An Accommodation is Reached

It's a shock to find that this - obviously not a child, but just what is he? - can talk to me in my mind. I find that the surprise of it acts almost like having a bucket of cold water thrown over me. My irritation with these interfering people vanishes, to be replaced by a tinge of fear. Are they all capable of telepathy? And if they can do that, then what other strange powers might they have? I reassure myself that, whatever this small person with the pointed ears is, at least he's not some strange kind of vampire. He was out in the sun a little earlier, I remember.

I'm an elf, he "says", as if responding to my thoughts. He apparently notices my alarmed expression, for he continues: No, I can't read your mind as well, but it's not hard to guess what you must be thinking. Now Mrs Harker, I repeat, let us all go somewhere where we can talk in private.

If he can't read my mind, then I can't tell him not to call me Mrs Harker, which is a pity, as it rather annoys me. I am divorced from Jonathan, something that is very unusual and thought by many rather scandalous, and I prefer to go by my maiden name. Perhaps I should be reassured; at least it proves that, even though he seems to know a lot about me, he isn't all-knowing. But I've no time for this. Pull yourself together, Mina!

I turn to the male Australian doctor, who looks to be easily the strongest of their group. "Dr Shaw, perhaps you would be good enough to help Mr Qua... - I mean my husband - carry this person outside. If you, or one of your group would like to come with us in the cab that our servant is fetching for us, then I'm sure that we would have no objection. The rest of you could follow in a second cab. I believe that you would like to talk to us, and I would certainly like to talk to you."

1. Mr Quatermain looks as though he is about to object, but I quell him with a look.

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