第四章:詛咒的第七夜(上)108Please respect copyright.PENANAwPBiRFvg43
108Please respect copyright.PENANAbvu4SjhztB
祖先昀燁的記憶108Please respect copyright.PENANAfLQvlACBPE
108Please respect copyright.PENANA3jsiMiaR8q
那是一個小農村,村子世代自耕,日出而作、日落而息。沒有人見過外面的城市,也沒人走出過群山。村裡人都說,山外的世界危險、複雜,還有會把人拐走的「人販子」或「征兵隊」,只有少數幾天,會有商隊經過,帶來物資和外界的消息。村民們過得與世無爭,雖苦,但平靜。108Please respect copyright.PENANAdGlkj2Rcds
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8DuKrphAdD
那天陽光很好,太好,熱得有點不尋常。我坐在田邊,手裡握著還沾著泥的鋤頭,背後汗水緩慢地滲透衣服。那時候的我,還相信努力就會有結果,還覺得一個男人只要扛得起家裡的田地,就扛得起整個世界。108Please respect copyright.PENANAacp7kg9avK
108Please respect copyright.PENANA2v2hFOtamb
剛從田裡回來,汗水還掛在下巴上,就聽見村口有人喊:「有客人來啦——」108Please respect copyright.PENANApCCCLxEYHK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAMcmNRylYl7
那是一個陌生男子,身穿乾淨的白袍,帶著一個黑色的皮袋。他說他是從城裡來的,是個「尋找古物與商機的學者」,路過這裡。108Please respect copyright.PENANArGuRbx52dj
108Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ4vKpjsDM
他的模樣很平凡。說話輕聲細語,態度和善,笑起來時嘴角彎得像一條剛曬好的布條,不惹人厭,甚至讓人有些放鬆。108Please respect copyright.PENANA4bydg6pBUo
108Please respect copyright.PENANAb5kSYxO21F
我們對「城裡人」總是有種說不清的敬畏。他的出現,讓村裡老少都圍了過來。村長請他進家裡坐,他也不推辭,只說來這是為了分享一個「恩惠」,一種能改善我們貧困的方式。108Please respect copyright.PENANAPtVEfNjVOy
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHce5tmskfy
「我從大城裡的聖教會帶來了禮物。」他從皮袋裡,取出一個黑盒子。108Please respect copyright.PENANA032UeNcgow
108Please respect copyright.PENANA0DZQ2VP2Jt
盒子不大,像是某種祭祀用的器皿。表面刻著一圈我們從沒見過的符文,像爬蟲的骨頭交錯纏繞。108Please respect copyright.PENANA3o7NXPmhJM
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8sLYPe4gpm
「這是來自文明之地的奇物,只要虔誠的把你『最珍惜的東西』放進去,神,會讓它繁衍。」他說這句話的時候,語氣就像講一段熟記的經文。108Please respect copyright.PENANAztWDV1u5zw
108Please respect copyright.PENANAEotEnZbXvZ
大家竊竊私語,有些孩子開始問能不能放玩具進去。老人則皺眉,像是不敢相信這種「城裡的把戲」會成功。108Please respect copyright.PENANASAdOVzWnVE
108Please respect copyright.PENANAz9dSf4oVt6
我站在人群之中,靜靜的觀察著他。108Please respect copyright.PENANAz7Qhj8I0gB
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8vBQcW0LFx
他眼神清明,看不出一點詭異,語氣也始終親切。要不是我站得夠遠,我大概也會和他們一樣,被這溫和的笑聲給麻痺。108Please respect copyright.PENANAhVPcOR9VC3
108Please respect copyright.PENANA9cqpu3hDRg
直到他目光掃過我,輕輕點頭致意。那一瞬間,我不知道為什麼,後背發冷,像是有什麼東西正從他的影子裡望出來。108Please respect copyright.PENANAs71aSzmSYl
108Please respect copyright.PENANATkGzPSgwhb
**108Please respect copyright.PENANA5YLvwSaIsG
108Please respect copyright.PENANAYqPkbYrg8t
「誰想試試呢?」他問,語氣就像在問:「誰要吃糖果?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAXrHtQgLDTo
108Please respect copyright.PENANAp1Yh36nK7n
我回頭,看見她——昑偑。108Please respect copyright.PENANAKWLs3Tnmzs
108Please respect copyright.PENANAvGhtfjuC37
