Dracula in Istanbul

by Bram Stoker

  Letter from Major Turan Bey to Doctor Afif Bey.

  “31 August.

  “Dear Afif,

  “I have a great favor to ask of you. Şadan is very sick; she is almost wasting away. When I finally arrived from Erenköy to visit her, I was surprised and troubled. My dear friend, or rather my dear brother, I trust in your skill and candor. I have just been called back to Erenköy due to my father’s illness; I must leave. You must check up on Şadan without alerting her mother. The rest is up to you. Send me a telegram in Erenköy if necessary.

  “With all my love,

  “Your brother: Turan”

  Letter from Doctor Afif Bey to Turan.

  “I have carried out your request. First let me hasten to say that, thanks to God, after my examination I found no sign of illness in Şadan Hanım. However, I did not like her condition at all. She is woefully different from the last time I saw her. I have not found a chance to examine or speak to her closely. To outside appearances, I found Şadan Hanım cheerful while her mother was with us. After dinner, her mother left and I was alone with Şadan Hanım. Once all were gone, her gaiety deserted her. She lowered her head in great exhaustion and covered her face with her hands. I took advantage the situation and asked her what was wrong, explaining that I was here at your request. She said, ‘I don’t want to talk about myself; I only think and worry about Turan!’

  “I took some of her blood that day and tested it; there is nothing abnormal about it. In fact, it shows in itself a vigorous state of health. However, there is no doubt that Şadan Hanım has some kind of ailment. In my opinion it is something mental. She complains about occasional shortness of breath, fainting, and heavy sleep. She has nightmares from time to time as well. She also said this: she had a sleepwalking illness when she was a child. Recently she has begun to relapse. One night she walked out of the house and went as far as a hill by the sea; her friend Güzin Hanım found her there. But she assures me that in the last few days the habit has not returned. I have concerns about this situation and have done something that I felt would be appropriate. I would have done the same were it my dear sister. I do not know what you will think of it. I wrote a letter to my old tutor, my most dear and trusted friend Resuhî Bey, who is now living a secluded life in Yakacık, and asked him to come immediately. You know Resuhî Bey, for I often used to tell his strange stories in Anatolia. The whole country knows his reputation. Even my French colleagues have told me, on occasion, what a credit he is to our nation. Strangely, his work is more well-known to Westerners than to Turks. We call him ‘Mad Resuhî’ and move on. If only Turkey had half a dozen more mad men like him. Resuhî Bey is indeed a great expert in mental illnesses. I am quite sure that he will succeed where I fail.

  “Your brother: Dr. Afif”

  From Doctor Resuhî Bey to Doctor Afif Bey.

  “2 September.

  “My dear friend,

  “It is such a strange coincidence; I was about to visit you in Istanbul when I received your letter. I have not yet come down to Istanbul this summer. I have very much wished to see you. Even were this not so, I should have rushed to Istanbul after your letter. Tell this truth to your friend whose fiancée is ill: There is no possible way for Doctor Resuhî to refuse any request from the Doctor Afif who courageously sucked the gangrene poison from the wound on my arm caused by a knife thrown by his friend in a moment of anger in the middle of a very important operation.

  “In any event, I am coming soon… Wait for me!

  “Resuhî”

  From Doctor Afif to Turan Bey.

  “Dear friend,

  “Doctor Resuhî Bey has come and gone back to Yakacık. Of course he examined Şadan Hanım discretely without alerting her sick mother. He examined her carefully and is to report to me, and I shall advise you. My old friend appears to be taking this matter seriously, but he says he must think it through first. My tutor has strange habits. He is the most radical scientist of the modern age, but he also has odd beliefs. That is why he is a target for so many envious people. When the old man says, ‘Let me think,’ it is impossible to get any more out of him. But his final word is always plain. That is why I ask you not to be angry with my tutor. You can trust him implicitly. I think the fact that he is placing so much importance on this is better for us. After a long examination of Şadan Hanım, he said these very words to me: ‘You are right, there is no physical illness visible on this little miss. But I see she has lost much blood. Strangely, I cannot understand why. But I will; I will think about it. I must return to my home in Yakacık today. You must send me a telegram every day; I can be here in two hours if need be. This charming, angelic creature interests me too.’ As he spoke this, the thick, black eyebrows of my old professor were knit and his face showed immense gravity. There, my brother Turan, now you know as much about Şadan’s illness as I do. I will focus absolutely all of my care and attention on observing her. I am already near her home. I hope your father is well. I imagine that his condition, while Şadan Hanım is in such a state, is a heavy weight on your mind. If this had not happened, you would be together with Şadan Hanım and that would have a great effect on her. I will let you know every little detail, my brother, do not worry.”

  Telegram from Doctor Afif to Doctor Resuhî Bey.

  “6 September.

  “Şadan Hanım has had terrible change after being well and happy for two days. I will not inform her fiancé before your visit.”

  CHAPTER VI

  FROM DOCTOR AFİF BEY’S DIARY

  When Doctor Resuhî Bey came from Yakacık to see me, his first words were, “Have you notified Şadan’s fiancé Turan Bey about her condition?”

