A Japanese Reunion - Leaving part two. (24/07/06)Complete.
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#1: A Japanese Reunion - Leaving part two. (24/07/06)Complete. Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:44 am
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The early morning was bright and sunny when the English woman left her hotel to go for her normal walk. On this particular morning the clear skies meant that she was able to see the ideal picture of Mt Fuji, Japan’s perfect mountain. It even had a slight sprinkling of snow upon it and rose straight and true. Partway along her walk the woman had stopped and stood watching the view, the mountain rising to a dramatic point, with almost symmetrical sides. While standing there she was joined by a family, parents and two small children, obviously French. She was unable to miss their conversation as the young boy plied his father with numerous questions about the mountain. Although the man did his best to reply it was obvious that his knowledge was not sufficient. Eventually, after the man had admitted that he didn’t know, the English woman took a hand,

“Forgive me, Monsieur,” she said in perfect French, “I couldn’t help over-hearing, if you will permit, I can answer your son’s questions?”

The man looked across, the woman was obviously English, she had white hair and grey eyes, although elderly she appeared fit, he smiled, “If you are able to answer Claude’s questions I will be most grateful, Madame…?”

“Wilson, Mlle Wilson,” the woman replied, “my pleasure. Now Claude, what did you want to know?”

Young Claude was shy to begin with, however Nell Wilson had been a teacher for more than forty years and was able to put the lad at ease and get him to ask his questions. After a time the rest of the family also joined in all eager to hear all the information about Mt Fuji and about volcanoes in general. Eventually, glancing at her watch, she had to take her leave. The man, Monsieur Gerard, shook her hand,

“Thank you so much Mlle, please tell me, you must be a teacher, yes?”

Nell nodded, “Yes, Monsieur, I taught Science and Geography, though most recently I was Headmistress.”

“And you are vacationing here?”

“Not quite, I retired two years ago and have been travelling. I’ve been here for the last month waiting for a friend.”

“Well thank you again,” the man smiled, “and, if you’ll forgive me, Mlle, it’s a great pity that you have retired. You are an excellent teacher.”

The man and his family all smiled and waved before moving off toward their hotel. Nell Wilson watched them leave, feeling buoyant at the unexpected praise. She returned to her hotel with a spring in her step. At the Reception Desk she beckoned over the young man, speaking slowly but with a good accent she addressed him in Japanese,

“おはよう! 英国の女性は今日着いてしまったか。” (Good morning, has the English lady arrived?)

The man smiled, appreciating that the woman made the attempt, he replied in the same language, slowly and clearly,

“はい、夫人、彼女はラウンジで待っている。” (Yes, she waits in the lounge)

Nell listened carefully and her face sported a huge grin as she mentally translated the words, “Thanks Hosin,” she said quickly before turning and, with a speed surprising in one of her age, sprinting toward the lounge.

The man smiled again, “You are welcome, Nell,” he said slowly.

Nell didn’t hear the reply though, too intent on reaching the lounge, as she neared the room she slowed and walked softly toward the door, opened it quietly and looked inside, on seeing the inhabitant she grinned and then spoke,

“I don’t know,” her voice was teasing and full of amusement, “she has a two-year head start on me, yet still manages to get here almost a month late!”

The woman in the chair turned slowly, Nell noted that, in the four years since they had last seen one another, there had been some changes. The hair had far more grey in it and had been cut shorter, no longer in a bun. It suited her. The face, as tanned as Nell’s own, had a few more lines, some of them obviously due to pain, but others indicating laughter. The woman smiled and the smile lit up her face, causing her blue-grey eyes to sparkle.

“Now you know, Nell, that I was unavoidably detained. I spoke to you about it at length during an extremely expensive long distance call.”

“I know,” Nell replied, “and I really wish that I’d not given my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone else what happened. I’d love to see the reaction back at the School if they heard that Miss Annersley had been arrested in Tibet!”

“It was a simple misunderstanding, Nell.”

“That’s what they all say, Hilda.”

The two smiled at each other, Hilda used an ornate carved walking stick to push herself upright, then, suddenly the pair were in each other’s arms. An overenthusiastic squeeze brought a mild note of complaint from Hilda,

“Sorry,” Nell said, relaxing her hold slightly, “you’re too thin, Hilda.”

“And you’re too strong, Nell.” Hilda responded, “And I’m not sure whether we should be quite so demonstrative in public.”

“Why not? By the time you’ve reached our age you can get away with murder. Anyway they revere their ancestors and old people here – and if anyone wants to complain about seeing two old friends having a hug let them speak to me – I’ll larn ‘em!””