她一直站在我身後。那雙眼睛清澈得像一口老井,裡面裝滿了我從小到大的記憶。從小和我一起長大的她,是我唯一相信的人,108Please respect copyright.PENANAWgJGjKEh3u
108Please respect copyright.PENANAEhefcIO75m
「要試試嗎?」108Please respect copyright.PENANA4qx8Pr2XQE
108Please respect copyright.PENANAh2Al7R4zTN
她皺了眉,沒問原因,什麼也沒說,只是點了點頭。108Please respect copyright.PENANAJJRmXgGvuA
108Please respect copyright.PENANAc5Q9L49NJ1
我們邁開身子走了過去,男子面帶微笑的看著我們,潔白的雙手遞出了盒子108Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ3TZTpBhI
108Please respect copyright.PENANAaWJIwWIh4v
昑楓從脖子上摘下一條銀鏈,那是她母親留給她的唯一遺物。她的手有點顫抖,但還是走到那人面前,把墜子放進盒子裡。108Please respect copyright.PENANArZOrVhKZjy
108Please respect copyright.PENANALnvUGiBpKp
男人笑了。108Please respect copyright.PENANAj9ri4BGabT
108Please respect copyright.PENANA0RH9c4GdZW
他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言,聲音低得像在跟風講話。108Please respect copyright.PENANAqt2sTygWwm
108Please respect copyright.PENANAdKpl9o2YvE
然後,盒子打開。108Please respect copyright.PENANAhDve6ihUK3
108Please respect copyright.PENANAft3JoZULBN
兩條一模一樣的銀鏈子靜靜地躺在盒底,像是鏡子裡的映像,也像是……孿生的東西。108Please respect copyright.PENANAknFQNDKyBe
108Please respect copyright.PENANA4M2TAXODCw
那一刻,人群安靜了幾秒,隨即爆出驚呼。有人讚嘆,有人懷疑,但更多人——開始相信。108Please respect copyright.PENANAGq83OUgKkf
108Please respect copyright.PENANAcrKABV4oHE
「神蹟!這真的是神蹟!」108Please respect copyright.PENANAleFvMrXflG
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試!」108Please respect copyright.PENANAP4QLKYJh9E
「這……這是我們的機會啊!」108Please respect copyright.PENANAeMGIvgVMMz
108Please respect copyright.PENANAOwrolcdZ63
空氣中的熱度忽然攀升,那些原本懷疑的目光瞬間轉為火熱。有人開始翻出腰間的布袋,有人轉身就往家裡跑。108Please respect copyright.PENANA8lwGjOuwxb
108Please respect copyright.PENANA6JjmKdNcnz
我卻沒有說話,只是盯著那盒子看。108Please respect copyright.PENANAP9figLMw8r
108Please respect copyright.PENANAcY3sGU1jzz
我不知道是不是陽光的角度問題,還是自己的錯覺——有一瞬間,我覺得那個盒子,好像動了一下。108Please respect copyright.PENANATzpfGc8xAy
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHmJ7gtGK4O
不是移動,是……呼吸。108Please respect copyright.PENANATaaOrFUOhJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANAjRIYHjuf5F
它像是活著的。108Please respect copyright.PENANAUYTvT24T6X
108Please respect copyright.PENANAlzOgP5wdY7
盒子表面微微脈動著,不再只是刻在盒面上的花紋,而像是一種等待甦醒的皮膚。我甚至錯覺,它正「看」著我,用一種深不見底的方式。108Please respect copyright.PENANAcg15x2BDxG
108Please respect copyright.PENANA93T8ZfBqsp
我眉頭皺緊,心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。108Please respect copyright.PENANAO6x8qTMZ7J
108Please respect copyright.PENANAyd5SZwsEU5
我咬緊牙關,走到人群前方,喝道:108Please respect copyright.PENANA2m8sDRsVoD
108Please respect copyright.PENANAY6Ekfn2hGV