  “No!” I said. The Doctor seemed pleased. “That is very good. Very good indeed! Better not to know anything for now. I hope to God that he will never have to know. However, if he must, he will learn everything. Now Afif, let me tell you something: the two of us, and only us, will know the things that we shall learn while working together. I have some thoughts and plans. You will understand them when the time comes, but until that time hold your tongue and open your eyes. Notify me of every significant change.”

  When I described Şadan’s recent symptoms, his old solemnity grew even greater, but he did not say one word. When we saw Şadan, I became even more concerned than I had been before. The poor child was as white as a corpse, chalkily pale. The redness had gone from her lips and even her gums. The bones of her face were prominent. Her faint breathing would have been painful for anyone to see. My old tutor was as still as a statue, his bushy eyebrows almost converging above his nose. Şadan lay on her bed and looked as though she could not find the strength to say a word. A deep and heavy silence hung over us. Presently my tutor gave me a meaningful glance. I understood, and we both left the room. He took me into the opposite room, looked around, closed the door, and said:

  “Oh my God! This is terrible, very terrible! We do not have a moment to lose. Little Şadan will die for sheer want of enough blood for her heart. We must give her a transfusion immediately. According to an earlier blood test of Şadan Hanım, we all have the same blood type. Now tell me, will it be yours or mine?”

  “Sir, I am both younger and stronger than you. It is unquestionably my responsibility.”

  “Then get ready; I will bring my medical bag from downstairs.”

  I went downstairs with Resuhî Bey when, just at that moment, Turan burst in the room. When he saw me, he grasped my hand.

  “Your letter had me worried; my father is doing better now, so I took the chance,” he said. Then Turan noticed the professor and greeted him in a sincere but military fashion.

  “Doctor Resuhî Bey, I believe. Sir, I have no words to tell you how grateful I am.”

  When Resuhî Bey saw Şadan’s fiancé enter at such an inconvenient time, his eyes flashed suddenly with anger. But Turan Bey’s heroic appearance, his handsome face full of life, and his eyes shining with the light of innocence and bravery quickly made this anger disappear
and transformed it into a gleam of happiness.

  Without ceremony he held out his hand and said:

  “You came just in time, Turan Bey. You are the fiancé of Şadan Hanım. She is very, very sick… Nay, my child, do not be so pessimistic! You shall help her now. Be brave!”

  Turan, whose face had turned pale at the doctor’s first words, asked:

  “Tell me, what can I do? My body and blood belong to Şadan. I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her.”

  The old doctor could be humorous in even the gravest situations;

  “No, no… I don’t ask so much of your blood as that.” He put his hand on Turan’s shoulder. “You are stronger than Doctor Afif here and myself. My child, let me tell you this, because Şadan is like my daughter! She is very weak. I spoke with Afif before you arrived. We had decided to give her blood to save her from death. From the test we performed we know that both of our blood types are a match for Şadan Hanım, but since Afif is younger and stronger than I am, he was to be the one to give it.” At that moment Turan grasped my hand and shook it firmly. “However, there is no need if you are here. Your blood is stronger than Afif’s. Come! First we must know your blood type.” The old professor quickly tested Turan’s blood. By a great coincidence, the blood types of Turan and Şadan were also the same.

  Turan stood outside the door. Resuhî Bey and I went into Şadan’s room; she turned her head slowly to look at us. But that was all. She looked too weak to say a word. Resuhî Bey gave her a narcotic. The poor child swallowed the drug without resistance, but with great difficulty. Presently she was deeply asleep. The doctor called Turan into the room and asked him to take off his jacket. Then, in a gentle and courteous tone he said:

  “You may now take one kiss from your fiancée.” And he turned to me quickly and said, walking to the far end of the room:

  “Come here Afif, help me get these tools!”

  I understood that these last words from the doctor were so that Turan could take a kiss from this sleeping angel.

  Doctor Resuhî Bey performed the blood transfusion quickly and skillfully. As the young, strong blood began to course through her veins, Şadan’s face began to change color and appear almost rosy. On the other hand, my brave friend Turan, who had not blanched even as he marched toward enemy lines, was turning pale as his blood continued to be withdrawn; yet his eyes shone with joy and pride. Although I felt angry as I saw what the loss of blood had turned this young man into, I could not understand how this young woman had lost so much blood in so short a time. Meanwhile the professor had his watch in his hand. When the blood transfusion was completed, Resuhî Bey gently adjusted the girl’s pillow. That caused the locket on her neck to move and expose a small wound. Turan did not notice it, as he was tired, but I heard Doctor Resuhî Bey sigh heavily as he does when he is very troubled. My old tutor said nothing about this, but turned to me and said:

  “Now give our hero Turan Bey some champagne, and after he rests here for a while, send him home to have a hearty meal, get a good night’s sleep, and warn him not walk around too much. Turan Bey, my friend, we do not need you here any longer. Now you need to rest. When Şadan Hanım wakes up, I shall tell her all about your sacrifice.”

  Turan Bey could not argue with these authoritative words, so he shook the doctor’s hands and went out. After seeing Turan off, I returned to the patient’s room. The old doctor was watching her intently, oblivious to his surroundings. The high collar of Şadan’s velvet dress again covered her red wound. Suddenly Resuhî Bey turned to me and asked very softly:

  “What do you make of this wound on Şadan’s neck?”

