Page 23 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun
‘I’m OK. I’m OK. I think I was hit with shrapnel; I can’t really move my right arm at all.’
‘Hang on a minute. Clarice! Clarice, where are you?’
‘I’m over here, Bully. Over here.’ But it’s so dark, she is just a voice.
‘We can’t see the fire, but keep talking and we’ll follow your voice.’
Rosetta and Vivian stumble towards Clarice, who has begun to sing in a loud, clear voice, without pause.
‘There you are!’ cries Vivian. ‘Rosetta is injured. Are you OK?’
Clarice has stopped singing. She briefly touches her chest. ‘A bit of pain here and I think I’ve got a head wound. What about you?’
‘Wobbly legs, but no injuries,’ says Vivian.
‘Rosetta?’ asks Clarice, noting that her friend is struggling to stay on her feet.
‘Ladies, are you all right?’ a voice calls in the dark.
‘Who’s that?’ says Vivian.
‘It’s Miller. I’ve checked on the others – some minor injuries, all exhausted. We’ve missed the fire we saw, but not by much.’
‘Jimmy! We’re OK.’
‘Is that you, Sister Bullwinkel?’
‘Given our situation, I think you can me Vivian, Jimmy. What do we need to do?’
‘Find the fire! I was thinking a couple of us could go and look for whoever lit it.’
‘You go, Bully, I’ll wait with Rosetta,’ insists Clarice.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Go, we’ll be fine.’
Jimmy and Vivian set off along the beach. Thankfully, the skies are clear and the starlight is bright enough for them not to wander back into the sea.
‘I’m hoping they’re just around the bend ahead,’ pants Jimmy. It’s hard going on the sand and they are already exhausted.
‘Look!’ exclaims Vivian. ‘You’re right. There it is – a bonfire, a beacon. Hey, over here, over here!’
A voice peals out into the dark. ‘Sister Bullwinkel, is that you?’
‘Matron Drummond! Yes, yes. Oh my goodness, we found you.’
‘It’s Bully, everyone. Bully’s here.’
‘Matron, this is Jimmy – Mr Miller – he’s an officer on the ship.’
‘Was an officer,’ grins Jimmy. ‘Hello, Matron, it’s damn good to see you.’
‘And you, Mr Miller. Are there no others with you?’
‘Yes, they’re not far away, just around the bend in the beach.’
‘Clarice and Rosetta are with me, but they’re injured.’