Hilda winced at the English then laughed, “Oh I have missed you Nell Wilson.”

Nell grinned, “And I’ve missed you, Hilda,” she said seriously, “letters and calls didn’t stop me missing you almost every day. It wasn’t the same as having you there, you were sorely missed at the School my dear. And you were a very tough act to follow.”

Last edited by Lesley on Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:54 pm; edited 5 times in total
#2:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:43 am
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Thanks Lesley Very Happy . Glad they're getting the chance to travel - they deserve it after all the hard work they did at the CS over the years!
#3:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:30 am
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fabulous! im enjoying this so much!
#4:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:52 pm
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Hilda looked searchingly into her friend’s face, noting that Nell’s appearance had barely changed, a few years older, yes, but otherwise still the same strong, confident person she had known for so many years, “From all the letters I received from friends on the Platz,” she said quietly, “I know that you performed splendidly, in fact a recent letter from Nancy was bemoaning the fact that she would never be able to emulate the two that had gone before her – and she was not referring to Therese.”

The two women sat on the sofa, Hilda had a tray of tea in front of her, she requested another cup and poured out a drink for both of them. Nell took an appreciative sip then sat back,

“How’s Nancy getting on?” she asked, “I’ve not written great long creeds to her, only postcards, didn’t want her feeling I was checking up on her.”

“She’s doing very well,” Hilda replied, “I had a letter from Joey some six months after you had left. She felt Nancy was coping extremely well, especially with the changes in clientele.”

“Yes, I’d noticed that even before I left - we were getting less people from Britain, the parents wanting their children to stay closer. Has she had a drop in numbers?”

Hilda shook her head, “No because she has found another source of girls - military families are very happy to send their children to a School that can cater for them for long periods. Jo told me that the School even remains open for many of the holidays, closing only for Christmas and the summer holidays.”

Nell frowned, “But surely that means the Staff get less time off? I mean they get little enough free time during term anyway, I cannot see decreasing their holidays further will be greeted with joy.”

“No, that was the point I raised when I replied to Joey,” Hilda responded, “But Nancy has started to employ women in a pastoral role, specifically to care for the girls when outside the School. They are there for the holidays and also during term if any of the girls need to confide.”

“I can’t see Joey liking that someone has usurped her role,” Nell said shrewdly, “She always looked upon that as her job, even though it was strictly unofficial.”

“And even though, at least half the time, we would get annoyed by her interference,” Hilda replied, she looked over at her friend, “don’t look so surprised Nell, I know that you were irritated on occasion when Joey would seem to be abrogating our responsibility.”

“Well yes,” Nell replied, a somewhat stunned look on her face, “but I never realised that it annoyed you too, Hilda.”

Hilda smiled slightly, she reached forward to top-up her cup of tea, did the same to Nell’s cup, when she sat back she looked across at Nell once more, “Well I didn’t allow my irritation to show, Nell, but yes, it was there, nonetheless. Oh, I’ll admit, there were some cases where Joey was the only person that could get through to a girl. But there were also occasions where, had we been given the opportunity, we would have coped without her.”

“But we didn’t have the opportunity?”

“No.” There was silence for a time then Hilda continued, “However Joey does appear to have withdrawn from the School a little, partly, I think because almost all of her own children have finished - there is only Marie-Claire still there, and she will be entering her final year next term.”

“Also I think Jack is looking to retire in a few years, they plan to move back to England then.”

“Really? Did they tell you? Joey hasn’t mentioned it.”

“No, but I had a letter from Len only a month or two ago, she said that was the plan.”

“I see, well, regardless of the reason, it has meant that Joey hasn’t felt that Nancy wasn’t over-stepping her authority.”

“I was surprised to hear of the Maynards’ plans though,” Nell reflected, “must admit I thought Jack was like Jem, wouldn’t stop working.”

“I think he is Nell,” Hilda said soberly, “and I think Joey has been terrified that the same thing would happen to him - she knows just how much Madge has suffered due to Jem’s death. I expect she has been worrying Jack about retiring for some time now.”

“Good, I wish them both a long and happy retirement,” Nell replied, “Now what of us? I’m sure you have reams to tell me, even the novels you used to send me will not have told me all that you have been doing over the last four years.”

“It would probably bore you, Nell,” Hilda began.

Nell shook her head, “No it won’t, I want to hear, and I want to tell you about my last two years too…” She stopped as the Receptionist appeared and addressed her in slow Japanese,
Nell listened carefully then replied in the same language, the man smiled and left. Nell turned to see her friend with a nonplussed expression on her face,

“I’m very impressed, Nell, how long have you been able to speak Japanese?”

