The soldier was reluctant to leave the doctor’s home because after facing near death outside he felt safe & secure in the Hoki's house. More than the medical treatment, it was the gentle touch of the doctor & his wife that turned the Japanese household into a sanctuary. He had suffered at the hands of Japanese and the scars on his neck were the evidence of the torture he had undergone. He was afraid that if he left their house he would be discovered and might face further more torture.
