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Read an exclusive chapter from new First Doctor novel ‘Dracula!’

The Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara have a brush with a legend of horror in this thrilling new novel…

The First Doctor and his original TARDIS team are embarking on a brand new adventure in Dracula!, out now from Puffin Books. Susan Foreman, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright join the Doctor in this thrilling tale of vampires, van Helsings and villainous theatrics; and you can read an exclusive preview below.

Arriving in the quiet, unassuming seaside town of Whitby, the Doctor and his friends are set for a peaceful holiday – but a local theatre production of the infamous Dracula seems to be accompanied by a series of real-life vampiric attacks! Can the TARDIS team solve the mystery before the vampire claims one of their own?

Dracula! is out now on paperback and ebook. Get your copy here.

Scroll on to read a preview chapter from the new novel…

Dracula!

Chapter 4

It was Susan who found the fish and chip bar by the harbour, which was the source of the delicious aroma that attracted their attention and made their stomachs rumble.
They queued behind the chattering locals and were soon served hot parcels wrapped in newspaper.
Barbara was rather surprised to find that the Doctor was content to eat his supper in the street and commented on the fact.
‘I thought you were keen to have a sit-down?’
‘What? Me?’ He shook his head at her. ‘This is what the newspaper is for, so you can eat your supper anywhere!’ He chuckled, relishing the tender white flesh and the hot golden batter. Then, he gestured at the view of the harbour and vessels bobbing at their moorings. ‘And look at this view as we dine! We live as royals, do we not, my dear?’
Ian smiled at her. ‘Have you missed ordinary things like fish and chips as much as me, then? We didn’t get food like this when we joined the caravan of Marco Polo. Or back in the time of the Aztecs!’
‘No...’ Barbara smiled wistfully. To her, it felt too tantalisingly close to their own time. Sixty years was so near and yet so far. Still, the vinegary fish and chips were delicious, and she tried her best not to be downhearted.
The Doctor was in a very ebullient mood as he finished his food and bundled the greasy papers into a nearby bin. ‘My friends, I have had the most marvellous idea.’
Ian said, ‘Oh dear! What’s he going to suggest now?’
The Doctor ignored the schoolmaster’s mild sarcasm. ‘I think we ought to take a little break here, don’t you? After all our adventures in recent weeks, we have barely had time to relax and enjoy our surroundings. This place seems to be rather pleasant and furnished with just the right kind of amenities, hmm? Don’t you think?’
Barbara finished her supper and collected up the others’ wrappings. ‘I agree that it would be good to catch our breath and relax. Where do you suggest we stay, Doctor?’
His eyes twinkled as he waved his walking cane at the built-up area behind them. They were by the Western Cliff, behind the docks and the winding streets of the harbour. ‘If I’m not mistaken, based on my knowledge of similar seaside resorts, we will find guest houses and suchlike up on the clifftop there, all with a marvellous view of the sea and the abbey. Shall we head that way, do you think, before night falls?’
It seemed that the Doctor had already made up his mind. ‘A little holiday!’ Ian smiled at Barbara. ‘Sounds like a good idea to me.’