“Just this month,” Nell replied, “Well I had to do something while waiting for you, there are only so many times you can climb to the top of Mt Fuji before it becomes boring.”

“You did manage it though?”

“Yes, have some wonderful photographs too, in colour, I’ll show you them later. Now Hosin came to tell me that breakfast is served - I assume you are hungry?”

“I am, there was a light meal on the train earlier, but it was at 4.30am, my stomach is starting to feel it requires something more.”

Nell shook her head while helping her friend to stand, “Still eating a lot then? Where do you put it?”

“I have an efficient metabolism Nell.”
#5:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:56 pm
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i love this! Lesley you capture their characters so perfectly!! but poor madge...
#6:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:17 pm
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I was re-reading Changes recently, and I'd forgotten that when the Maynards first decided to go to Switzerland it was only meant to be for 10 years max.

Poor Madge Sad .
#7:  Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:26 am
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Love the 'efficient metabolism'! Very Happy

Am also very impressed by Nell's ability in Japanese.

And yes, poor Madge. No wonder Joey is worried about Jack.
#8:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:44 pm
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The two women walked over to the dining room for breakfast; during the meal it was as though they had never been apart, both of them falling easily into the easy friendship and camaraderie of their many years together. They were talking so much that, eventually, one of the waiters had to ask them to leave the dining room - they were waiting to set up the tables for lunch. The two rose with profuse apologies and moved back to the lounge, intending to continue their conversation. Unfortunately they found that a couple of families had taken over in there so looked around for another spot. Nell, by virtue of having been there for a month, was able to suggest a spot and, only a short time later, they were sat in a sun terrace. It faced toward the mountain affording a spectacular view. In addition, as it was heated, the cool temperatures outside didn’t cause problems.

“Well we’ve spoken, a little, about our respective trips,” Nell said once the pair had settled in two comfortable upright armchairs, “but what of yourself, Hilda? How have you been?”

Hilda looked across at her friend, “I assume you mean the arthritis?”

Nell nodded.

Hilda sighed, “The disease is a degenerative one,” she began, “it has degenerated. As you can see I use this now when walking,” she indicated the walking stick, “It was carved for me by a craftsman just outside Athens one summer, I had attempted to visit the Acropolis…”

“The Acropolis?” Nell interrupted, “Are you mad? That’s at the top of a very steep hill! Don’t tell me that you tried to climb that hill, and in summer too?”

Hilda smiled, “All right Nell, I’ll not tell you,” she said demurely. There was silence; Hilda gazed at her friend with laughing eyes, waiting. Eventually Nell sighed,

“Oh you win, tell me then!”

Hilda nodded slightly, “As I said, I had attempted to visit the Acropolis and, as you so rightly stated, it is at the top of a steep hill. It was extremely difficult and painful. However I was determined and, in slow stages, along with my guide, we made our way to the top. Partway there we stopped for a cool drink at a roadside taverna and my guide spent some time speaking with an old man who ran a wood carving shop. I thought initially, that he was going to try and sell me ornaments however, instead, the man came out with a plain walking stick and gave it to me to use. Although sceptical I tried it and found it extremely helpful, on the way down I entered the shop and discovered that he had a number of sticks, each of them carved, painted and polished.”

Hilda passed the stick across to her friend, “As you can see it has a figure carved upon it,”

Nell looked, “Who is the figure?”

“Apollo,” Hilda smiled, “the Greek God of Healing. It seemed somewhat appropriate.”

Nell passed the stick back, “Was it worth the pain to see the Acropolis?”

Hilda nodded, “Yes,” she said softly, “definitely.”

“You also visited Pompeii, didn’t you?”

“Yes, while in Italy.”

“Well then there’s one volcano you have seen that I haven’t!” Nell grinned.

“It was certainly worth the visit,” Hilda replied, “especially as it’s so difficult to describe the scale of the disaster, you have to see the town, see the bodies of those townspeople that died there. Oh, and that reminds me…” She rummaged in her bag and brought out a small box, passed it across to her friend, “For your collection,” she said.

Nell opened the box and removed the object inside, it was a lump of rock, perhaps two inches in diameter. It was a very special type of rock, however, as it was extremely light and porous. She frowned, “This is pumice,” she said slowly, “pumice is ejected from a volcano.”

“That particular piece of pumice was ejected from Vesuvius, was part of the millions of tons that buried Pompeii,”

“Hilda you didn’t? That’s an archaeological dig, no one is supposed to bring back souvenirs like that.”

