Page 32 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘No, we can’t. This is for you, just come and look at it.’

Playing along, Nesta follows them into the bedroom. The girls have formed a wall in front of the ‘bed’ and, with a flourish, they stand aside to reveal a baby’s cot.

‘You’re the only one of us who can fit in it,’ Betty says as all the girls burst out laughing.

Nesta examines the cot, pushing down on the firm little mattress. ‘How do I get in? I’m not climbing over the top.’

‘We can fix that,’ one of the nurses says as she and two others set about removing one side of the cot.

Nesta sizes up the petite bed, before swinging up her legs and lying down. ‘Perfect,’ she says. ‘I’ll take it.’

The nurses of number 26 congregate in number 24. Nesta calls them to order and they gather around.

‘Jean and I have been talking about how we can make ourselves useful. We’ll find out what the hospital facilities are, offer our help, but we’re thinking more along the lines of district nursing. You all know what this means. We’ll visit the other houses and identify any small concerns the women have before they become big problems.’

There is a loud knock at the door and all heads turn. Jean opens up and four women enter, each carrying a large basket of food.

‘Welcome,’ says one in a strong Dutch accent. ‘We are in number 25, the house in between yours. We hope this small contribution will help you settle in.’

The nurses all stand aside as the women take the baskets into the kitchen. ‘There is some soap and basic toiletries in here also,’ one of them calls.

‘How long have you been here?’ Nesta asks.

‘We live here, well, in Palembang. Our husbands ran the mines, but when the Japanese invaded, they took them away. They took all the men away. Now it is just us and the group of nuns from the local mission.’

‘Did they let you bring your possessions with you?’

‘Some – clothes, pots, pans, plates, things like that. We’re quite well set up, considering.’

‘Were there people living in this house before we came?’

The two women glance at each other; Nesta finds it difficult to read their expressions.

‘Yes, there were. Our friends. We don’t know why they were taken away and not us.’

That night, the nurses eat together, reluctant to be apart. It is only the lure of a little space to lie down that finally sends some of them back to their own house.

When Nesta finally crawls into her cot, she announces her guilt at having a soft mattress while her friends are curled up on the floor beside her.

‘Don’t feel bad; none of us is interested in trying to wrap our bodies around that tiny space. It’s all yours!’

Once the nurses have been housed, everyone else is shoved into homes with no thought to nationality or family. Norah finds herself in a hut full of strangers, but now, with the soldiers gone, she and everyone else set about finding their loved ones, rearranging themselves to be with their friends.

Finally, reunited with her sister and the little girl they rescued, they sit curled up in a corner of the bare but somehow stuffy room.

‘How long are we going to stay here?’ June whispers, cuddling up to Ena.

‘I don’t know, my sweetheart. Hopefully not too long and we can all go home.’

‘Do you know where my daddy is?’

‘I don’t. Hopefully, he’s still in Singapore waiting for his little girl.’

‘I hope so, too.’

‘Get some sleep, June, we’ll explore in the morning, find some of the children you’ve been playing with.’

Norah listens to this exchange, her heart breaking, and she thinks of Sally; where is she, and more importantly, is she safe?