They ambled through narrow lanes of fishermen’s houses and then a row of shops with glimmering golden windows. 
The Doctor strolled ahead, looking very much an elegant Edwardian gentleman in his cloak and wing collars. ‘How quaint!’ he said, several times over, as he took in the scene about him, nodding approvingly at everything he saw. He waggled his cane at several large, predatory seagulls.
When they arrived at the top of the Western Cliff, they found graceful Georgian buildings arranged in a row that looked out at the distant horizon and the endless sea. They soon realised they were in the smart part of town, where people wore their most beautiful clothes to stroll in the last of the daylight, breathing the invigorating sea air.
The Doctor pointed out the largest and most lavish of the hotels along the seafront. It was painted pale orange with jet-black trim on the woodwork of its many tall windows. ‘This seems like just the place, don’t you think?’ he asked his friends. ‘It looks rather expensive,’ Barbara said, worried, suddenly aware that she had no money suitable for this time and place.
‘How would we pay?’
‘Don’t you worry about that,’ said the Doctor. ‘I will hoodwink them brilliantly. You’ll see! I will use some of this psychic money I’ve been developing in the TARDIS laboratory. It instantly transforms into legal tender, wherever you are in the universe.’ He set off at once across the road towards the lavish main entrance of the hotel.
‘Hang on!’ Ian cried, following him. ‘You’ve been forging money in that lab of yours? Is that what you’re saying?’
The Doctor looked furious. ‘It is psychic money, young man. It’s perfectly legal in the eye of the beholder. It’s just a bit subjective, that’s all. Now, do you want me to pay or not?’ 
‘Well,’ said Ian, looking up at the splendid hotel, picturing hot baths and clean sheets. Life aboard the TARDIS was fairly comfortable, but surely it could offer nothing as luxurious as a hotel like this.
‘How do you think I paid for your fish supper, eh?’ The Doctor laughed caustically.
‘Pounds, shillings and pence,’ said Susan. ‘That’s what they have in this era, don’t they? Same as the 1960s, isn’t it?’
Barbara found herself shivering as the breeze became colder. It was noticeably darker now than it had been just a few minutes ago. ‘Perhaps we can just go inside and discuss everything in the warmth?’
‘Capital idea,’ the Doctor told her, leading the way in through the revolving doors.

Perhaps, if they had realised quite how much the hotel’s décor lived up to its name, they might have chosen somewhere else that was less macabre and spooky. ‘The Halloween Hotel, eh?’ Ian smiled ruefully.
Inside, everything was painted orange and black. Even the lamps were lit with an eerily flaming glow. The pictures on the walls showed moody landscapes from distant, gloomy countries, and the portraits were of terrifying-looking people with eyes that followed you around. All the furniture was ornate and carved from the darkest ebony wood. The serving staff wore black uniforms, and their faces were powdered a sickly white.
‘What a charming place,’ Barbara muttered as they gathered at the reception desk, which was decorated in flounces of black lace designed to look like spiders’ webs. 
‘I think it’s wonderful.’ Susan laughed. ‘I always thought the Victorians were quite serious. They seemed to be deadly dull in the history books we had at Coal Hill School. All of this Halloween business is rather fun, don’t you think?’
Ian and Barbara smiled at her enthusiasm, but the Doctor wasn’t convinced. ‘It’s a silly lot of nonsense if you ask me.’ He rang the bell impatiently. ‘Shop! Shop! Who’s serving here?’
Soon, they became aware of a large lady coming towards them in a wheeled bath chair, being pushed by two pale-faced young men. She was beaming at the new arrivals. Her face was garishly made up, and she wore the most extraordinary outfit made of black organdie, with a mantilla veil pushed up around her pale orange fluffy hair. ‘I am the proprietress of the Halloween Hotel, and I bid you welcome!’
The Doctor tutted at her rather dramatic theatricality. ‘My friends and I have travelled a long way to be here this evening, and we’d like to take a suite of rooms – preferably with a sea view – for at least three nights. I assume you can help us?’
She looked delighted. ‘A suite of rooms! Why, you are in luck, my dear sir. Our very best suite is available over the Halloween period. It isn’t cheap, mind you.’
‘Cheap?’ the Doctor cried, as if offended. ‘I assure you, madam. Money is no object!’
‘How marvellous!’ said the hotel owner. She thrust out a dimpled hand for the old man to kiss. ‘I am Mrs Elsa Festive. May I welcome you all to Whitby. I am sure you’ll all have  a very happy stay here. And do you know something else? You’re here just in time for the Grand Halloween Ball!’