“Well if you don’t want it I’ll take it back…”

“You will not!” Nell moved the rock away from her friend’s grasp. She grinned, “Thanks Hilda, although I should disapprove most strongly at how you’ve disregarded the rules surrounding an archaeological site. You’re lucky you were not caught.”

Hilda smiled, “It’s surprising just how much you can achieve because people believe you to be thoroughly respectable,” her blue-grey eyes twinkled.

Nell laughed then rose, “Must put this in my room,” she said, “and I’ve got a picture to show you.” She left the room to return a few minutes later with a small photo album, she passed it across to Hilda.

“What is this, Nell?”

“A pictorial record of my trip to Machu Picchu,” Nell replied, “I know I tried to describe everything when I wrote, but thought this would convey it far better.”

“It’s wonderful Nell,” Hilda was turning the pages slowly, marvelling at the views and scenes, “just as I imagined it to be. What’s this?” She had reached one photograph that appeared to be of an open book, with different writing on each line.

Nell looked across, her eyes shining, “That’s the Visitor’s Book, Hilda,” she replied, “Everyone that’s visited is invited to write their name and nationality in the book, it’s kept by the site.”

“Oh yes, I see your name there and…” Hilda’s name trailed off as she read the name beneath her friend’s, she looked across at the other woman, “Nell, my name is in the book.”

Nell returned the stare, “Well of course it is, Hilda, I told you that you would be visiting with me.”

“But…it’s my handwriting.” Hilda’s voice was deeply perplexed.

“Ah, yes, about that, Rosalie was a very good teacher.”

“Rosalie?”

“Rosalie Dene, your secretary, then mine, now Nancy’s I believe.”

“I know who Rosalie is, Nell, I wondered why you had mentioned her name.”

Nell shrugged, “She was able to forge your handwriting, taught me how to do it.” She looked over at Hilda, seeing her open-mouthed with surprise, “Don’t look so shocked, Hilda, you’d never have had any free time if Rosalie hadn’t signed some of your correspondence.”

Hilda smiled, “I-I never realised. But this, in the book, why?”

“I told you Hilda, you were going to visit Machu Picchu, no one can ever say that you didn’t make it - your name’s there in your own handwriting!”
#9:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:05 pm
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naughty rosalie Wink but good for nell!! im loving this!!!
#10:  Author: calico, Location: Wellington, New Zealand PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:54 am
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This is great!!
Thanks Lesley
#11:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:13 am
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At this Hilda smiled widely and reached out to clasp Nell’s hand, “Thank you,” she said softly, “but you have destroyed forever any idea that I might have had that you were unsentimental, that you allowed only logic to colour your behaviour.”

Nell squeezed Hilda’s hand, “Now you stopped believing that many years ago, Hilda,” she replied, “I just managed to hide it from everyone else, that’s all.” She stood and stretched, “Fancy a short walk? Not too fast or far, I promise.”

Hilda nodded and they both returned to their rooms to collect their coats, the bright sunshine didn’t disguise that late May could be rather chilly. Nell took Hilda over to where she had been earlier, where she had met the French family, they both stood drinking in the view.

“It really is an almost perfect depiction of a mountain,” Hilda said quietly, “exactly as you would expect a mountain to look, Vesuvius was similar, although without the sprinkling of snow. Do all volcanoes look like this?”

Nell shook her head, “No, it depends on the type of volcano and on their eruption history. Some have far more vents than just the one here, others are much wider but not as high, because the type of eruption is different.”

“And is this one extinct?”

“No, dormant, last eruption was 1708, means it could burst into life without warning.”

“That’s encouraging!” Hilda remarked drily.

Nell smiled, “I’ll make it even better,” she said, “we’re about five miles from the volcano here. Pompeii was about five miles from Vesuvius.”

“Thank you Nell, I really needed to know that!”

The pair grinned at each other then settled to watch the mountain for a little longer. A short time later they were hailed with calls from a passing bus, Nell, recognising the Gerard family swiftly waved back then told Hilda of her encounter with them that morning.

“Still the teacher, Nell?”

“I don’t think either of us will ever stop being that, Hilda,”

“True.” A pause, then, “You didn’t say a great deal about it, did you enjoy your two years as Headmistress?”

Nell thought for a time, then nodded, “Over all, yes, I did enjoy it and was pleased that I’d had the opportunity. There were some parts that I didn’t enjoy…”

“The expulsion,” Hilda said quickly.

