4 - Ritual ..

Dr. Richard extended his hand to the papers, opened one, and began to read:

- "The documents state that the vampire returns to the world every hundred years to spread corruption and evil, only to be killed by someone who remains pure..."

At this point, Dr. Lovarsky, playing with his beard, interjected:

- "We have historical evidence of creatures with vampire-like traits and the discovery of bodies with puncture marks on their necks in the years 1759 and 1859, specifically during moonlit nights when Jupiter aligns with Mars. It can be said that he was killed each time... and returned to the mummified state we see now."

- "Did he return on his own?"

Dr. Lovarsky replied:

- "No... but with the help of some scoundrels who performed the necessary resurrection rituals."

At this point, I began to understand... It was 1959... the awaited year.

Dr. Max Lovarsky opened a yellowed paper and began to read:

- "The first ritual must be performed by individuals consumed by evil... meaning us..."

Dr. Richard added:

- "We are slaves to scientific curiosity, and we are all willing to do anything for the sake of truth... Science is what we live for..."

- "The second ritual is the condition of the century. A hundred years must have passed since the Count's death..."

- "The third ritual is the condition of the moon. The full moon must rise, and Jupiter must align with Mars..."

- "The second or third condition will be met in a week. On Wednesday night..."

- "The fourth condition is the bat. A bat must be placed on the chest of the mummy, which isn't difficult..."

- "The fifth condition is the blood. A bucket of blood must be placed beside the mummy."

- "Human blood?"

- "The text doesn't specify..."

At this point, I noticed something. My eyes gleamed with pride, like a child who had won a game of marbles, and I exclaimed:

- "Wait a minute! History tells us that every hundred years, some scoundrels would find the coffin and perform the same rituals. So how is it that the coffin is still in the same place, and the message remains where the servant left it five centuries ago?"

Dr. Richard's face turned red for a moment, then he whispered in surrender:

- "I actually overlooked that..."

Dr. Lovarsky said:

- "Perhaps those who killed the Count each time thought to leave the message in its place for future generations?"

- "And why would those who kill the Count insist on returning his body to the coffin each time? Why not bury it somewhere else? Why not tear it apart or burn it? I didn't know vampire killers were so organized..."

Silence fell for a few moments, and I realized—with pride—that the two men were furious with me. But this was science, and they knew it better than I did.

Dr. Richard said after some thought:

- "Alright, Dr. Rifaat . We are determined to proceed with the experiment, which is only a week away. If you don't agree, at least say so now so I can find a scholar from the Muslim community in England whom I trust... Time is tight, as you can see..."

Who was I to refuse such a thing? Wednesday night would be an exciting night by all measures... That's what I told myself. I would survive, as I said...

- "Then let's begin... Time is tight, as you said..."

There was nothing that could convince the two scholars except the experiment itself. I was confident that I had already started preparing the words of consolation I would say to them when the sun rose on Thursday and the mummy remained just that—a mummy. What a moment that would be...! A moment when each of them would realize they had wasted their lives chasing a delusion... What a pity...!

The matter was clear in my mind. This was a mummy that someone had modified its teeth to resemble fangs, and it would remain just that. I saw no other interpretation.

In the morning, Jonathan, the grocer's boy, arrived with a small box that turned out to contain a dead bat he had caught in the abandoned church nearby. He took two pounds and nearly flew away with joy...

Dr. Richard and I sat in the garden, preserving the bat with formaldehyde.

- "Suppose we can't control Dracula when he rises. What would you do?"

Dr. Lovarsky said:

- "If he rises, he was terrifying in ancient times... the era of candlesticks, horse-drawn carriages, and countesses... But today, he would return in the age of atomic fission and electricity. He would be nothing more than an amusing lab animal..."

Dr. Richard added:

- "We'll transfer him to a dark lab in Glasgow, restrain him there, and study everything... his blood composition... tissues... blood pressure... temperature. And if he dies, we'll dissect him... Perhaps one day, we'll hold a press conference for him or publish his memoirs in a book titled *I Lived in a Coffin*, which would break sales records!"

I said:

- "This monster is very lucky... But I wish I could return to life after a hundred years to see the state of politics, science, society, and people at that time..."

The unbearable stench of the bat's entrails filled the air, and we continued our work reluctantly.

- "Damn it... Now I understand why a vampire only rises every hundred years..."

Three scholars working patiently to prove a delusion..