Book X Read online

  “They did. Is this one?”

  The voice answered, “The fact that you have come this far up the mountain without me seeing you is a strange happening.”

  “A compliment?”

  “Perhaps. What is your goal here?”

  “I’m looking for work,” said Kal as he stood at rest.

  “We have no needs here. I suggest you return to the village. Darkness comes fast here.”

  “Are you in ch . . . ?” A sudden shriek and snort sounded and the wild boar burst out of its hiding place and with its head lowered and tusks gleaming ran at the low crop of bushes that the voice came from.

  “Aieeeee,” came the scream as a small man dressed in bearskin and leather ran from his hiding place. Kal knew from past experiences that it was too late and the boar was about to gore him. He had perfected his aim-and-shoot response-time and the wild boar leaped up as his rifle barked. The animal crashed into the bushes and laid still as the small man looked about him with terrified eyes.

  Kal went and nudged the boar and said to the man, “Dead.”

  The man had a shaggy gray beard and hair. He wore a bearskin jacket and hat and deerskin pants and moccasins. His eyes were green and wide as they looked at the dead animal.

  “Y-You saved my life.”

  “It was the right thing to do, sir.”

  “Sir? You called me, sir?”

  “Also the right thing to do as I know of no other name for you.”

  He stood as tall as his five-foot three-inch frame would allow and said as he removed his hat and bowed to his savior, “Seleb Vastener, at your service, sir.”

  Kal nodded and returned his bow and with a tip of his wide brimmed hat said, “Kal Kurop and pleased to meet you, Seleb.”

  Seleb said, “Rest assured, my friend, if I hadn’t been occupied with speaking with you, I would have seen that boar in time to leave.”

  “I do not doubt that at all, my friend.”

  Seleb kicked some grass and asked, “So, you would work at Castle Sergi Custance? And, pray tell, what is it that you would do here?”

  “I am a gamekeeper by trade.”

  The diminutive man nodded and said, “And a good one at that . . . almost as good as I.”

  “Perhaps you will teach me all there is to know?”

  Seleb waved his arm in a circle and said, “As you saw there are stags and deer in abundance in these woods. I could use another gamekeeper to help me round them up so we can drive them to the valley on the other side of the mountain where there is an abundance of grass for them to feed on. It is penned in to keep wolves away from them until the grass of this area has replenished itself.”

  “That would be splendid.”

  “Come, then, we go to the castle.” Kal followed the little man to the castle.

  The tree line ended abruptly and suddenly before them stood the castle. The big structure was surrounded by a wide moat and the drawbridge was up and closed but opened as they approached it. The big wooden drawbridge closed right after they entered the interior. Kal tried to make as though going into the castle was an everyday thing for him.

  The vast courtyard covered by a carpet of grass that yielded red, yellow, blue and white flowers, surprised him. No horseback riding here, he thought as they approached a wooden door set in the main tower. It opened to show an immense room with a fireplace that had to be eight feet wide. There was a long wooden table in the center of the round room with twenty beautiful, hand carved, high-backed wooden chairs. On the table was a long, white linen runner that had scalloped edges and on either end of the table stood tall candelabras, each with eleven unlit candles. But it was the walls that made Kal wish he had his camera as there were large tapestries hanging on the thick stonewalls, each reaching from the fifteen-foot tall ceiling to the stone floor. Between each tapestry was a flaming torch making the tapestry’s bright colors seem to be alive as the dancing light bounced off of them. One section of the stonewall held a dozen shields with crossed swords and lances and Kal took note of the wolf’s head silhouetted on a full moon that was painted on each shield.

  “Sit,” said Seleb, unaware that his voice boomed in the huge room, “I’ll pour us some wine.” He brought out two silver goblets and filled them, then lifted his in a toast, “To the man who saved my life.”

  Kal hefted his goblet and said, “To good fortune that made us be in the same place at the same time.”

  They took a drink.

  Seleb put his goblet down on the table and said, “You will stay here while we are doing our work, yes?”

  “If that is your wish. Is it just the two of us?”

  “No. I have another visitor who sleeps days and plays chess with me in the evenings.”