“Yes,” Nell took a deep breath, then, “I could do nothing less, Hilda, the girl had been given any number of chances, she’d shown no regret or remorse. Her only regret was that she had been caught. We’ve never tolerated that type of behaviour.”

“I know, bullying, especially of girls so much younger than herself and theft. Not a pleasant mix. Madge told me that the girl’s parents attempted to blame the School for everything?”

“Yes, in a way you could see why the girl had developed as she did, she had never been held to account for her behaviour, her parents always blamed another.”

“Well, if it makes any difference, Nell,” Hilda said softly, “I think you did the right thing, I would have done the same.”

Nell smiled, “Thanks Hilda, that means a lot.”

There was a short pause then Hilda shook herself, “And what of yourself, Nell? Have you kept in good health?”

Nell smiled, “You know me, Hilda, I’m always well. Had a bout of flu the winter after you left - along with half the School I may add - but that’s about all. Oh and I did have dysentery while sailing along the Amazon, but that’s expected, everyone has at least one bout.”

“Your letters from then were very descriptive,” Hilda replied, “It was very strange, at the time that you were in the rain forest with rain every day, I was receiving the letters in Egypt, at the Valley of the Kings - you cannot conceive of a more arid and barren place.”

“Well the reverse was just as strange, reading your reports of deserts of sand dunes while attempting to keep dry when it didn’t stop raining for weeks at a time,” Nell laughed, “Must admit, Hilda, you were right, there’s no way you would have been able to manage in South America, I’ve no idea how I managed half the time!”

“And what of Hawaii? Were you able to see volcanoes there?”

“See them? The entire chain of islands are volcanoes, stand anywhere on the island and you are standing on a volcano - and one that is continually erupting. Fantastic really because it’s in the middle of the great Pacific Plate so, unlike many volcanoes, it‘s not there because two plates are moving together or apart.”

“Why is it there then?”

“The theory is that there is something called a hotspot beneath the crust, an area that stays in one position and is hot enough to cause magma, that’s molten rock, to rise to the surface. A Canadian geophysicist called J.Tuzo Wilson published a theory in 1963 that these hotspots stay still and the big plates move across them - hence the reason there is a long chain of Hawaiian islands with only the youngest being active volcanoes.”

“Wilson, eh? A relation?”

“Maybe, we are very intelligent.” Nell managed to keep a straight face for almost 30 seconds after this comment!

The pair continued their slow walk, after a time Nell spoke once more, “Of course, after being in Hawaii for almost three months I then caught a flight to Japan to meet you………only you were almost a month late.”

“Ah, yes, about that…”

There was silence for a time then Hilda continued, “I decided to go to Tibet almost on a whim. I toured India for almost three months, mainly remaining near the coast, staying in Bombay, Cochin, Madras and Calcutta, among other cities. The entire country was magnificent; I know that both Mollie and Dick Bettany used to tell us of the country, but I feel they were somewhat isolated, being a part of the British Raj, almost. As a tourist in an independent country I feel I saw so much more. It is a beautiful country and has such stark contrasts.”

“We can speak of India another time, Hilda,” Nell put in quickly, “I want to know what happened in Tibet,”

Hilda smiled, “You only want to know so that you can remind me of it from now until my dying day, Nell,”

“True,” Nell replied, unconcerned, “now tell!”

“The last city I visited in India was Calcutta, and that was truly amazing. I visited a number of the sights there including the Victoria Memorial and the National Library - the largest library in India, by the way, and home of any number of rare books and manuscripts.”

“Only you could go all the way to India and find a library,” Nell grinned.

“Yes, very strange that, Nell, almost as strange as the fact that you keep discovering volcanoes everywhere you go!”

“Tibet, Hilda, remember?”

Hilda laughed, “Oh but before I come to that - I have also visited the Birla Planetarium,” this said with an air of complacency.

Nell’s eyes widened, “You have? But that’s the second largest in the world, it was only opened about ten years ago…”

“And I have a number of pamphlets and books about it in my luggage, I thought you’d be interested.”

“Hmmm, well that’s good, but I’ve still not heard about Tibet…”

“Oh very well!” Hilda smiled slightly then grimaced as she turned too quickly, she swallowed, “I’m sorry Nell, could we find somewhere to sit down first?”

