Page 106 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘Ladies.’ Mrs Hinch has called a camp meeting to relay Seki’s latest edict. ‘I’ve been told we need to form work details to carry out the jobs around the camp.’

‘We have jobs!’ exclaims a voice. ‘Cleaning the toilets, the street, the huts.’

‘Well, now we will have more jobs. They want us to build a barbed-wire fence around the hospital. There is also wood to be collected and stacked near the kitchens, and rice to be taken to the supply sheds. Do I have any volunteers?’

No one speaks, until, finally, Norah raises her hand.

‘I’ll help,’ she says.

‘Me too,’ chime in Audrey and Ena at the same time.

Norah wonders at the wisdom of helping make the barbed-wire fence. With no gloves to protect their hands, the work is slow as they learn how to string the wire without slicing off their fingers.

‘I guess there is an upside,’ Ena says, sucking the blood from a cut on her finger. ‘We’re getting more rations.’

‘True,’ Audrey says. ‘I heard shark was on the menu.’

‘And Seki has even given us more oil,’ Norah adds.

Deep-fried shark, mixed vegetables and rice washed down with copious cups of tea brings the women together. For the first time in her life, Nesta opens her mouth to lead the nurses in song. Within a few lines, every woman in the camp is singing ‘Waltzing Matilda’, as their voices carry up and down the street.

Nesta is working in the hospital when the front door bursts open. She looks up to see Vivian and Jean push inside, carrying a lifeless body.

‘It’s Betty! She’s unconscious,’ Vivian exclaims.

‘Bring her over here,’ Nesta says, pointing to a quiet corner of the room. ‘Lie her on the floor and we’ll get her onto a bed when we can.’

Dr McDowell joins the nurses to examine Betty. ‘We need water and cloths: we have to cool her down quickly.’

Vivian and Jean run off to fetch what’s needed while Nesta and Dr McDowell undress the poorly Betty.

‘This bloody water is hot; she needs cold water,’ Vivian groans when they return with water from the well.

‘Yes, but we don’t have any,’ Dr McDowell says. ‘This is what we have and we will make the most of it. Now, soak the rags and hand them to me.’

‘Can you do it, Nesta?’ Vivian says before turning to Jean. ‘You grab a bucket and come with me.’

Before Nesta can object, Vivian has thrust a bucket into Jean’s hands, grabbed one for herself and together they run from the room and head for the stream.

‘Please tell Captain Seki that there is a fever raging through the camp. To get better, the women have to eat better. Why have you cut our rations again?’ Mrs Hinch can barely get the words out. No sooner had the shark arrived than it disappeared, along with the vegetables. They are back to the weevil rice. Nesta has joined her for this audience with Captain Seki; standing by her side, she can no longer hold her tongue.

‘We have to face facts,’ she says. ‘Women are about to start dying and we need to prepare. Just tell us how.’

‘Everything you get is a gift from the Japanese. Be grateful for the food, Inchi,’ Ah Fat says, before turning to Seki to deliver their messages.

After a terse response, Ah Fat clears his throat. ‘Captain Seki is aware many women are very sick and will die. He said he wants you to bury them just outside the camp – there is a small place there, we have boxes to put them in, but you must do it.’

‘Of course we must. Can we please have the tools to dig the graves and we will need timber to make crosses?’ Mrs Hinch presses.

‘Captain Seki will give you a machete to dig with and will find some wood for you to make crosses.’

‘A machete? That’s not much use. If we were clearing our way through the jungle it would come in handy, but how can we dig into the rock-hard soil with a large knife?’

‘We will give you two machetes. That’s all, now leave, Inchi.’

Without paying the captain the respect of a small bow, Mrs Hinch and Nesta hurry from Seki’s office.

‘Mrs Hinch, what’s going on?’ Audrey intercepts the two women on the street.