  “He sleeps days?” asked Kal raising an eyebrow.

  Seleb grinned, “Yes. Perhaps he is a vampire?”

  Kal grinned as well, “There are those who would think that.”

  “Oh, how well I know that. In fact, I have helped spread the rumor that this very castle has its own vampire. It keeps them away.”

  “But, why?” asked Kal as he took another sip.

  “In truth, it worked so well over the years. Transylvania has been invaded many times, my friend. My great great grandfather used the superstitions of the ignorant to keep the winner of the latest conflict away from our castle.”

  “And it still works?”

  “Yes. But that does not stop the greedy that would have our jewels. They risk all for the trinkets.”

  “In truth,” said Kal, seeing a chance to talk about the treasure, “I myself have heard of the treasure of Count Sergi Custance. And of course the vampires.”

  The little man raised an eyebrow as he took a drink and said, “Good! It has spread further than we thought it might.”

  “I have also heard of the group of soldiers that were killed for camping too close to it. Is that just a rumor too?”

  “Sometimes the rumor gets a life of its own, my friend, and it takes something like a group of soldiers dying in battle to be turned into a vampire protecting its property.” He poured more wine and said, “You may bring your wine along with you as I show you to your room. I’m afraid I have some chores to do before dinner. I will tap on your door at eight o’clock for dinner.”

  Kal stood and followed him as he led the way by torchlight up a dark winding stone stairway to the second floor. The second floor had a curving hallway with rooms every twenty feet and Seleb stopped and opened the large wooden door of the third room.

  “Feel at home, my friend,” he said handing him a key. “You may lock the door if you wish. I shall return at eight.” He handed Kal the flaming torch, turned and disappeared into the dark hall.

  Kal entered the room and, after locking the door behind him, saw that the walls were also covered with large tapestry pieces separated by torches, which he lit immediately. There was a very ornate stained glass double window that opened in, which was locked. He opened it and a nice breeze came through blowing the white sheer curtains away from the opening. The entire room was made of stones three feet wide and high. A small wooden three-drawer dresser stood next to the door and on top of it was a wooden bowl filled with water and two rolled up towels, one on either side of the bowl. There was a large bed opposite the window and a thick bearskin cover covered it. Kal lay on the bed and after the long hike to get to the castle, he easily fell asleep.

  At eight o’clock sharp there was a knock at the door and Kal called out, “Yes?”

  “Would you care for some dinner, my friend?”

  “Yes, Seleb, I’ll be right down.” He hopped out of bed refreshed with his long nap. Kal washed his face and after drying, he looked for a mirror to better push back his hair in, No mirrors? he thought with a grin, perfect for vampires. He opened the door and followed the light coming up from the stairway. The table was set for three and Seleb stood at the foot of the stairs.

  Kal almost didn’t recognize the man. He wore an ermine robe over a white
silk shirt with a Chinese collar. His pants were close-fitting leather, held up by a wide belt that sported a large gold belt buckle. His boots were highly polished brown leather and his pants were tucked into the top of them. He wore a large sparkling ring on his left hand and his once matted hair was pulled back in a ponytail and his unruly beard was brushed and trimmed.

  With a warm smile he asked, “Did you have a nice sleep or perhaps you dreamed?”

  “No,” answered Kal with a wink, “no dreams just a nice nap.”

  He followed Seleb to the table, which now had a gold plate and goblet in three settings, one on each end of the long table and the third in the center facing the fireplace. The knives, forks and soupspoons were silver while the gravy bowl and salt and peppershakers were gold.

  “Please,” said Seleb offering Kal the seat at one end of the table. Before he sat, a man walked down the stairs. He seemed to glide rather than walk and his footfalls were hardly heard as he approached the two men. He wore a conservative three-piece brown suit with a white collar and puffed up tan cravat. He had a close-cropped brown beard and mustache.

  He stopped and shook Seleb’s hand as he did a slight bow and said with an Irish brogue. “My host. Thank you once again for allowing me to rest here.”

  Seleb turned and said as he introduced the two men, “Mr. Stoker this is Mr. Kurop.”

