Along with the other wome n who were alone they drank a toast to acknowledge their debt of reciprocal gratitude to each other for banding together, their kindred souls sympathetic in their concern for each other glad for this pleasant and agreeable companionship which was certainly an exceedingly wonderful tonic. Until then Oyae had felt that she had been existing in some sort of liv ing Buddhist hell. She gave her heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to assuage her need for refreshment and recuperation. Oyae took some of her medicine from inside a tin and popped it into her mouth to suck on whilst soaking her hand towel in a nearby stream just where the fast flowing stream narrowed feeling radiant and quite sociable Little by little opportunities presented themselves for her to socialise with others. Later on in the same neighbourhood O-Yae had her bottom extensively squeezed and groped. O-Yae stumbled and stopped and, standing alone, she groaned and retrieved some medicine from her purse which was tucked in her obi (sash).
…she walked briskly along with her expensive white yukata (light summer kimono) tucked up and her hat in one hand.
