Page 123 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘How’s John doing?’ Nesta asks, unwinding the wrapping from Norah’s leg. The infection is healing and she sighs with relief.

‘He’s so much better. Just longing to get home to our girl.’

‘I’m happy for you, but I will miss you and Ena and June.’

‘Oh, Nesta, you have no idea how much we’ll think of you all. Of everything you’ve done for the women,’ Norah says.

‘I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye,’ Nesta says, fixing the new bandage in place. She gives Norah’s leg a soft tap. ‘You’re done.’

Norah takes her hand. ‘I mean it, Nesta. You have made this place just about bearable. And Margaret …’

The women fall silent, remembering their beloved companion.

‘We’ll carry her in her hearts. Always,’ Nesta says, helping Norah to her feet. The women embrace for a long time and then Nesta helps her back to her hut.

Ena and John sit Norah down beside the mound bearing Margaret’s wooden cross, her name so lovingly inscribed by Norah and Audrey.

‘She wouldn’t want us to weep for her,’ Ena says.

‘I don’t care what she would want, how can I say goodbye to the finest woman I have ever known and not weep for her passing,’ says Norah, barely able to control her tears.

Ena is crying too. Neither woman attempts to wipe away her tears, letting them fall onto the earth, onto Margaret. John is upset to see the women so sad. He doesn’t belong here, and yet here he is. If he is to get to know Margaret, in even a small way, then he needs to understand the women’s depth of feeling for her.

‘Nesta is here,’ John whispers.

Norah and Ena look up to see Nesta standing a few feet away, not wanting to disturb their grief. Norah holds out her hand and Nesta joins them. The three women embrace.

After a long time, Norah turns to Nesta. ‘Will you say goodbye to … to your dead for me, I can’t walk to their burial site, I’m so sorry.’

‘Of course. And of course they’ll understand. We are having a small service at sundown for them, here. We don’t know when we’re leaving, but it could be soon, and we need to say goodbye while we can.’

‘Can I join you?’ Ena asks.

‘We’d like that. Thank you, Ena.’

As the sun sets, the surviving nurses, Ena, Mrs Hinch, Dr McDowell, Mother Laurentia and Sister Catherina gather at the cemetery, each clutching a small bunch of flowers. Walking slowly from grave to grave as Nesta says each name, Mother Laurentia gives blessings for the lives lived and taken too soon.

That night as the nurses lie down, waiting for sleep to take them away, they hear a gentle knock on their door.

‘Sister James, can I see you for a moment?’

Nesta opens the door to Mrs Hinch. As she steps outside, Mrs Hinch takes her arm to lead her away.

‘Hurry now. There’s a telephone call for you in the administration hut.’

‘One sec,’ says Nesta, popping her head back into the hut. ‘I’ll be back in a minute. I have a telephone call!’ She shuts the door, but not before she hears squeals of delight and anticipation.

Mrs Hinch accompanies Nesta to the office and stands beside her as she picks up the receiver.

‘Hello, this is Sister James.’

‘Hello, Sister James! It is wonderful to hear your voice. I am Flying Officer Ken Brown, Australian Air Force. I am going to meet you tomorrow at Lahat and fly you to Singapore. I’ve been told to ask you to have the nurses ready at 4 a.m. Major Jacobs will be there with a truck to bring you to Loebok Linggau, put you on a train and bring you to the airstrip. Sister James, are you there, did you hear me?’

‘Yes! Oh, yes! Thank you, thank you so much! We’ll be ready.’

‘Sister James, you don’t get to thank me, I thank you.’ The officer’s voice is thick with suppressed tears. ‘I thank you and all the brave nurses I will meet tomorrow for what your survival has done for the Australian people. You are our heroes.’

Hanging up the phone, Nesta is embraced by Mrs Hinch. ‘Let me walk you back to your hut.’