While her teachers and grandfather were making arrangements with the woman in the bath chair, Susan found herself wandering away across the foyer to explore. Here, she found displays of dried flowers, gourds and teazels. There were black candles, fake skulls and hunks of some kind of black crystal she didn’t recognise. She also found some posters advertising a local theatrical performance. They were rather lurid, with splashes of red ink spattered over the lettering. Immediately, Susan’s interest was piqued.
‘Will you be going?’ asked a voice at her elbow.
Surprised, she turned to see a young man with shining blond hair and a smiling, innocent expression. He was very handsome, and slightly older than Susan was. She instantly felt tongue-tied in his presence. ‘Going?’ she managed to ask. He smiled at her confusion. ‘We are. My uncle and I have tickets for this evening’s performance. It’s curtain up in two hours. You simply must see it! The reviews have been wonderful. Plus, there’s all the fuss and the consternation about it.’
Susan frowned. ‘Consternation?’
The young man nodded. ‘Oh, yes. Scandal and murder, I’m afraid. People are blaming the play, though I don’t see how a theatrical play can be held responsible...’
‘Oh, yes. There have been murders here lately, haven’t there? We saw the newspaper headline shortly after arriving...’ 
‘Oh yes,’ said the handsome young man. ‘Ferocious, horrible murders. Several of them in recent days. You see, that’s why my uncle and I are here in the first place. We’re not here for the sea air, he says. We aren’t here to enjoy ourselves. We are investigating!’
‘You’re investigators!’ said Susan, admiringly. She found herself staring at the young man’s frilly shirt and wine- coloured jacket. She supposed he was the height of fashion for 1901.
‘We are indeed,’ he said. ‘Bernard Van Helsing at your service.’ He gave her a mock salute. ‘You may have heard of my uncle? He’s my guardian, really. I don’t have any parents. He’s looked after me since I was small, and I’ve become his assistant on these kinds of escapades ...’
Susan was delighted to hear this. ‘Why, that’s just like my grandfather and I! He’s over there, look, with the others. We travel together, and we always seem to become involved in strange or exciting adventures...’
‘Then I believe we must have many things in common.’ Bernard Van Helsing smiled. ‘Look, why don’t I see if I can get hold of the box office at the theatre? I’ll ask if they’ve had any cancellations and whether they can reserve some tickets for you and your party. I’m sure you’d love it.’
‘I’m not sure what the others’ plans are...’ Susan said. ‘But it does sound rather tempting.’
‘It’s the best, most sensational show of the season,’ the young Van Helsing told her. ‘I’m sure I can get you tickets. My family name opens doors in this town, you know.’ He tapped his nose as if he was letting her in on a secret. 
‘It does?’
‘Oh, yes. You see, my uncle is rather famous in these parts. In fact, he’s even a character in this show we’re all going to see. Someone is impersonating him on the stage! He played a quite prominent role in the drama they’re recreating at the Opera House.’
Susan was losing track of what the young man was telling her. ‘I see...’ she said. ‘Look, shall I go and have a word with my friends? And then, once we’ve settled into our suite...’ 
‘You’re getting a suite?’ Bernard smiled. ‘We have one, too. My uncle and I. Listen, what say I get you and your friends some tickets sorted out and then we see you at the theatre? How does that sound, Susan?’
He was being very persistent. Susan couldn’t help but feel flattered. And when she thought about it, she decided that the others might appreciate a night at the theatre. Grandfather would particularly relish the play when he found out there was some kind of scandal attached to it. And there were murders to investigate. It sounded like just the kind of thing to enliven the Doctor’s holiday.
‘I’ll go and tell them,’ Susan promised. ‘What’s the play called?’ She took another look at the lurid black-and-scarlet poster.
The Legend of Dracula,’ Van Helsing told her, flicking at his long blond hair and grinning. ‘Subtitle: A Vampire in Whitby. Now, isn’t that just the kind of thing to brighten up your evening . . .?’


Dracula! is out now on paperback and ebook. Get your copy here.

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