「夠了!!」108Please respect copyright.PENANANSjFLve1p6
108Please respect copyright.PENANAdNYwmOHesj
聲音像石頭砸進水面,炸開全場的喧鬧。108Please respect copyright.PENANASr3uKE348f
108Please respect copyright.PENANAPQTpkhMC2u
「你們都瘋了嗎?剛剛還不敢相信,現在看到一條銀鏈就開始把信仰都丟了?!」108Please respect copyright.PENANAXpMbegIuSB
108Please respect copyright.PENANAgG9VXyT2ik
我指著那盒子,目光銳利:108Please respect copyright.PENANANCPRVuzedz
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHONVRL100c
「天下沒有不勞而獲的事!你們想靠這東西活下去,那你們的手、你們的田、你們的家人算什麼?!」108Please respect copyright.PENANA2Jm5kuo5WJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANAZJDZGO8pvC
「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。108Please respect copyright.PENANA93KLAqHNJ8
108Please respect copyright.PENANAZZbWwWcH16
「你們才該冷靜!這東西從哪來的?這個人又是誰?他說是恩惠,你們就信了?他說是神的東西,你們就不問代價?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAR6jlFzg5Xo
108Please respect copyright.PENANARoCtD1ityh
「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」108Please respect copyright.PENANAnNTXiQG75E
108Please respect copyright.PENANARZmMS9hM4R
「對啊,東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAPrzcwdVg2i
108Please respect copyright.PENANASDoqzkAJPP
我深吸了一口氣,聲音低了下來,卻更沉重:108Please respect copyright.PENANA0uXzPGbcbq
108Please respect copyright.PENANAvX6P30M0cv
「你們知道我的人,我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西,不對勁。」108Please respect copyright.PENANA7guPQnqwn5
108Please respect copyright.PENANAtUL9HQF7Sb
所有人的目光又看向那男人。108Please respect copyright.PENANAk2wSJzbs9X
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwEDTG7kVk4
男人依舊微笑,沒動怒、沒解釋、甚至沒試圖說服。他只是站在那裡,靜靜看著我,像是在等一場注定會發生的風暴。108Please respect copyright.PENANACRH3aDhrSB
108Please respect copyright.PENANASMlD53NOB2
我覺得不寒而慄。108Please respect copyright.PENANABuKInCsjL2
108Please respect copyright.PENANAn1UJL29PKP
然後,他輕輕地,對我笑了一下——那笑容不像剛才的溫和,像是早已看穿一切的、令人發毛的平靜。108Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1dqQvfdNh
108Please respect copyright.PENANA9psem20iEN
他低聲說了一句話,語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見:108Please respect copyright.PENANA0WNE0tvIGf
108Please respect copyright.PENANAIZQwCxrRxJ
「……七天喔。」108Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fs9pbsQK0
108Please respect copyright.PENANAqwKA15nAnP
沒有留下任何解釋,也沒有繼續推銷,只是轉身,像完成了一項任務似的,輕描淡寫地離開了村口。108Please respect copyright.PENANA4J49c5WTiK
108Please respect copyright.PENANAFqLxLAnaBZ
**108Please respect copyright.PENANAtGvSp5qllH
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHH608Pyr9z
一開始,一切都沒變。108Please respect copyright.PENANAj1hIVpo0YX
