That's the rain barrel side. On the milky white side, it's a packed house. Rather than men in a tub full of bath water, it's better described as a tub full of men with bath water added. To make matters worse, they're quite the leisurely lot. A new man enters from time to time, but no man leaves. If each man, once he's in, stays and soaks for a week, then I shudder to imagine the state of the water. With this in mind, I survey the scene further, and what do I see but master Kushami, wedged into the far left corner and red like a lobster. Someone should make way, I'm thinking, and let the poor man out, but there's no sign of movement. The master himself shows no inclination of wshing to exit. He simply stays and steeps, turning a deeper red. I laud his perseverance. I suppose that having forked out his two sen and five rin, he intends to get his money's worth. All the same, I can't help but worry, as I watch though the window from my perch on the shelf, if the vapors won't overcome him. At this point, two spots removed from the master, another bather knits his brows in consternation. "This is too much. My back's on fire." He appeals to his fellow brutes for sympathy. "I'd say it's just right. Medicated water, unless it's this hot, can't work its effect. Where I'm from, the baths are twice as hot," another counters proudly. "What exactly is it this stuff does?" A fellow ask all round as he folds his washcloth and sets it over the top of his lumpy head. "It does most anything. Good for what ails you, as they say. Wonderful stuff." This is from the owner of a face that resembles, in both color and form, a shrunken cucumber. If the bath is really so wonderful, can it not do something for his appearance? "Rather than freshly mixed, it's at its best three or four days in. Today should be just about right," an authoritative voice adds. Taking a look, the voice is from a portly fellow. On second thought, perhaps he's not portly but just caked in layers of grime. "How 'bout drinking it?" a shrill voice pipes up from the pack. "It's a curious thing. Drink a cupful on cold evenings, before turning in, and you'll sleep all night. You won't have to wake and pee. Give it a try." Another voice from who knows which face.