Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris

Author:Heather Morris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, Nurses, Second World War, Japan, Empire of the Sun, Tenko, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Vyner Brooke, Banka Island, ANZACS, fall of Singapore, women, women in war, historical fiction, War in the Pacific, Pearl Harbour, women in war, war nurses, Paradise Road, Malaya, soldiers, POWs, courage, friendship, bravery, Unbroken, true story, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey, Stories of Hope, Three Sisters, Heather Morris
ISBN: 9781760688363
Publisher: Echo Publishing
Published: 2023-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

Part 2

Deep in the Jungle

Chapter 15

Camp III

October 1943–October 1944

Mrs Hinch walks slowly out of Sergeant Kato’s office. Her shoulders droop as she heads back to her house. Norah watches her come inside.

‘Mrs Hinch, what is it? Has something happened?’

‘I’ve just had a meeting with Kato; he’s told me to get the women ready. We’re moving camp.’

‘Oh no! Not again. Do you know when?’

‘He wants the nurses and the first three houses on both sides of the street to get ready to in a hour today. The rest of us are leaving tomorrow morning. I know we’re all tired and hungry, but we need to start gathering our things. Norah, can you tell Nesta? I’ll go and tell the other houses and then everyone else.’

‘I need to find Ena and June too, and tell the nurses,’ says Norah. ‘Oh God, not this again!’

‘Don’t forget to pack.’

‘Pack what? We only have the clothes on our backs.’

Jean answers Norah’s knock at the door and ushers her in.

‘Where is everybody?’ Norah asks.

‘Either at the hospital or on home visits. What’s going on?’

‘You’re moving, I’m afraid. Well, we all are, but Mrs Hinch has been told to tell you and a few of the houses that you’re leaving in one hour and to hurry and pack your things.’

Jean blanches. ‘Are you joking?’

‘I wish I was. Do you need some help to pack? We’re not leaving until the morning.’

‘I need to find the others and get them back here.’ Jean shakes her head, visibly upset. ‘I don’t believe this.’

‘Where’s Nesta?’

‘At the hospital, where she is every day and most nights. I’ve come back for a rest.’ Jean sighs. Norah can’t help but notice how exhausted her friend looks. ‘Will you let her know while I find the others?’

‘Of course.’

The two women nod at each other in grim solidarity before heading off to their respective tasks. There is nothing else that they can do.

Norah enters the hospital and comes to an abrupt stop. All around her are sick patients. Slouching off chairs, lying on the floor. Nurses move amongst them, soothing foreheads, offering water. Dr McDowell and Nesta are talking at the far end of the room. They turn as she approaches.

‘Norah, are you ill? You look so pale.’

‘I’m fine, I just have some bad news.’ She sighs as she takes in Dr McDowell’s and Nesta’s questioning expressions. ‘It’s … well, Mrs Hinch was summoned to Kato’s office a short while ago and told we are moving camp.’

‘When?’ Nesta asks.

‘You and some other houses are to leave in an hour, the rest of us tomorrow morning.’

‘Impossible!’ the doctor exclaims. ‘This is ridiculous. We can’t just up and move. I need to speak to Kato.’

‘I don’t think he’s going to change his mind; I’ll speak to Mother Laurentia to get you some help for the next twenty-four hours. I can only presume he wants the nurses moved today so they can prepare the hospital at the new camp for your arrival.’

‘Thank you, Norah. Nesta, take your nurses and go.

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