Page 47 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘Nesta, what’s wrong? Has something happened?’ Margaret asks the nurse as they linger in the street, the latest performance due to start very soon.

The sun has set and the few camp street lights begin to glow. An air of excitement is building around the ‘concert hall’. The performers have gathered outside the house, chatting nervously about their impending acts. For several, it is the first time they’re singing, dancing or acting in front of an audience.

‘Haven’t you seen?’ Nesta says, her eyes wide. ‘We have visitors.’

‘Visitors? Good visitors or bad ones?’ Margaret asks.

‘Bad, I think.’

‘You’d better tell me what’s going on.’

‘A few minutes ago, six soldiers, including Miachi and Ah Fat, walked into the house and made the women in the front row leave their seats so they could sit down.’

The other women have gathered around, listening intently.

‘They want to be entertained too, I’m guessing,’ says Margaret, eventually. ‘And if that’s what they want, then let’s do it.’ But she doesn’t sound confident.

The room is silent when the performers enter. The presence of the Japanese has hit the audience hard. They have no idea whether the night will end in celebration or a beating.

Margaret steps onto the makeshift stage and bows to the gathered soldiers in the front row.

‘We have some guests tonight; welcome,’ she says. ‘Let’s begin the evening with the first song on your programme.’

The performers start to sing ‘The Captives’ Hymn’, and, hesitantly at first, the audience joins in. As the last words are sung, everyone applauds and the Japanese officers politely join in.

And so the evening continues. Those listening forget their captors just a few seats away, and laugh, sing, clap the beautiful dancing and poetry. Every act is applauded by the officers; they even laugh when the women laugh. It is clear they are enjoying themselves.

When it’s over and the applause has died down, Margaret steps forwards once more.

‘Thank you, everyone, and a special thank you to our guests,’ Margaret says, with a low bow. ‘And now we will end as we usually do with our national anthems.’

‘God Save the King’ receives a gusty rendition and then the Dutch national anthem, ‘Wilhelmus’, follows with the same boisterous energy. The level of passion rises as everyone sings ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. When the singing has finally ended, the Japanese officers stand and applaud enthusiastically.

‘Again, again,’ Miachi says.

‘I’m sorry?’ Margaret says, approaching the captain.

‘Sing. Please sing again,’ he asks.

‘Which song?’

Miachi mumbles a few words to Ah Fat.

‘The captain likes last the song. So beautiful. Please sing it again.’

The room falls silent; all eyes are on Margaret.

‘Ladies, Captain Miachi has asked we sing our last song once again. He says it is beautiful. Are we ready?’

The Japanese officers stay standing as the women proudly sing what they are now calling ‘the camp anthem’, and they once again join voices in ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. The officers are applauding even before they finish.

Miachi approaches Margaret. ‘Thank you,’ Ah Fat translates. ‘Most entertaining, we will be back next Saturday night.’

The women move aside for the departing soldiers, bowing as they move through the crowd. The officers, to their astonishment, are smiling.

‘Well, that was unexpected,’ Norah announces.

Margaret and Norah have remained behind in Nesta’s house after everyone else has left.