The Plantation - Di Morrissey [112]
‘How long have you been here?’ asked Evelyn. ‘Oh, you’re right. This bed is very uncomfortable.’
‘About three months now. I suppose we should be grateful that at least the bed is off the ground. Do you have a blanket or cover?’
‘Yes,’ said Marjorie quickly, opening one of their suitcases. ‘Mother made it.’
Bette fingered the embroidered silk coverlet Marjorie had taken from the suitcase. ‘That’s wonderful. Philip and I sleep under my sarong and a skirt. Where are you from?’
Marjorie leaned over her mother. ‘Could we have a drink of water please? We’ve had nothing for hours. We were living in Sarawak.’
‘My husband was the DO, up-country,’ sighed Evelyn. ‘When the war broke out we thought that we could stay hidden in the jungle, but eventually my husband realised that by staying there, we were putting the Dayaks at risk, so we gave ourselves up to the Japanese authorities. The Japs put us into a house in Kuching for a few weeks with some Chinese and other people, mainly foreigners who seemed to have come from all over. The house just got more and more crowded. Eventually the Japs decided that we should move. Marjorie and I were separated from my husband and we were loaded onto the back of a truck like cattle and driven about two miles from the camp. Then we were told to get out and walk the rest of the way carrying all our things in the heat. I don’t understand why they did that. They could just have easily driven us all the way.’ She looked tearful.
‘Just rest as best you can and try and get better,’ advised Bette. She looked at Marjorie. ‘How old are you?’
‘Twelve.’
‘You look younger. And that’s a good thing. The Japs might hate us, and they do, but they seem to like children, or at least tolerate them.’
‘It must be very hard for you and your son, just the same,’ said Evelyn.
‘Philip isn’t my son, he’s my nephew. We got separated from my sister on the docks in Singapore, so she got evacuated on a ship and we didn’t.’ She looked fondly at Philip. ‘Anyway, he’s my responsibility and he’s the only family I have right now.’
‘How terrible for you,’ said Evelyn, who lay back and closed her eyes. Bette and Philip took Marjorie outside. Two more of the new arrivals were standing outside their hut looking stunned.
‘How are we expected to live in these conditions?’ asked one of them. ‘The hut they put us in is overcrowded. There’s no food and we’re trapped in here.’
Bette nodded. ‘It’s hard. If you have money or things to sell, you can get by a little better. But there are many of us who came in with nothing so we try to share as best we can.’
‘Where do you sell things?’ asked the woman with bright curly red hair.
‘Traders are permitted to come to the fence to sell and barter every so often, but their prices are outrageous. The sentries let it go on because they get a cut of the profits. Be careful though, and don’t let people know if you have jewellery or money. Keep it hidden. You’ll find out that not everyone in this camp can be trusted.’
‘You seem to know a lot,’ said the redhead. ‘I’m Babs. This is Norma. Her husband was put in the men’s camp. Is there any way of making contact with them?’
‘I’m not sure how far away the men’s camp is. Very occasionally we see some of them march past to go to work somewhere. When they do, we shout over to them. The Japs don’t like it but we’re not going to stop it. The men call back their wives’ names, to let them know they’re okay. Sometimes, if you’ve got enough money, the traders will take them a message. But that could be very dangerous. I’m sorry, but I have to go now and work with the group in the cookhouse,’ said Bette. ‘There are lots of jobs that have to be done, cooking, keeping the camp clean. The Japs get really angry if they think that it’s untidy. Anyway, I know that June and her committee will appoint you to something.’
‘So, no mems here then,’ said Babs with a smile.
Bette shook her head. She liked this chirpy redhead. ‘We’re all equal here, though some think that they’re more important than others.’
‘There are always those who don