Page 60 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

For the women with children, especially those with boys, there is no such generosity of spirit, she notes drily, when, the next morning, duringTenko, all the boys are ordered to line up in front of the other occupants of their house. Everyone watches in horror as each boy is told to drop their pants and their genitals are examined. Regardless of age or height, any boy showing signs of pubic hair is immediately yanked away from his mother.

‘Too old! Must go to men’s camp,’ a Japanese guard says as the boys are marched away. When their mothers chase after them, they are knocked to the ground. Everyone witnesses the barbarity of young children being wrenched away from their mothers, but no one looks away.

June buries her head in Ena’s skirt. The little girl is safe, for now, because of her gender, but she is not saved from bearing the pain of her friends and neighbours.

Chapter 14

Camp II, Irenelaan, Palembang

April 1942–October 1943

‘Any idea what’s going on?’ Nesta asks Margaret and Mrs Hinch.

The sound of trucks pulling into the camp has brought many of the women out onto the street.

‘None. But I think we’re about to find out. My goodness, how many trucks are there?’ Mrs Hinch wonders.

‘I can count seven, but there might be more on the other side of the gate,’ says Margaret.

The trucks are parked, and now soldiers and guards begin to scream orders as women and children are forced out of the back of the vans. Very soon, hundreds of frightened new arrivals stand clutching the hand of a child, or a bag of possessions, or to steady an older internee. Without any explanation, the soldiers and guards march the newcomers down the street, pushing a few of them at a time towards each house they pass.

‘What’s happening?’ Jean wonders.

‘I wish I knew, but it looks like we’ve got company.’

‘We have to do something.’

‘Agreed. Before anyone gets too comfortable, go and tell your nurses to pack up everything they have and bring themselves over to our house. Let’s put our new residents next door. If they’re anything like us, I think they’d be happier if they weren’t split up the minute they arrive.’

Norah has become fast friends with Audrey Owen, a New Zealander she shares her house with. On cloudless nights, the women sit outside, and Audrey talks to her about the constellations, providing brief moments of respite where the women forget where they are and live amongst the stars.

Tonight, Norah and Audrey wander outside to get a feel for how many internees are being disgorged into their camp and what their nationalities might be. They watch as soldiers hold out their hands to help the women now stepping down from the back of the last truck. ‘That’s strange,’ Audrey observes. ‘I wonder who they are?’

‘They’re smartly dressed, aren’t they?’ Norah notes.

‘And they’re wearing makeup. I mean, look at them, they’re really pretty.’

‘I wonder …’ Norah begins but doesn’t finish.

‘What?’

‘D’you think they’re here to … well … “entertain” the officers?’

‘Really? Look, they’re taking them away. Let’s follow.’

‘But let’s keep our distance, we don’t want to be mistaken for one of them if that’s what they’re here for.’

‘Norah!’

Casually, Norah and Audrey stroll along, keeping well back as the women are escorted out of the camp and down a gently sloping bank. They lose sight of them for a moment before seeing them cross a narrow stream and begin to climb the hill on the other side. At the top of the hill are several small huts. One by one, the women enter and the guards follow them with their bags.

‘I’m thinking a new officers’ club,’ Audrey says.

‘A club on the hill. Well, that’s certainly going to be a relief to the nurses. Nesta was saying they are all terrified Miachi will come back for them.’

Shortly after, Norah and Audrey visit Nesta’s house and are surprised to find the sisters from next door have moved in. They are busy sorting out sleeping arrangements.

‘Can we tell you something?’ Norah asks Nesta.