  “I have not seen it very well,” I said, and lifted her collar gently to examine it. There were two small punctures just over the vein on her neck. The surrounding area was white and looked as if it had been touched and bruised. At first I thought to myself, Did this girl lose all her blood from these small wounds? But that was not possible.

  Resuhî Bey locked his eyes on mine and asked:

  “Well?”

  “To be honest, I can make nothing of it.”

  At this, he immediately rose and said: “I must go to Yakacık tonight! There are books and other things which I need; you will stay here and keep your eyes on Şadan!”

  “Shall I call a nurse?”

  “Are there any better nurses than us? You will keep watch all night; see that she is well fed and that nothing disturbs her. As I have said, you must not sleep at all tonight. Later we will have our time to sleep. I shall be back as soon as possible.”

  After saying this he left the room, but came back again a moment later, raised his finger and said:

  “Remember, I am leaving Şadan in your charge. If something happens to her, you shall suffer until you die.”

  Doctor Afif Bey’s Diary—continued.

  8 September.—I sat up all night with Şadan. The opiate she was given lost its effect around evening. She woke up naturally; she had changed almost completely. She was cheerful and energetic. When I told her mother that Resuhî Bey had tasked me with sitting by her daughter’s side all night, the poor woman practically made fun of me, repeating how strong and happy she was. Naturally I avoided telling this sick woman what had occurred earlier. Şadan ate her supper, and I sat in my chair near the bedside. She did not speak, but when my eyes met hers I could sense a deep feeling of gratitude. Some time later she seemed to be sinking off to sleep, but she visibly attempted to resist. This was repeated several times. It was clear that Şadan did not wish to sleep. When I noticed this, I asked:

  “You do not want to sleep?”

  “No, I am afraid.”

  “Afraid to go to sleep? I don’t understand.”

  “If you were in my situation, you would have the same fear. Sleep is presage of horror to me!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know! That is what frightens me, not knowing… This weakness always comes to me when I sleep.”

  “But Şadan Hanım, I am here tonight; rest assured that nothing will happen to you. Sleep well!”

  This poor girl: “I believe you, I do,” she said. Then she took a deep breath and fell asleep. The night passed very calmly. In the morning I left the house and notified both Turan Bey and Doctor Resuhî Bey by telegram, telling them of the excellent result of the blood transfusion and the night’s rest.

  9 September.—After work I returned to Şadan Hanım’s house. I was very tired, for I had not had any sleep for two nights and two days. Şadan appeared to me cheerful and rested. We ate a family meal heartily. When I took Şadan to her room, she looked at me and said:

  “You have changed so much… Tonight, no sitting up with me. I am very well and if you do not sleep, I shall not sleep either. Look, there is a room next to you; you can sleep on this sofa. The door between our rooms can stay open and if I feel worse, I can ring this bell. That way it will be as if we are in the same room.”

  I could not but acquiesce. I was dead tired and without sleep. I could not have sat up if I had tried. After making Şadan promise that she would wake me up for even the smallest of things, I lay down on the sofa and fell asleep immediately.

  I started as a hand touched my head. In the national struggle, those bloody and terrible guerilla days, and later in the regular army, it was a habit for us to bolt from sleep while remaining completely calm and lucid. How many times did I have to take up arms with Turan and Özdemir immediately upon waking. However, this time I was not rising in the Uşak mountains, the Polatlı hills, or the Aydın fog. The strong hands of my dear tutor, Doctor Resuhî Bey, were rousing me in Şadan’s house.

  The first words from the professor were:

  “How is the patient?”

  “Well,” I said.

  “Let us go and see.”

  We both went into Şadan’s room; the curtains were closed and I opened them slowly. As he looked toward the bed, Doctor Resuhî Bey sighed sharply; I knew very well what this mea
nt. I froze with fear. As I attempted to make out the situation, he moved back with cries of “Oh God!” Every muscle of his face expressed great fear and agony. He raised his hands and pointed to the bed. I could feel my knees trembling.

  There on the bed lay poor Şadan, unconscious and even more anemic than the other day!

  Even her lips were chalky white; her gums seemed to have receded.

  The old professor raised his left foot to stamp the ground in anger, but quickly regained control and opened his bag. He moistened Şadan’s lips with a medicine and rubbed her wrists and forehead. After listening to her heart with great care and anxiety he said:

  “It is not too late. She has a pulse, though it is very weak. All my work is undone. We must start again. Today her fiancé Turan Bey is not here; so Afif, my friend, it is up to you!”

  As he spoke, Resuhî produced the necessary equipment from the large bag which had everything he needed. Though I felt my face blush, I took off my jacket without a word. The blood transfusion began; time felt as though it were passing more slowly, for two reasons. On one hand, giving blood was making me drowsy; on the other hand, I was worried that Şadan was showing no improvement. Finally, with a joy and relief I cannot describe, I saw her pale skin become rosier. No man can know until he experiences it what it is to feel his own life-blood running through the veins of the woman he loves!