Page 114 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun
Audrey places her arm around Norah’s shoulders, hugging her tight, both giving and receiving support for the duty they are undertaking.
Nesta steps out of her hut and watches the two women. Her hands are shaking, the rage inside her threatening to explode.
‘Sister James! Sister James, can I have a word.’ Mrs Hinch’s voice splinters the roaring noise in Nesta’s head.
‘What is it?’ Nesta snaps, turning her head. ‘Oh, Mrs Hinch, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I …’ Her eyes return to Norah, still carving Margaret’s cross.
‘Are you all right?’ Mrs Hinch probes.
‘Not really, but that’s not important right now. Did you need something?’
‘I never thought I’d be doing this again, but I’ve been to see the captain about where we can put a cemetery. They showed me a small clearing just outside the fence and will leave us a few tools. But what I came here to say is, would you help me select the perfect place for … for …’
Nesta understands. ‘Of course I will. Let’s go now, shall we?’
Nesta and Mrs Hinch survey the clearing. Nearby, banana trees throw a cool shade across the middle of the patch of dry ground.
‘How about there? In the shade of the trees,’ Nesta suggests.
‘It’s perfect, and she’ll be surrounded by those who love her.’
‘I’ll arrange to have the graves dug and …’ Nesta pauses to look at Mrs Hinch. ‘Do we bury them at the same time? I don’t know if we should have a separate service for … for … I mean, so many of us will want to be here, and they may not have the strength to wait while we bury everyone. What do you think?’
‘I think we bury her first.’
‘You can’t say her name either, can you?’ Nesta sighs.
‘Not yet,’ her friend admits. ‘It’s still too raw.’
Chapter 23
Camp V, Belalau
April 1945–September 1945
‘Inchi, Inchi!’ calls Ah Fat. Nesta slows her pace, but Mrs Hinch doesn’t. ‘Inchi, Inchi!’
Grasping Nesta’s hand, Mrs Hinch hisses, ‘Nesta, I swear I’ll … Not today. Just not today.’
But Ah Fat is now running along beside the two women and, eventually, Mrs Hinch stops walking, and takes several deep breaths before turning to the interpreter.
‘Go away. Now,’ she says forcefully.
‘Inchi, oh, Inchi, very sorry. I heard about Miss Margaret, s-so sorry,’ Ah Fat stammers. He wipes away tears with the back of his hand.
Mrs Hinch stares at him, not trusting herself to speak. Finally, she gives him the smallest of nods, the barest of smiles. Turning away, she walks off as Nesta hurries after her.
‘You know my Christian name,’ Nesta says to her, to break the silence that has fallen over them as much as anything.
‘Of course I do.’
‘But I don’t know yours.’
Mrs Hinch manages a warmer smile this time, before leaving Nesta and heading off towards Mother Laurentia’s hut.
Norah and Audrey lead the coffin-bearers as they follow Mother Laurentia from the camp. Ena, whose legs are still swollen from the beri-beri, is assisted by Dr McDowell and Sister Catherina. As the procession moves towards the cemetery, every woman and child in the camp still capable of walking either lines the way or follows behind. The guards stand respectfully aside, their caps removed. Ah Fat is openly sobbing.
Lowering the coffin into the shallow grave is difficult, cumbersome and uses the last of the women’s depleted strength. But once it’s in the ground, Mother Laurentia begins the service by reading a poem written by Margaret Dryburgh: ‘The Burial Ground’.
