Diamonds in the Dust Read Free Page A

herself now. The relief made her almost cheerful.
    “You sure big,” the girl commented, watching her yank up her underwear. Maya tried to suppress a sudden giggle by jamming a hand over her mouth, and her eyes grew huge with the effort.
    “Big enough to thrash you, cheeky monkey.”
    “You never catch me.”
    The giggle escaped through her fingers and made Hatti laugh outright. Their eyes fixed on each other, and for a long moment neither looked away, then with a sigh Hatti sat down on the bed, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees.
    “Where you from, Maya?”
    “Palur.”
    “Where on earth is Palur?”
    “Malaya.” The girl looked affronted. “Everyone know that.”
    “So what are you doing here in Darwin?”
    “Japs came. Japs everywhere.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.”
    Hatti watched the brightness dim in the black eyes and the laughter seep away, leaving a bleakness behind. That corner of the cell grew darker.
    “So, Maya, did this
Mem
Hadley of yours bring you to Australia?”
    A nod. “And my brother.” She screwed up her face. “
Mem
make us go in school here.”
    “It didn’t look to me much like you were in school this morning.”
    A small brown finger pressed to the girl’s lips. “Shh! No tell.”
    Hatti smiled, and because for that split second her guard was down and her thoughts distracted, four words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “I have a son.”
    No warning. No sense of the words tiptoeing onto her tongue. She had promised herself she would never talk about him, but her enticing little cell-mate had utterly disarmed her. She drew a long breath and fought to keep it steady, but it was too late to snatch the words back.
    “He’s nineteen tomorrow,” her tongue added quickly, and even she could hear the quiet pride in her voice.
    The girl clapped her hands with delight. “That good. Very good. When
Mem
Hadley help, you be home tomorrow. Sing ‘Happy Birthday.’”
    Hatti stared down at her boots, at her large bony knuckles, at her broad lap where her son used to curl up when he was small, at anything other than the pictures in her head. She felt her heart growing too big for her chest. “No,” she said softly. “My boy is in the army. He’s stationed in Malaya.”
    Maya squealed. “That bad. That very bad.”
    “I know. I know it’s bad.”
    * * *
    The woman who came through the door was better than a glass of cold lemonade. She brought with her into the cell a rush of energy and the scent of wide open spaces that lifted the dead weight of the stale air and made breathing much easier. At a glance she took in the oppressive walls, the bucket in the corner, the girl’s jumpy eyes. Without a word she hugged Maya to her, then turned to Hatti and stuck out a hand.
    “Hello, I’m Connie Hadley.”
    She was slender, a few years younger than Hatti, with sun-streaked blond hair and wearing a casual summer shift that gave her an easy and relaxed appearance. But her blue eyes were alert and intelligent, the delicate bones of her face set in a watchful expression as if she did not quite trust what the world had to offer. Her handshake was firm.
    “You must be Mrs. Hoot.”
    “Just Hatti will do.”
    “Well, Hatti. Thank you for looking after my girl.”
    “Maya and I looked after each other. She’s a good kid.”
    For the first time the woman smiled, a warm, generous smile that made Hatti hold on to her hand a moment longer and ask, “You heard what we are charged with?”
    “Yes. But I have good news for you.” Her smiled widened. “I have found a witness who corroborates your story.”
    “A witness?”
    “That’s right. An elderly woman who lives in the apartment above the store opposite.”
    “She witnessed it all?” Hatti’s throat was fit to choke.
    “Yes, and she has signed a statement backing up what you said to the police.” She flung an arm in the direction of the door. “You’re free to go.”
    Maya shrieked with delight. “Come, Plain