Page 38 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘I don’t know what to suggest, I don’t know how to help you. But please understand that I am not telling you to go to them. You mustn’t. Stay away and continue to call their bluff.’

‘It’s OK, Doctor.’ Nesta lays a hand on her arm. ‘Thank you for trying.’

‘Please don’t thank me, I couldn’t help you. I feel so useless, and so angry, and I don’t know what to do with that anger.’

‘Be a good time for a stiff drink, if only we had some,’ Betty says. ‘But I can’t even offer you rubbing alcohol.’

The doctor smiles sadly, her curly hair limp in the heat. ‘You are all very brave,’ she whispers, then leaves.

The nurses look around at each other, determined yet fearful of what tomorrow might bring.

When the food cart approaches the next morning, the officer repeats his orders. ‘No food for nurses.’ He then points to Nesta. ‘You come.’

As Nesta makes to follow him, Jean grabs her arm.

‘What are you doing? You can’t go with him!’

‘I must. Don’t we want to know what they have to say?’ As she walks away, she turns back with a big smile. ‘If I don’t come back, don’t fight over my cot.’

‘That’s not funny,’ Jean yells back.

Now she stands before Captain Miachi and Ah Fat. The captain walks around his desk to confront Nesta face to face, even though she’s several inches shorter than the man. He says a few words, which Ah Fat hastens to translate.

‘You have been ordered to provide girls for our officers’ club and yet they do not come.’

Nesta says nothing.

‘It is your duty to do as you are told,’ Ah Fat tells her. ‘You are to service our gracious officers.’

‘Service your officers?’ Nesta can barely contain her disgust. ‘With respect, that is not going to happen. We are nurses!’ The captain may be standing over her, but she will not meet his eyes.

‘You insult our emperor and the Japanese Army. This will not be tolerated!’ Ah Fat translates.

‘I wish to contact the Red Cross,’ Nesta says, gathering her courage.

But Ah Fat doesn’t need to translate these words, the captain knows all too well about the Red Cross. He barks out a few more words.

‘Your Red Cross is far away from here. They have no power anyway and you will obey Captain’s orders,’ Ah Fat insists.

‘No, sir, we will not.’

‘Then you will die. Are you prepared to die, Sister?’

‘Yes, I’d prefer that.’

With her head still bowed, Nesta doesn’t see the captain raise his hand. The slap sends her reeling across the room.

‘It’s fine. It’s just a slap.’

All the nurses from both houses have been awaiting Nesta’s return. Nesta is shaking but feels strangely calm as she comes through the front door.

‘But your face,’ Jean says. ‘He hit you.’

Nesta has no desire to linger on the violence and moves on.

‘They are insisting four of us go to their club tonight.’

‘What did you say?’ Betty asks.