It was wartime all the men had gone off to fight Those who had returned were shattered broken and all else were women the children and the old So the only protection 4the young girls and women was to mask ourselves unsavory in looks and the scents of beasts and sick Some cut off their hair and rubbed oils that grew hair over their face until it sprouted stubbly beards Yes it was war and looking ugly disfigured unwanted was our only protection