Nell moved across, automatically supporting Hilda on one side while allowing her to move using her stick,

“Of course, I should have realised,”

There was a pause while the pair walked across to a small Izakaya, although authentically Japanese it also had seating for Western visitors and Hilda sank gratefully into one of the high backed chairs. They both ordered green tea and sat sipping the beverage. A short time later Hilda replaced her cup on the table,

“Right,” she said, “Tibet. One of the things I found fascinating about India was the religion, suddenly discovering millions of people that fervently believed, not in one God, but in millions of Gods, yet were just as devout as you or I have ever been, it was intriguing. I had also heard of the religion practiced further to the north, Buddhism, and wanted to discover more. In my last few years at the Chalet School, Nell, I had started to introduce lessons on other World Religions, the girls had been very interested and I wanted to know more.”

“So your visit to Tibet was to find out more?”

“Yes,” Hilda smiled, “and, I’ll admit, it was also a way for me to see, even if only from a distance, part of the Himalayan mountain chain.”

“Well I can understand that, so you decided to go to Tibet?”

“I did, however I didn’t realise quite how dangerous that could be.”
#12:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:41 am
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oh hilda!!!!! im really enjoying this lesley you have captured their characters so well!
#13:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:50 pm
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“Dangerous, but why?”

Hilda smiled slightly, nodding her head as though Nell’s reaction was expected, “Nell, what do you know of recent history and Tibet?”

Nell shrugged, “Very little I’m afraid, is it important?”

“For the Tibetan people yes,” Hilda said solemnly, “oh, I’m not blaming you, I knew next to nothing either when I made my decision to visit. I later discovered that the country was invaded and annexed by China in about 1950, later the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader and Head of State was forced to flee and an uprising was crushed brutally. Now Communist China is installing their own people within Tibet and there are reports that many of the monasteries have been destroyed and their contents pillaged.”

“I had no idea,” Nell sounded shocked, “and you visited even knowing this?”

“Oh no, I didn’t discover this until after I was in Tibet.” Hilda smiled then continued, “My guide was a young man, I had taken him for an Indian, but he had Tibetan parents, he took me to a monastery where his uncle was the senior monk - their equivalent of abbot I suppose. I stayed at the monastery for five days, spent the time speaking with the man. He had been educated in England in the Thirties, spoke excellent English.”

“What did you speak of?”

“Religion,” Hilda’s gaze turned inward for a few seconds then she continued, “he told me of Buddhism, about the beliefs and practices. In return I told him of Christianity. The talks would sometimes go on late into the night. He was very interested in learning, as a young man he had never wanted to know of other faiths, his certainty in his own was so strong he had felt it not necessary. However, now he was so much older he had become intensely curious.”

“Did you enjoy the talks?” Nell sounded a little incredulous.

“I did,” Hilda replied, she looked across at her friend, “Think on some of our discussions on Faith, Nell, how much both of us would enjoy the debates. We, neither of us, were looking to convert the other, nor to champion our cause to the detriment of any other. We just wanted to learn. This was the same. It was fascinating.”

“So what happened?”

“The monk had a visitor, a young man from the nearby Army Barracks - that is the People’s Republican Army of China. He was the equivalent of Captain, I believe, a very young and very proud man. When he discovered that the monk had welcomed into the monastery an English woman he grew angry, the monk had refused to be anything other than civil toward him, during the six months the Captain had been there. He looked upon my being welcomed as an insult.”

“A loss of face, perhaps?”

“Perhaps,” Hilda nodded, “regardless, he sent his soldiers into the monastery to arrest me on a charge of espionage and the abbot on consorting with an enemy.”

“Good Heavens, and the monks allowed this?”

“Buddhism is a pacifist religion, it preaches total non-violence, Nell,” Hilda replied, “even if some of the younger monks wanted to react, the abbot immediately ordered that they not do so. I think he was wise, the detachment of soldiers were all very young and frightened, had they been pushed to use their weapons it could have been a massacre.”

“Then what happened?” Nell’s voice was so quiet that Hilda barely heard it, she looked across, saw that her friend was white. She reached across and placed her hand on Nell’s shoulder,

“It’s all right, Nell,” she said gently, “look at me, I’m fine.”

Nell refocused on her friend and shook herself slightly, she nodded, a little colour returning to her cheeks, she spoke,

“What happened?” she repeated.

“We were escorted back to the Army base,” Hilda said quickly, “It must have looked a very strange procession. There was a squad of very fit, heavily armed soldiers escorting two somewhat elderly people. Two that, they said, were dangerous criminals, yet, to everyone else appeared as a Buddhist monk and an ex-school teacher, the monk being in his late seventies and myself, late sixties. The townspeople heard of our arrest, I believe the abbot’s nephew told them, and they lined the route from the monastery to the base.” Hilda shook her head, “That was very dangerous, people have been known, apparently, to disappear after taking part in a demonstration, but they lined the route, nonetheless. They didn’t say anything, didn’t attempt to stop the squad, just lined the route and watched - unnerving, even for me.

