Harker opens Dracula's coffin.

Many weeks later, in a room at Van Helsing's clinic, Dr Seward attends to Harker, as he awakens from coma. Seward: "Good morning. I am Dr Seward and this is Professor Van Helsing's private clinic not far from London. You were found in a mountain stream, 200 km from Budapest." Harker: "And what of Count Dracula? I escaped from his castle, but he followed me with the others disguised as bats. I obtained his permission to ask him one last question. Give me the smallest whole number which, when multiplied by 7, gives a product comprising entirely of ones, I said. They all pounced on me. Before I fainted, I heard him say: leave him; I need an answer from him. Now he'll return for it. God, what would I do then? I made it up; I don't know the answer." (Help Harker; write at The Tribune or adityarishi99@yahoo.co.in)