Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty Six

Barry was angry.I can't blame him, but it was inappropriate for him to disturb me when I was going to bed.What annoyed me even more was that I then breathed a sigh of relief to myself.I hadn't realized how lonely it was to ride a train alone until I saw him, and a few days ago, Barry was a stranger, and now his face meant familiarity to me. But at this time, that face was still serious. "Where the hell are you going? You make it easy for me to find—what the hell are you doing?" "'Why are you stalking me?' I asked back. "'The ferry was delayed this morning due to repairs,' he seemed to be smiling now. 'Can you explain why you are not at school, but on the express train to Paris?'

what can i do "'I'm sorry, Barry,' I said humbly. 'I really didn't want to draw you in. I know you already think I'm weird—' "'You're weird,' interposed Barry, 'but you better tell me what you're up to. We've got plenty of time.' Me, Helen and Turgut sat at the table in the bistro, looking at each other.I feel a certain kinship between us.Perhaps Helen wanted to wait a while before speaking, so she picked up the blue boulder that Turgut had placed next to her plate, and handed it to me. "'It is an ancient symbol,' said she, 'and it is an amulet to ward off the evil eye.'

I took it over, felt its smoothness and the warmth of her hand on it, and put it down again. "However, Turgut didn't take our word for it, 'Ma'am, are you Romanian?' She was silent, 'If you are, then you have to be careful here.' He lowered his voice slightly, 'Police Might be of interest to you. Our country is not very friendly with Romania.' 'I know,' she said coldly. "'But how did that gypsy woman know?' Turgut frowned. 'You didn't talk to her.' 'I don't know.' Helen shrugged helplessly. "Turgut shook his head, 'Some people say that gypsies have the ability to see the future, I never believe this, but -' he stopped abruptly, patting his beard with a napkin,' she said of vampires, really Very strange.''Really?' Helen asked back, 'she must be crazy. Gypsies are crazy.' 'Maybe, maybe,' Turgut fell silent, 'but I think she spoke It's weird looking, because that's another interest of mine.' 'Gypsies?' I asked.

"'No, good sir—vampire.' Helen and I stared at him, carefully avoiding each other's eyes. 'Shakespeare is my job, and the study of vampire lore is my hobby. We have a long tradition here. vampire tradition." "Is this a—er—Turkish tradition?" I asked in amazement. "'Ah, the legend goes back at least to Egypt, my dear colleague. But here in Istanbul, the vampire comes first from legend, and it is said that the most bloodthirsty Byzantine emperors were vampires, and some of them believed that the Christian communion (ritual) It means sucking the blood of mortals. But I don't believe this, I firmly believe that this is a later statement." "Oh--" I don't want to appear very interested, not because I am afraid that Turgut will be with the dark Power is a group, I was afraid that Helen would step on me under the table again. But she also glared at him, "How about Dracula's tradition? Have you heard of it?" "Have you heard of it?" Ergut snorted. His dark eyes sparkled, and he twisted the towel into a knot, 'You know, Dracula was real, was he a figure in history? Actually, yours My countryman, lady—' He bowed to Helen, 'he was a king who ruled west of the Carpathians in the fifteenth century. He was not a respectable man, you know.' Me and Helen were nodding—couldn't help it At least I did, and she seemed too absorbed in listening to Turgut, nodding unconsciously. She leaned forward slightly, listening, her eyes shining with the same black light as his, usually pale Her face turned red. Despite my excitement, I found that her sharp-edged face suddenly looked beautiful because of an inner light.

"'Uh—' Turgut seemed to be saying it with enthusiasm, 'I don't want to bother you, but I have a point, and that is that Dracula is a very important figure in the history of Istanbul. It is well known that he was killed in his youth. Sultan Mehmed II was imprisoned in Gallipoli, and later moved further east to Anatolia Anatolia, the old name for the peninsula of Asia Minor. It was his father who took him as a hostage of a treaty and handed him over to Muhammad's father, Sultan Murad II. He was imprisoned for six full years from 1442 to 1448. Dracula's father was not a gentleman either.' Turgut chuckled For a moment, 'The soldiers guarding young Dracula were torture artists, and he must have learned a lot from them. But, my kind gentlemen'—he seemed to be immersed in academic enthusiasm, and for a moment he forgot Helen's sex—'My own opinion is that he left his mark on them, too.' 'What do you mean?' I was gasping for breath.

