The Historian

Paul is disturbed by Rossi’s letter recounting Hedges’s death, and he wonders what to believe; his historical training tells him that the supernatural is not real. However, he worries that his mentor, Rossi, will be lost to him forever if he stops. He continues reading.

Rossi leaves for America after his friend’s death, though he resumes his research into Dracula despite the warning. He has the dragon book analyzed by an expert at the Smithsonian: The book is rare, printed in the early 16th century, perhaps in Wallachia. When Rossi gets this report from the expert, he notices that the man appears suddenly changed, with a colorless face and elongated canines. The expert mentions the quality of the map contained within the book. Rossi is surprised; he had not left a map with the book. Upon examining the map—a copy of the ancient map Rossi traced in Istanbul—he notices that, over what he believes is Dracula’s tomb, the words “BARTOLOMEO ROSSI” appear (101). Rossi immediately ceases his search. He pleads with his unknown reader to help him,: If they are reading these letters, it means that Rossi has fallen victim to this evil.