  Both men shook hands and Kal said, “I’m known as Kal, Mr. Stoker.”

  “And I am Bram. Pleased to meet you, Kal.”

  “Come my friends, “ said Seleb, “let us eat.” He clapped his hands and an immense man with a limp entered the room carrying a silver, covered-serving tray, which he placed in front of Seleb. He said nothing, just grunted and left to return again with a bottle of wine, which he placed in front of Seleb before leaving the room.

  Seleb poured three goblets and after placing one in front of both men, said, ”To Count Sergi Custance Castle!”

  They all toasted the Count as Kal wondered where the Count was.

  The dinner was roast pork, potatoes onions and beets.

  After dinner Seleb said, “We must give thanks to Kal for this fine dinner.”

  Kal grinned over his goblet of wine, “And we must give thanks to Seleb for flushing the wild boar out of its hiding place.”

  Seleb grinned and clapped his hands and instantly the big servant returned.

  “Jasper,” Seleb said, “please light the fireplace.” He turned to the two men and continued as Jasper lit the logs already stacked in the fireplace, “The mountain air carries a chill even in the warm months.”

  The three men took the large wingback chairs that faced the fireplace and Jasper served more wine. After he had left the room the men sipped wine and talked about the war they felt was coming to Europe.

  Bram sat and stared at the flames, “Another war that will use this country as a route to get to one another. Nothing is safe anymore.”

  “What does the Count do when the country is invaded?” Kal asked.

  “Nothing!” answered Seleb. “Drain the moat and lower the drawbridge so they are not destroyed by savages who would blow open the walls to get the treasure they all think is in the castle.”

  Kal was glad that it was not him who broached the subject of the treasure, but he took the opportunity to expand on it. “There are rumors of treasure in these mountains, even in Germany.”

  “I tell you this, my friend,” said Seleb gazing at the fire, “Once there was a great treasure. But one of the count’s ancestors moved it from the castle over three hundred years ago to keep it safe. And I must admit he did an outstanding job as it is still safe because it has never been located.” He hesitated and said in a low voice, “Even by his descendants.”

  Suddenly a wolf howled and was joined by other wolves. “Ahh!” said Seleb as he stood. “Please forgive me, my friends, as I feel the need to have a walk in the garden, which the villagers call the forest that surrounds the castle.” Both men stood and watched as he opened the door and stepped out into the darkness. There was the sound of the drawbridge being lowered and, shortly after, being closed again.

  Sitting back down Bram turned to Kal and said as he swished the wine in his glass, “You do know that Seleb Vastener is the count, do you not?”

  Kal shook his head, “No, I had no idea. Why does he not say so?”

  Bram shrugged his shoulders; “I do believe he hides behind the name Seleb Vastener for fear that the villagers would hunt him as a vampire.”

  “A vampire? But I thought that vampires must sleep during the daylight hours? I found him in the forest in the early afternoon.”

  Bram raised an eyebrow and asked, “Tell me, was there sunlight or was it shielded by the thick canopy of the trees?”

  Now it was Kals turn to shrug his shoulders, “I don’t remember. Do you think he’s a vampire? And if so, why do you stay here?”

  “No, my friend. I do think that the count thinks he is a vampire as he does run with the wolves at night. More than one villager has seen his shadow as he plays his nocturnal games.” He shrugged and went on, “The wolves seem to see something in him that allows him to run with them.” He took a long drink of his wine and went on, “And your reason for staying here?” he asked.

  “I am in search of work as a gamekeeper and he offered to put me up and help him move his deer.” Kal now asked, “And, pray tell, sir, what is your reason for staying here?”

  “Quite frankly, I hoped to locate the treasure and he wishes me to find it too so he can bring it back to the castle.”

  “And, have you located it yet?”

  “No. I believe it to be either removed by the many armies that have passed through over the hundreds of years or lost forever. You see, these mountains are constantly in motion with rock slides and crevices that open and swallow entire trees and such.” He stretched and stood. “Now, I believe that it is time for me to return to my room and put ink to paper for a project I have allowed to become my master. Breakfast is at eight in the morning. Good night, sir.”