村民們壓抑住了誘惑。沒有人使用盒子,甚至有人提議把它埋進老井底下,永遠不要再提起。但日子還是苦。田地瘦,孩子餓,藥草不夠,獸欄裡的豬瘦得像紙片,晚上還會發出咿咿的哀鳴聲。108Please respect copyright.PENANAWF1IYiSWrd
108Please respect copyright.PENANAVKynreXeCa
在一天夜裡,發生了一件事。108Please respect copyright.PENANAOfWE8wtm6J
108Please respect copyright.PENANAGIO5ybYMUn
那是村口的老流浪漢,平時靠撿拾農田邊角、幫人挑水討點食物活著。那天晚上,他坐在自家破棚裡,連續咳了半個時辰,咳到臉色發青。108Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ1xHzvPs6
108Please respect copyright.PENANAgWa0mPJczF
他餓得臉色發白,嘴唇開裂,他終於撐不下去了。108Please respect copyright.PENANACbctmgM1sp
108Please respect copyright.PENANAXYThuu80za
沒人知道他是怎麼偷進村長家,把藏在櫃底的盒子找出來的。他只是顫顫巍巍地捧著一把稻米,把它投進盒子,嘴裡念著幾句不知是真是假的祈禱詞。108Please respect copyright.PENANAgjDvrAKevt
108Please respect copyright.PENANA1TrKIepaai
幾秒後——108Please respect copyright.PENANALpSHMZO7O2
108Please respect copyright.PENANAQuNlcOynp3
兩把米,靜靜地躺在盒底,甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。108Please respect copyright.PENANAQFOjZKIMzP
108Please respect copyright.PENANA0pLhoVtsUd
那一夜他沒說任何話,只是緊緊抱著那把米,像是在抱自己唯一還能相信的東西。108Please respect copyright.PENANAeWhdrd1IMs
108Please respect copyright.PENANAIl6FKMORGE
可惜,酒讓嘴不牢。108Please respect copyright.PENANATo6GRGXQED
108Please respect copyright.PENANAaSUT05z3ra
第二天,他喝醉了,在街邊搖搖晃晃地喊:「哈哈哈!是真的!那盒子是真的!神明真的會給東西啊——!」108Please respect copyright.PENANA8gBVEF0uNC
108Please respect copyright.PENANAyYE5MHvMu9
他一邊笑一邊哭,整條村街都聽見了。108Please respect copyright.PENANAWqau3xoyqu
108Please respect copyright.PENANAYQORpt41fT
**108Please respect copyright.PENANAQ30TI8HhO6
108Please respect copyright.PENANAPqV2V0Ndyr
試驗開始了。108Please respect copyright.PENANAeb5bZnu77G
108Please respect copyright.PENANAN5NkxlF0kZ
村裡年輕人率先效仿,把破鞋、乾掉的蘿蔔、還有老母親留下的骨雕飾品一樣樣丟進盒子。每一次,盒子都照單全收,並「回贈」兩份。就像它從不挑剔,只求你「誠意十足」。108Please respect copyright.PENANAduGvMnkzOH
108Please respect copyright.PENANAQULEWw4IR5
村民們驚呼、雀躍,甚至開始比賽誰複製得最多,誰投的東西最有價值。從糧食、布匹、牲畜、工具、金銀、首飾,甚至到符咒、經書……盒子通通照做,毫無底線。108Please respect copyright.PENANAhnXTdLa318
108Please respect copyright.PENANASs4rHvWiAT
短短幾天時間,村裡的集會廣場已經排滿人。他們抬著大缸、裝著牲口、拿著傳家寶輪流操作,像是在朝聖。108Please respect copyright.PENANAk6eNEZVWWU
108Please respect copyright.PENANAwM6naOtqAT
我和昑偑站在不遠處,看著那群人。108Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9FC9nFKEi
108Please respect copyright.PENANAE0sceXgUop
他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑,只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。108Please respect copyright.PENANAmJflYPL3oJ
108Please respect copyright.PENANAyWrZwArCuV
「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。108Please respect copyright.PENANAGBDowpgzoe
