June 1943 Dear Evie, Not sure about the date for this letter. Lost track of time again. Been working out on the next patch of ground to be cleared for the railway, breaking stones and clearing trees. Not much food. ‘Why do you write all these letters you’ll never post?’ Macgregor asked me yesterday. ‘What’s the point?’ It was hard to explain. But somehow when everything’s written down it feels more controllable. You’ll remember my friend, Noi? I have been able to repay her for saving me from snakebite last month. She and I were sitting at the edge of the market stalls in town. I’d bought some sweet potatoes from her. You may think it strange that we’re allowed to go into the settlements and openly barter with people. But the Japs know we won’t escape. Where would we go? We’re surrounded by dense forest and mountains. I suppose someone could smuggle themselves onto a barge, but these are regularly inspected.