The squadron commander, I’m afraid I never discovered his actual rank, had refused to allow me to bring my walking stick and I struggled to maintain the pace he set. Eventually he realised and sent one of his men back to the monastery to retrieve the stick, after that I managed to keep up.”

“And once you reached the Base?”

“We were placed in separate cells in their Guardroom, while the Captain decided what he wanted to do with us,” Hilda smiled, “I don’t think he had really thought of the next step. The cells were very basic, a bunk, a jug and bowl for washing and a hole in the ground for…well, I’m sure you can use your imagination there, Nell.” Even when relating this Hilda’s sense of humour surfaced and her eyes twinkled.

“Barbarism!” Nell returned.

“No, not really, the cells were somewhat unpleasant but I doubt they were any different to prison cells anywhere in the world - designers do not tend to consider luxury when outfitting a cell.”

“And you were held there a month?”

“Well, initially I was held there five days, that being the time it took for my guide to travel to the British consulate and return.”

“And during those five days?”

Hilda smiled, “I ate and slept, when I finally persuaded one of the soldiers to retrieve some of my luggage I read. And before you ask, I persuaded him by bribing him. The soldiers are almost as desperately poor as the peasantry. He finally brought me my Bible and I gained certain comfort from having it near.”

“And the British consulate, was he of help?”

“Yes he was, the Chinese Government were keen not to make an international incident of the situation and were happy to release me without charge immediately, provided I left Tibet.”

“Which you did, I assume?”

“No, Nell,” Hilda shook her head.

“What do you mean, no?”

“I mean I refused to leave,”

“Tibet?”

“No, I refused to leave the cell…”

“You did what?” Nell shouted, some of the other customers looked round in surprise, she moderated her tones, “You refused to leave the cell?”

“Yes Nell.”

“Mind telling me why?”

“The British Consul had managed to persuade the Chinese Authorities to release me, but the Abbot remained a prisoner. I informed the Captain that I would not leave without the Abbot.”

Nell took a deep breath, visibly restraining herself from shouting at her friend, “You gave that Captain an ultimatum?”

“Well yes, I suppose I did.” Hilda looked across, saw that her friend was about to explode again, “but Nell, had I not done so he would have killed the Abbot, I couldn’t leave him, could I?”

“He could have killed both of you!”

Hilda considered, “Well, yes, but he didn’t, after a few days he decided to let us both go.”

“A few days?”

“A month.”

“I see,” Nell sighed, “Hilda Annersley do you know how lucky you are? That man could have caused you to disappear, by the time the British Consul appeared you and that Abbot could have been dead. Then to further provoke him by insisting he release his other prisoner…”

“I was very polite, Nell,”

“I’m sure that made all the difference!” Nell said sarcastically, she reached across and held her friend‘s hand, “You have used up all good fortune for the rest of your days, Hilda. To have managed to extricate yourself from that situation without any consequences…”

“Well, not quite any consequences,” Hilda said reluctantly, “I have been banned from entering any land controlled by the People’s Republic of China, for the remainder of my life.”

“I see, and what of the Abbot?”

“The same, we were escorted to the border and had to leave Tibet.” Hilda hesitated, then continued, her voice low, “though the Abbot was intending to return, even though he knew his life could be forfeit.”

“A brave man.”

“Yes, and a brave people,” Hilda replied.
#14:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:43 pm
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Thank you lesley. How brave you make Hilda seem
#15:  Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right! PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:36 am
    —
Fantastic to see this back Lesley!
#16:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:25 pm
    —
There was a long pause then, without even needing to check with the other, both women realised that they wanted to return to the hotel. They rose and after paying for their drinks left the Izakaya. The walk back to the hotel was made in silence; Nell taking up position on Hilda’s left, an arm supporting her, while Hilda had her walking stick in her right hand. Once back in the hotel they went up to Hilda’s room. Inside much of her luggage had been unpacked, Hilda had engaged the hotel’s laundry service for all her clothing, and the hotel chambermaid’s had placed the rest of her belongings into the wardrobe and shelves.

“Sit down, Nell,” Hilda said, she looked across at her friend, amusement in her eyes, “Now I know you’ve not finished speaking about what happened to me in Tibet.”

Nell took a deep breath, “You could have been killed, Hilda,” she said quietly, and this quiet statement seemed far more emotional than Nell’s earlier anger.

Hilda nodded, “I know, did you think I was unaware of that at the time?”

