Page 116 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun
‘Concert! Concert! Outside now!’ the guards bellow, storming up and down the camp.
‘What’s going on?’ Norah catches Ah Fat’s arm as he joins the guards’ cries.
‘Captain Seki invites you to a concert!’ he says. ‘Just like Miss Margaret did for you, we will do for you. Outside now.’
The guards are now ordering everyone up the hill. Swinging long sticks, they corral the women, forcing them to walk faster. ‘Hurry, hurry,’ they berate them.
Those living at the head of the camp scamper down the gully, and drag themselves up the hill, helping each other as they go. The sick are allowed to remain behind.
The large rubber trees provide shade, and the women look around to find themselves sitting in an idyllic setting overlooking the lush abundance of the jungle and the stream below, melodically tinkling over pebbles. They don’t have to wait too long before Captain Seki leads a group of thirty musicians onto the hillside.
For the next two hours, they entertain the women with music consisting of German waltzes and marching songs. They are also treated to the beautiful male voice of what the women feel certain is a Western-trained performer. For a brief time, the women lose themselves in the rhythms, the setting and the comfort of their friends around them.
‘I wonder what Margaret would have made of all this,’ Ena ponders.
‘She would have appreciated the talent, certainly,’ Norah says instantly. ‘Some of them are excellent musicians.’
‘And they have real instruments. How long has it been since we heard instruments?’ Audrey adds.
‘Oh, I don’t know, what Norah did with her voice orchestra was pretty great,’ Ena says, with a grin.
‘It was better than great. I would listen to you again over the real thing any day,’ Audrey tells them.
‘We weren’t bad, were we?’ Norah agrees.
June and July of 1945 come and go before Mrs Hinch is summoned to the captain’s office once more.
‘I wonder if something’s up?’ Mrs Hinch wonders aloud, as she heads to his office with Nesta in tow.
‘Like what?’ Nesta asks.
‘The soldiers, they’re different. Haven’t you seen them clustered together in groups around the camp, arguing?’
Nesta considers for a moment. ‘I guess so, but, honestly, we’re kept pretty busy just looking after everyone.’
‘Captain Seki, how can I help?’ Mrs Hinch asks the captain as Ah Fat leads the women into the office.
‘Captain wants all women, including sick ones, to come to the hill now. Please go and get the women.’
Mrs Hinch opens her mouth to object but closes it again.
‘There’s definitely something going on,’ Nesta concludes as they leave the office.
‘He wouldn’t look me in the eye; did you notice?’ Mrs Hinch says.
‘I’m more worried about how we’re going to gather all of the women,’ Nesta says with a sigh. ‘I mean, so many are too ill or weak to leave their huts.’
‘I’ll help where I can, Nesta,’ offers Mrs Hinch. And then, ‘You’re worried about Norah, aren’t you?’
‘I am. Her leg is badly infected after she was bitten by the ants.’
‘It’s not just the sick we’re going to have to help. Everyone else is heartily bored of Seki’s ranting and railing.’
‘Well, we’ll just have to do our best, won’t we?’ Mrs Hinch decides.
In the end, Nesta has to enlist the help of Dr McDowell, Ena, Audrey and all of the nurses to help her persuade the women to assemble.
Nesta helps Norah up the hill as she can no longer walk on her own.