"'From about that time there are records of vampires in Istanbul. That's my opinion—not yet published, alas, I can't prove it—his earliest victims were Ottomans, perhaps those who became Keepers of his friends. I think he left the plague in our empire, which followed the conqueror into Constantinople.' "We stared at him in silence. According to legend, only the dead can become vampires. Does this mean that Vlad Dracula was indeed killed in Asia Minor and turned into a zombie at a young age, or that he was very young Tasted the wine of wickedness when I was young, and seduced others to do like him? I leave that question to him when I know more about Turgut, 'Oh, it's my queer hobby, you know.' Turgut resumed his friendly smile, 'Well, excuse me, I'm babbling again. My wife says I'm unbearable.' He raised his glass slightly, gestured politely, and drank from the vial again 'But, man, I can prove one thing! I can prove that the Sultan is as afraid of him as if he were a vampire!' He pointed to the ceiling.

"'Proof?' I repeated. "'Yes! I found out some years ago. Those sultans were all interested in Vlad Dracula, and after Dracula's death in Wallachia, they collected information and personal information about his presence here. Items. Dracula killed a lot of Turkish soldiers in his country, our sultan hated him very much for that, but the archives were not created for that. No! The sultan even wrote to Valla in 1478 Pasha Pasha of Guinea, the old title of high civil and military official of the Ottoman Empire and North Africa, put after his name, asked him for all the documents he knew about Vlad Dracula. Why? Because—he Said - he was going to build an archive to combat the evil that spread in his city after Dracula's death. You see - if the Sultan didn't believe that Dracula would return, why did he keep Afraid of him? I found a copy of the pasha's reply.' He pounded the table and smiled at us, 'I also found his archives for fighting evil.' Helen and I sat motionless This coincidence is too bizarre. Finally, I tentatively asked him, 'Professor, are these collections established by Sultan Mehmed II?' This time, he glared at us, 'My God, you are a very good man. Historians, are you interested in this part of our history?' 'Indeed,' I said, 'we thought--I'd love to see the archives you found.' 'Of course,' he said,' Glad to take you there.' He giggled. 'But, alas, the original beautiful building of the Archives was knocked down to make way for the Highways Administration—oh, eight years ago. That was from A beautiful little building not far from the Blue Mosque. What a pity!' I felt my face turn pale, no wonder Rossi said the archives are so hard to find, 'but what about the literature—?' 'Don't worry, kind Sir. I'm sure they're part of the National Library." His face darkened for the first time since he berated the gypsy woman. "Our city still has to fight evil, as it does everywhere.He glanced at both of us, 'If you like artifacts, I'd love to take you there tomorrow.It must be closed tonight.I know the administrator very well, and I can let you take a closer look at the collections there. ''Thank you very much,' I dare not look at Helen, 'you are - how did you become interested in this unusual subject? ''Oh, it's a long story,' said Turgut gravely, 'tell me, my fellows, how did you become interested in the subject of Dracula? ' With a gentlemanly (or skeptical?) smile, he hit us back.

"I glanced at Helen, 'Well, I'm working on fifteenth-century Europe as a background for my doctoral dissertation,' and I said, 'You,' I went further, 'How did you make the jump from Shakespeare to vampires? ' Turgut laughed—seemingly sad. His deadpan honesty was a further punishment for me, 'Ah, that was strange, a long time ago. At that time, I was writing my second book on Shakespeare, It's about tragedy. Every day I work in that break--how do you say it?-room in the English room at school. One day I find a book I've never seen there before.' He took Turning to me with that sad smile, the blood in my whole body has turned cold, 'This book is different from other books, an empty book, very old, with a dragon in the middle of the page, and a word—— Dracula. I'd never heard of Dracula before, but the painting was strange and the colors were harsh. Then I thought, I've got to figure this out. So I tried to understand everything.' Sitting across from me Helen had froze, but now she moved, as if urgently, 'Everything?' she repeated softly."

Barry and I were almost in Brussels. 'This is very bizarre,' he said, 'I don't know why I should believe such a ridiculous story, but I believe it.I would also like to believe it. ' It occurred to me that I'd never seen him serious, only humor, or fleeting moments of exasperation. ' Oddly enough, this reminds me of something. ' "'What's the matter?' He apparently accepted my story, and I nearly fainted with relief. "'Well, a strange thing. I can't remember what it is, but it has something to do with Professor James. But what is it?'"