Nell shook her head, “No, I’m sure that you were aware of the consequences of your actions, you normally are.” She moved across to kneel beside her friend’s chair, took her left hand, “We’ve been apart for four years, Hilda, I don’t want to lose you. Now you must promise me that you’ll not try anything like that again.”

Hilda shook her head, “Now you know very well that I cannot promise that, Nell,” she said gently. “Should the same type of situation arise again, I would do the same.” She paused for a moment then added, “And so would you, Nell.”

Nell stared into her friend’s eyes for some seconds, then sighed, “Yes, I suppose you’re right, I’d have done the same.”

“Always supposing you hadn’t lost your temper Nell,” Hilda added, her eyes laughing.

Nell tried to keep a stern face, she managed it for approximately five seconds, “Oh I think I’d have managed, Hilda, it’s surprising what you can do if you have to.” She gave Hilda’s hand a final squeeze prior to rising to her feet, then stopped, feeling Hilda’s left wrist. “Hilda? Where’s your watch, it’s not broken is it?”

Hilda’s face darkened slightly, she looked down at the floor, “No, Nell, not broken,”

“Then wha…?”

“I had to bribe the soldier, Nell,” Hilda’s voice was very quiet.

“Oh Hilda,” Nell’s face showed her distress, “you were given that watch by your father.”

Hilda bit her lip, “I know, Nell, but Father would be pleased to know that his gift helped me in such a way.”

Nell placed an arm around her friend’s shoulders, “Yes he would, and he would be proud of the way his daughter acted, proud that she upheld the finest virtues of Christianity.”

“Thank you Nell,” Hilda leant against her friend’s arm.

“Although, being an Anglican Bishop, I’m not sure whether he could really judge such things,” Nell glanced surreptitiously across to see her friend’s reaction, the beginnings of a grin on her face.

Hilda stiffened ever so slightly, she turned to face Nell, “Well perhaps you are correct, Nell,” she replied, delighting in the look of surprise on Nell’s face, she continued, “Yes, you may be correct, after all, looking back in history, some of the supposed virtues of Christianity have included starting Holy Wars, becoming the largest land owner in Europe and excommunicating countries because their enemies bribed you.”

“Oh and changing an entire country’s religion so you can marry the woman you want is such noble and upright behaviour?”

“Ensuring that anyone English was sent to the Spanish Inquisition was being a good Christian?”

“Heretic!”

“Idol worshipper!”

The two stopped, both of them grinning widely, “Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed that, Hilda Annersley?”

“Probably at least as much as I, Nell Wilson,”

“No one else will do that, they’re all too serious, too worried about hurting another’s feelings.”

“Yes, whereas you and I never once felt that it would.” Hilda leant against Nell’s arm once more, “I know I was right to leave when I did,” she said, “and I have had an absolutely wonderful four years, I’ve seen so many things, I have so many memories, but the one thing above all else, that I was looking forward to, was meeting up with you. So that I could allow you to share everything.”

Nell squeezed her friend’s shoulders once more, “I feel the same, I know some parts of my trip would have been impossible for you, I also know that I loved my two years as Head. But the best part is now. I’m not going to let you out of the country without me from now on, Hilda. Not even when we return to England.”

“Oh? I thought you planned to return to your cottage on Dartmoor.”

“I do, but you’ll only be in Salisbury - easy enough for me to drive to, we’ll see each other often enough.”

“I hope so,” Hilda replied, “and before that we travel to Australia together. We’ll be seeing Con Mackenzie and her family, staying with them.”

“Yes, and Sybil and Josette, maybe even Emerence. I hear she’s a responsible adult now!”

“Emerence a responsible adult? Now that I have to see,” Hilda laughed.

Nell twisted slightly to look into her friend’s eyes, “But, above all, Hilda, we’ll do it together, as we planned all along, alright?”

“All right, Nell.”
#17:  Author: brie, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:42 pm
    —
Thank you lesley. I am enjoying this so much
#18:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:15 pm
    —
Thanks Lesley. I'm really enjoying this, such a positive & true-to-life depiction of Nell and Hilda's friendship
#19:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:53 pm
    —
Whoops! Embarassed Should have said - this is now complete - part three to follow!
#20:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:38 am
    —
Thank you, Lesley.
Just as good the second time around!
#21:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:08 pm
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Kathy_S wrote:
Thank you, Lesley.
Just as good the second time around!


Ditto!

*lazy* Wink
#22:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:58 pm
    —
Thanks Lesley - that was wonderful.
The CBB -> Ste Therese's House


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