Jane stared at him. 'France? But that's miles away.'
'Just over twenty from here to Cap Gris Nez in Calais,' Dracula said.
'But…but why?'
Dracula looked at her in surprise. 'Dear Jane, so that the French can invade Britain.'
Jane was speechless.
'It's been so difficult for anyone to conquer this accursed island,' Dracula continued. 'It's not an insurmountable distance, but it's almost impossible to get enough troops across to make an impression. Lord knows the last time it was done was by William the Conqueror, and even he had to wait for the right weather.
'But a tunnel? My goodness, a tunnel will make all the difference. You see, the French can funnel thousands of troops through in a single night. Within days, they could have a hundred thousand men installed on this island, and within weeks, hundreds of thousands. The opportunistic French Directorate will achieve what no one else has for over seven hundred years.'
'But you're helping the enemy,' Jane said.
'That doesn't concern Dracula,' Doctor Porter said. 'This isn't about the French. It's about Dracula finally gaining the power he's always craved. Oh, the French will take him up on his offer. They'll use the tunnel. They'll send their troops through and saturate this island like a plague, but the real plague is Dracula.'
'There's a small office over here,' Dracula said. 'Come and take a seat. I can make you tea. You'll find us most civilised here.'
To Jane, that was possibly the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. She exchanged glances with Porter and Max, but there was nothing they could do. They were outnumbered and helpless. Following his directions seemed the only possible course of action for now.
The office was more like a hut than an office, with hewn timber walls closed in around it. Still, there was a small stove that could be used to boil a pot. The vampire invited them to use wooden boxes as seats as he lit the stove and prepared tea.
Jane peered out the door of the hut. A pair of vampires guarded the outside. Beyond them, people worked and toiled. They were starving or close to death and dressed in rags. Many were almost naked. Over on one side lay a pile of bodies. These people had obviously already been worked to death or used as a food source. The ones left remaining appeared mesmerised.
'These are the missing people,' Jane said. 'All the ones who have gone from their homes. Like Lincoln Bradshaw.'
Dracula appraised her. 'Mister Bradshaw was most helpful. He really was an excellent engineer. Famous, of course, for his bridges, but a great engineer can build anything. A road. A building. Even a tunnel—and what a tunnel. Thanks to Mister Bradshaw, the longest underwater tunnel in history is almost constructed.'
'Quite an achievement,' Max said sourly.
Porter spoke. 'But I've chased you across the length and breadth of the whole country. If your base of operations was here—'
'Misdirection,' Dracula said, glancing at Max. 'I'm sure our Master of Light understands that. A gesture with my left hand distracts you from seeing what I'm doing with my right.' Dracula nodded to the miserable workers toiling outside the hut. 'And look at what we've achieved. Even those poor drudges, in their own way, have helped to build a better world.'
'A better world?' Jane said, staring at the miserable creatures. 'This is how you build a better world?'
'I know it's a challenge,' Dracula said, his eyes going to each of them. 'I'm sure that Jane has told you of my plans for world peace, but you probably don't accept it. So, allow me to pose some philosophical questions. Would you sacrifice one life to save ten? Or ten lives to save a hundred? Would you sacrifice a hundred thousand to save a million? I know these aren't easy questions, but if someone had answered them years ago, we wouldn't be asking them now.'
He poured cups of tea.
'And you think you have the answer?' Max said.
'I know I have the answer,' Dracula replied. 'And please hear me out. I have lived for over four thousand years. I've seen all the many petty despots and tyrants and political systems and beliefs, andnone of them endures.' He paused. 'In only a few years, I can create a world of peace. No more war. No more hunger. A just and humane society.'
'But not for everyone,' Doctor Porter said. 'I imagine there will be rulers and servants. The vampires will be the rulers and humans their servants.'
'There are always rulers and servants.'
'You intend to create your own class society. You will be the King. Beneath you will be an elite vampire class with more vampires beneath them, and so on. You intend to use your ability to mesmerise others to broadcast your will to the hundreds, thousands, and finally, millions of people across the globe.'
A hard lump of dread lodged in Jane's throat. The idea was terrifying. This is what Doctor Porter had described all that time ago in Steventon. Dracula was an Imperial. He was like a queen bee in a hive, transmitting orders to the workers and drones beneath it. Those followers acted according to the Queen's wishes, never questioning any order given. It was a perfect symmetry of will translated into action, resulting in a society that operated as smoothly as the seasons.
She wondered if Dracula could achieve the same.
Could it be done?
The vampire smiled at her. 'You're wondering if it's possible,' he said. 'And the answer is yes. The problem until now has always been one of distance. Even if I had taken over all of Europe, taking Britain would still have been difficult. America, despite its recent break from Britain, would likely have aided her defence. That would have constituted a war on two fronts.
'As you know, we vampires have a tactical weakness: daylight. It has held us back throughout human civilisation. The attack of a foe from an island nation would have crippled my ability to fight back.' Dracula unfurled his hands. 'But look around you. This tunnel will act as the perfect conduit of my desires. Every man, woman, and child who passes through it will be mesmerised and act according to my wishes.
'And the result?' he asked. 'Peace in our time. Finally, irrevocably, a lasting peace across all the nations of the world. The human race, finally in harmony after centuries of conflict.' He fixed his gaze on Jane. 'Isn't that worth the sacrifice?'
'It will never work.'
'Jane,' the vampire said patiently. 'It's already working. I've been away from here for several weeks, but my network of workers has continued to function in my absence. Will there be upsets?' He shrugged. 'Of course. But you know the old phrase: Rome wasn't built in a day.'
And that's what you are, Jane thought. A Roman despot as evil as Nero or any other madman in history.
Dracula snapped his fingers. The two vampires at the door responded, and Dracula told them to take Porter and Max away. They struggled, but it made no difference, and finally, Jane was left alone with Dracula.
'Now,' the vampire said. 'We must discuss our future.'