Page 37 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

Fives nurses break free of the huddle and step forwards.

Nesta ushers the remaining nurses from the room. The last to leave, she turns back to the five volunteers, who give her reassuring smiles. Mr Stephenson approaches Nesta. ‘I’ll keep an eye on them.’

When Nesta joins the women outside, Betty is furious. ‘What are we going to do? We can’t just leave them there.’

‘We’re not going to,’ says Nesta firmly. ‘Come on. Let’s stand on the other side of the road – we hear anything we don’t like, we go in. Agreed?’

The nurses position themselves behind the shrubs and bushes lining the street. Silently, they stare fixedly at the door. It is not long before it opens, and five Japanese officers emerge, each of them holding the arm of one of the nurses.

‘They’re taking them back to their huts,’ Jean whispers.

Before Nesta can respond, one of the nurses breaks into a raucous cough, doubling over, as if she’s about to be sick. The others follow her lead, coughing, choking and gurgling in the faces of their captors. Instantly, the Japanese officers push the girls away, grabbing for their handkerchiefs and pressing them over their mouths and noses. The coughing intensifies and soon all five officers have turned and fled.

The women hiding in the bushes emerge and run to their friends, unable to contain their laughter. They mimic their actions and soon everyone is spluttering and gagging.

‘Let’s go home,’ Jean says, finally.

The next morning, none of the nurses wants to go on her rounds; they are terrified there will be repercussions for their behaviour, but it isn’t until that afternoon that the English-speaking Japanese officer walks into Nesta’s house. She rises to her feet and approaches him.

‘You will send four girls tonight to the club. They will be clean and tidy. Eight o’clock.’

He doesn’t wait for an answer but leaves as quickly as he arrived.

‘Go next door and get the others,’ Nesta tells Betty.

Once again, the nurses are in the backyard, talking quietly amongst themselves.

‘Girls.’ Jean calls them to attention. ‘We need to discuss this as a group.’

‘What’s there to talk about? We’re not going. Right?’ one says.

‘And we’re all agreed?’ Nesta asks.

Everyone is agreed.

‘What do you suggest we do?’ Jean turns to Nesta. ‘Tell them we’re not coming, or simply not turn up?’

‘I think we should get a message to them. I’ll talk to Dr McDowell and ask her to do it.’

Sleep is hard to come by that night. The doctor was firmly on her side when Nesta explained their decision, only too keen to pass on her message. Nobody came banging on their door tonight, which Nesta takes as a good sign. But the next day, when they receive no food, it is clear the repercussions have begun.

‘No food for you. You know what you must do,’ a soldier stops to shout at them before delivering food to the other houses.

Their neighbours have come outside to gather their own supplies.

‘Anyone who gives them food will be punished. No food for the nurses!’

Late that afternoon, Dr McDowell knocks on Nesta’s door.

‘Hello, Doctor. We’ve been waiting to hear from you.’ Nesta invites her inside.

‘Oh, Sister, I don’t know what to say.’

‘Just tell us what happened.’

‘I’m so sorry, so sorry, but my demands and threats fell on deaf ears.’ Dr McDowell looks genuinely upset. ‘I was ordered out of Miachi’s office with the threat that he would close the hospital if I didn’t leave immediately.’

‘What are you saying?’