  “Good night, sir, I shall not be far behind you.”

  Kal watched him go up the stone staircase and wondered, If I am correct the author of the book, Dracula, was Bram Stoker. It’s just too much of a coincidence that we are in a castle in Transylvania where rumors of vampires fill the air and another Bram Stoker just happens to be here. No! It must be the same Bram Stoker and I cannot let him know that I know of him.

  After twenty minutes, he stepped out into the cool night. The torches of the castle threw out enough light to see the edge of the moat and he heard movement on the other side of the man-made, water-filled trench. Other scratching and sniffing just outside of visual range joined it. Suddenly the sounds of the night were overcome with the howling of many wolves opposite him on the other side of the moat. A cloud moved allowing the light of the almost full moon to pierce the darkness and Kal’s mouth dropped as he saw at least fifty wolves walking back and forth on their side of the moat. Their eyes reflected the moonlight and looked like burning coals as their fangs gleamed in the dark. Kal quickly retreated into the castle. He went up the stairs as fast as he could and locked the door behind him.

  His sleep was restless and more than once he looked out the window and when the moonlight allowed, he could still make out the wolves that now completely encircled the castle’s moat, their bone-chilling howling was never-ending.

  It was about three o’clock in the morning when Kal woke to the sounds of scratching and the movement of the vines and ivy that grew on the outside of the castle’s walls. He peered out just enough to see a figure coming up the smooth surface of the castle’s wall. He was shocked to suddenly see that it was a man and he wasn’t climbing up, he was crawling up the wall! Kal quickly closed and locked the window. He ran to his clothes, removed the small chunk of garlic from his jacket’s pocket, took out his knife, sat on the bed and waited for the morning sunlight to fill his room.

  “Did you sleep well?” asked Seleb at
breakfast.

  “At times,” he answered, “And you?”

  “Like a child.”

  Bram said with a wink at Kal, “Actually even though I felt the pull of slumber, I did not give in and shall return to my room after breakfast to allow sleep to overtake me for the next few hours.”

  “After breakfast,” said Seleb to Kal, “I would take you to the forest and we shall plan our moving of the herd.”

  “Very well,” said the time traveler as he cut a thick slab of bacon and, knowing that castles of old had slabs of salt to preserve their meat for the winter months, asked, “Pray tell Seleb, do you have salt available?”

  “Yes, I do. After breakfast, I shall show you.”

  When breakfast was over, Seleb called Jasper and the two of them went down to the bottom of the castle to see the stores of salt. Soon Seleb supervised the big man as he hauled bags of salt up to the inside yard.

  “Bram,” Kal said as he was alone with the Irishman, “Can I tell you something that is bothering me?”

  The Irishman wiped his mouth and beard with his napkin and said, “Please do, my friend.”

  “I believe that I saw someone climbing up the castle’s wall last night.”

  The man looked at him with shock on his face. “Climbing up the castle wall? Why would someone do that? Do you think it was a mischievous boy from the village?”

  Kal shrugged his shoulders, “Perhaps, but I thought nobody from the village ever comes here?”

  “As did I. We shall have to watch carefully.”

  Kal pondered, “Do you think I should tell Seleb?”

  “No!” Bram answered almost in a shout. “I’m sorry, I think it best to keep this to ourselves as I believe that Seleb does not get enough sleep as it is.”

  “Very well.”

  The sunlight hardly ever reached the forest floor and where it did, Kal felt that Seleb purposely avoided stepping in it. Moving the deer was easy for Kal, as his grandfather had shown him the trick when he was a child. He took the slabs of salt and after cutting them into small pieces, dropped them along the route that Seleb wanted them to take. He made sure that the deer never saw or sensed him by using all of the skills his father had taught him and the animals licked the salty path all the way to a new section that was to be their refuge. It was a four-hour walk from where the castle was located to a large green section that Seleb selected and after day one, Seleb never left the area around the castle. In the seven days that it took to move the deer, Kal got to explore every inch of the Gyulafehervar section that was closed off in his time because of rockslides. He found absolutely nothing and realized that all that came out of this mission was a trip back in time and living in a castle.