Page 119 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘But where is Sally?’ John is looking all around, trying to see through and past the crowds of men and women embracing, consoling each other.

Norah gently turns his head to look at her. ‘It’s not Sally, she’s with Barbara and the boys, remember?’ she whispers. ‘June is a little girl who, well, I suppose adopted Ena. Do you remember when we were together at Muntok, John, before they took you away? There was a little girl clinging to Ena’s skirts. It was June.We believe her mother died after the ship was attacked and Ena and I have become her aunties.’

June drops into Ena’s lap, looking at the strange man sitting between her aunties. John struggles to control his breathing as he looks at the little girl. She’s about the size of his daughter when he last saw her. She smiles at him and his heart melts. Cautiously, he reaches out and touches her hair.

‘Hello, June, do you remember me?’

‘No.’

‘This is John, he’s Aunty Norah’s husband,’ Ena tells her.

‘Why did he call me Sally?’

‘Aunty Norah and Uncle John have a little girl named Sally; he thought you might be her.’

‘Uh-huh, I’m not, sorry. But you’ll find her, don’t worry. Just like I’ll find my daddy.’

‘Yes, you will, my darling,’ Ena whispers, hugging her tightly.

Nesta is transfixed by the sight of this family coming together again. She is unable to move away, unable to speak, as so much pain, so much joy, is played out in front of her eyes. She suddenly feels very dizzy and slides down the wall.

A hand reaches out to her.

‘Nesta? Are you OK?’

Vivian towers over her, her own eyes moist.

‘Why don’t we go and get some tea? We’ve even got the real stuff now.’

Nesta takes her hand and comes to her feet.

‘It’s time for you to have a break, Sister James, you’ve done your duty; your shift is over.’

Allowing Vivian to lead her away, Nesta looks up at her colleague, her friend, the one amongst them all who has witnessed, experienced and suffered so much more than anyone here.

‘It’s been a bloody long shift, Bully, a bloody long one.’

‘Three years, seven months, but who’s counting,’ Vivian says, laughing.

The following week, excitement in the camp ramps up when two young Dutch soldiers and a Chinese military official literally drop in, by parachute.

Mrs Hinch, Dr McDowell and Nesta sit down with the visitors.

‘We’re an advance party,’ the Chinese officer tells them. ‘The Allies will be here soon. Just a little more patience and we’ll get you back home.’

‘How soon will that be?’ Nesta asks.

‘Well, we’d love to stay here and hear your stories, but the best way we can help you is to return to our base and let headquarters know we’ve found you.’

‘I wholeheartedly agree,’ says Mrs Hinch. ‘How far away is your base?’

‘We’re at Loebok Linggau.’

‘Oh, I know that place! That’s where the train stopped before we were brought up here.’

‘Yes, the train line ends there, but we can’t move you until we work out how to get you all off the island. I’m sorry, but it might take a few days. But now we know where you are, you’ll be getting airdrops of supplies.’

‘Can I please ask you to do something for us?’ Nesta asks.