Page 66 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

‘And we need it now,’ Mrs Hinch chimes in.

Miachi talks rapidly to Ah Fat, who translates.

‘Captain will allow women to leave camp and get water from the stream. They can also get wood from the jungle for fires.’

Being allowed out of the camp to fetch water and firewood lifts the spirits of the women. They use the situation to their advantage and allocate bathing areas downstream. Fires burn all day, boiling the water they drink and use to rinse the food. The outbreak of typhus remains restricted to the one house, and all but an elderly grandmother survive.

Miachi and his officers have been keeping their distance in the camp, and for a glorious, but all too short, period there is notenko, no abuse, and Lipstick Larry stays away.

‘I want to be in Sister Catherina’s class for all my lessons,’ June announces to Ena and Norah one morning.

‘Darling, she’s the art teacher,’ Ena tells her.

‘She’s my favourite.’

‘She’s everyone’s favourite, including the adults. I think I might take her art class too, what do you think?’ Norah says.

‘Oh, Aunty Norah, you’re too old to go to school.’

‘You’re right. Now let’s get you to your class and you never know, you might have an art lesson later today, or tomorrow.’

Vivian and Betty are also leaving their house as Norah steps outside with June.

‘Hello, Sister Betty and Sister Vivian, I’m off to school, but I don’t have Sister Catherina as my teacher except for art,’ June calls to them.

‘Hello, June, Norah, you have a wonderful day,’ Betty calls back.

‘Are you teaching us today too?’ June asks, as they all make their way up the street towards the Dutch houses where the classes are being held.

‘Well, we’ve decided there are a lot of very clever people here already, so we’re going to be the fun teachers and play with the children,’ Vivian says.

‘Really? Can we play instead of going to class?’

‘After class. But there are a few boys who don’t want to go to school right now, so we’re going to play with them.’

‘A game?’ asks June, peering up at Vivian.

‘We’re going to draw some lines on the ground and play a game called hopscotch, and then we’ll have a go at tag.’

‘I know those games!’

Norah pauses a moment to watch Vivian’s exchange with the reluctant boys.

‘Hey – we’re over here!’ Vivian calls to a group of pre-teenage boys loitering at the back of the camp, kicking at the dirt, their hands stuffed in pockets; none of them makes eye contact with Betty and Vivian.

‘So, have any of you made a slingshot?’ Betty asks.

‘What’s a slingshot?’ one asks.

‘It’s a bit like a bow and arrow, but a stone instead of an arrow and a sling instead of a bow.’ Betty realises she’s not doing a very good job of describing the toy. ‘Let’s all find some Y-shaped branches and we’ll take it from there.’

‘We’re going to scavenge for the materials we’ll need and then Betty and I will help you make them. What do you say?’ Vivian adds.

The boys shrug.

‘It’s a weapon, you know,’ Vivian adds, with a grin.

Now she has their attention. They look at her intently.