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8MbJGlIkfp
「不,是他給了他們理由去瘋。」昑偑冷靜地回應,咬了一口冷掉的地瓜。108Please respect copyright.PENANAzR3Xjv0VGI
108Please respect copyright.PENANACwcj9Jg4Xk
她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。108Please respect copyright.PENANAyuyW3cxf2L
108Please respect copyright.PENANAGgbYxIvccc
**108Please respect copyright.PENANArcZNK5x6jz
108Please respect copyright.PENANAEHebSEsti0
我和昑偑,依舊守著自己的小屋。108Please respect copyright.PENANADVbjYtPOHF
108Please respect copyright.PENANAirjlIvmRHL
我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。108Please respect copyright.PENANASiF4BQ1WXN
108Please respect copyright.PENANA3mID9x2Xll
起初還有些人勸我們:「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAQtx6kCwJE6
108Please respect copyright.PENANAV6sOTPtGMn
後來變成:「是不是放不進去東西啊?還是你們連『珍惜的東西』都沒有?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAO71nc7kAKu
108Please respect copyright.PENANA8SX5tr7duw
再後來——他們不說了,只是看著我們譏笑。108Please respect copyright.PENANAQWUTS8dlXw
108Please respect copyright.PENANAOZpNjSdZLy
我們成了全村唯一的異類。108Please respect copyright.PENANAJZEqUlWI3h
108Please respect copyright.PENANAiH5wwFbp1C
那天晚上,我們坐在屋子裡,天花板滴著水,油燈忽明忽滅。外頭廣場熱鬧的像過節,有人在燒烤,有人在唱歌,還有人在討論明天要複製什麼——有個醉漢還說要複製老婆,笑得差點翻進水桶裡。108Please respect copyright.PENANAGSJeVZaK4z
108Please respect copyright.PENANARfVSJQW4wi
屋內卻只有我們兩個,一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。108Please respect copyright.PENANAOMO5ujT3Hk
108Please respect copyright.PENANApOzeZZdgIR
昑偑把剝好的一半遞給我,我沒接,只是盯著手上那塊地瓜出神。108Please respect copyright.PENANA2ouw5RcCrH
108Please respect copyright.PENANADRe2PzyFmZ
她看了我一眼,咬了自己那半塊一口,過了好一會,才輕聲開口:108Please respect copyright.PENANAEwUWS8AGEW
108Please respect copyright.PENANAFWmvfEzSRq
「你後悔嗎?」108Please respect copyright.PENANAB8tULLknOd
108Please respect copyright.PENANAy9Fb2LTyrN
我沒有立刻回答,只是聽見屋外又響起了煙火聲,火光照亮我們窗紙上交疊的影子。108Please respect copyright.PENANAS37RZRIVcA
108Please respect copyright.PENANAsC6QOCyKcz
「……有點吧。」我說。108Please respect copyright.PENANASkyIzNQvdL
108Please respect copyright.PENANABSugsQ9MGB
她笑了笑,沒再多說,只補了一句:「我不後悔。你說的,我信。」108Please respect copyright.PENANAvWOV7Dj8bk
108Please respect copyright.PENANAHGIkz1n9JG
我們繼續吃著地瓜,像什麼事也沒發生過。108Please respect copyright.PENANAz24w5Kyga8
108Please respect copyright.PENANAnMUKcrMeUE
可窗外的火光越來越亮,笑聲越來越遠。我卻莫名感覺,那些將幸福建立在盒子上的人們,正一點一點,離開人類的樣子。108Please respect copyright.PENANAxjGnPnZ2yl
108Please respect copyright.PENANAlY0Y622Ug7
而窗邊桌上,那條複製而來的銀鏈,照映著窗外的燈火,透出一絲詭異的光芒。108Please respect copyright.PENANAG6Bqas9gRi
108Please respect copyright.PENANAC4zYuDqPol