"Bram Stoker - Dracula" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

What shall I do? What can I do? How can I escape from this
dreadful thing of night, gloom, and fear?


25 June.--No man knows till he has suffered from the night
how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.
When the sun grew so high this morning that it struck the top
of the great gateway opposite my window, the high spot which it
touched seemed to me as if the dove from the ark had lighted there.
My fear fell from me as if it had been a vaporous garment
which dissolved in the warmth.

I must take action of some sort whilst the courage of the day is upon me.
Last night one of my post-dated letters went to post, the first of that fatal
series which is to blot out the very traces of my existence from the earth.

Let me not think of it. Action!

It has always been at night-time that I have been molested
or threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear.
I have not yet seen the Count in the daylight. Can it be that
he sleeps when others wake, that he may be awake whilst they sleep?
If I could only get into his room! But there is no possible way.
The door is always locked, no way for me.

Yes, there is a way, if one dares to take it. Where his body has
gone why may not another body go? I have seen him myself crawl from
his window. Why should not I imitate him, and go in by his window?
The chances are desperate, but my need is more desperate still.
I shall risk it. At the worst it can only be death, and a man's death
is not a calf's, and the dreaded Hereafter may still be open to me.
God help me in my task! Goodbye, Mina, if I fail. Goodbye, my faithful
friend and second father. Goodbye, all, and last of all Mina!


Same day, later.--I have made the effort, and God helping me, have come
safely back to this room. I must put down every detail in order.
I went whilst my courage was fresh straight to the window on the south side,
and at once got outside on this side. The stones are big and roughly cut,
and the mortar has by process of time been washed away between them.
I took off my boots, and ventured out on the desperate way.
I looked down once, so as to make sure that a sudden glimpse of the awful
depth would not overcome me, but after that kept my eyes away from it.
I know pretty well the direction and distance of the Count's window, and made
for it as well as I could, having regard to the opportunities available.
I did not feel dizzy, I suppose I was too excited, and the time seemed
ridiculously short till I found myself standing on the window sill and
trying to raise up the sash. I was filled with agitation, however, when I
bent down and slid feet foremost in through the window. Then I looked