Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 34

EXTRACT

THE FORGOTTEN PEARL
SINGAPORE HAS SURRENDERED AND NOW DARWIN IS IN GREAT DANGER FROM THE JAPANESE
INVADERS. POPPY AND HER MOTHER ARE READY TO EVACUATE – BUT THEY MAY BE TOO LATE . . .

P

oppy, Cecilia and Mark sat out
on the verandah on the white
cane chairs, having breakfast.
The table was set with a big
pot of tea, boiled eggs, a bowl
of sliced paw-paw, marmalade and toast.
For the first time in days, the rain and
grey clouds had been replaced by mostly
blue sky and sunshine – a rare sight at
this time of year. It was already hot and
humid.
Poppy sat trying to memorise her
favourite view: the garden below with its
lush greenery, hot-pink bougainvillea and
fragrant frangipani, the vast turquoiseblue sea stretching north towards Asia.
The scene was tranquil and

already wilting in the heat.
‘Hello, Poppy,’ Sister Scott called out.
‘I heard you and your mum are flying
south tomorrow?’
‘Yes,’ Poppy replied. ‘Has it been a busy
morning?’
‘No, love,’ Sister Scott said with a smile.
‘We have an appendix operation booked
for ten o’clock, otherwise it’s been as quiet
as the grave.’
Poppy felt a shiver of apprehension run
up her spine.
‘Well, I’ll just head inside and start
making some beds,’ she replied, nodding
to the doctor.
At two minutes to ten, Poppy was
propping the pillows up behind a young

Suddenly, a bomb hit the hospital complex, making the
walls rock. Windows shattered, showering the ward with
shards of dagger-sharp glass. Clouds of dust and plaster
wafted through the air. The sound was deafening.
picturesque. Cecilia and Mark chatted
about the plans for the evacuation. Mark
had finally managed to book Cecilia,
Poppy, Daisy and Charlie on a small plane
flying to Adelaide the next day. He would
stay behind to continue his work at the
hospital.
Poppy had carefully avoided asking
what would happen to all her animals.
She could