約略是三年前,正值櫻花爛漫季節,一位蒙紗的少婦帶著一籃藥箱來到這座不起眼的山谷小村裡行醫。以一飯一宿作為求治的代價,倒也令人覺得親切同情。606Please respect copyright.PENANAeKek6Rx91r
606Please respect copyright.PENANA2DjcZyUgKO
雖然在這村落沒什麼特殊罕見的疾症,但無論是怎樣難易的病痛卻在她的治療下一一痊癒,即使是不大不小但總無法根除的常疾,也乖順地逐漸消跡。606Please respect copyright.PENANAkXWBN6xkbE
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對村民來說,她定是位偉大的巫女,也只有侍奉神祇的巫女與神官才能趨除病痛。所以儘管沒有人見過她真正的面貌,也沒有人知道她是從何而來為何而來,都視作侍奉神之人而理所當然地接受。606Please respect copyright.PENANAh2O2Ugno4C
606Please respect copyright.PENANAfNqBhJNK5U
行醫後不久,少婦拿出了精美珍貴的布料贈與村民,請他們在山上為她搭建居所。連貴族也罕見的布疋與樣式奇特的屋落,儘管惹人驚異卻也視應當然。606Please respect copyright.PENANAR6lZ7joZMa
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村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。606Please respect copyright.PENANAfPrvLcRsLP
606Please respect copyright.PENANAzyMowCTrEU
少婦總是罩上一層薄紗遮掩面容,其中原由則是村民們好奇而不敢探究的問題。606Please respect copyright.PENANArlKzSy0wSN
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但就與供奉侍神之人一樣,樸實的村民對這位夫人一直滿懷著敬意與感恩。606Please respect copyright.PENANAorSG9wX99y
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如日常事例,少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。606Please respect copyright.PENANALM6xqHfVoi
606Please respect copyright.PENANAY7AG2veNEX
剛開始時,像這樣走在崎嶇的山路小徑,每隔片刻便因體力不足而停佇休息,而隨著路程加長,行進的速度愈加遲緩,在走到山谷時往往需費上半個白天的時間。606Please respect copyright.PENANAICR001ePVf
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然而日復一日地走下來,很快地便適應了山路的跛斜,雙腳踩地的踏穩與敏捷也讓自己意識到原本是如何嬌生慣養。606Please respect copyright.PENANAe31miNYdwU
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經過一時辰的山路,脫出林葉蔭蔽,眼前一片低平。山勢成兩方夾圍出一塊橢形的峽地,一道細小的水流在谷地尾端切出,往山谷外的世界延伸。606Please respect copyright.PENANA22sfWd2yiX
606Please respect copyright.PENANAc3DoP1NcTh
谷內盡被闢成田地,十數戶茅頂土屋鬆散地聚落在谷內微高之處,少婦走入由田壟蜿蜒至屋落的土徑,幾名在田中收成的農伕見人立即嚷聲問安,接著轉向其他田埂裡的村人遠喝通知少婦的來到。606Please respect copyright.PENANAqg1mUqFvMD
606Please respect copyright.PENANAQzDxrb0wbr
走至舍落中央的寬地時,少婦身週已經圍滿了村人,村婦們有的牽著自家的孩子或是手抱嬰兒前來,每個人開口一聲聲『夫人』地嘈嘈雜雜嚷話著。少婦一面聽他們的閒談日常,一面為需要療治的人一一看診。606Please respect copyright.PENANAZg1BZkQFs9
606Please respect copyright.PENANAlQtknJaSsd
在這座村裡不太有什麼難以應付的絕症,最多是風寒腹洩皮膚病,一些被宿疾所纏身的老人家,也只要經過一般藥石與飲膳的調養,便就無所礙窒。606Please respect copyright.PENANAEXtfiDXSKw
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對這些村民來說,已經足夠靈驗。606Please respect copyright.PENANA40B16tT62L
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除了病痛看診外,村民們也會額外與少婦聊一些村內的近況與自家的種種。少婦只是靜靜地聽著,大多時並沒有搭腔,但村民們卻反而說得更是躍躍有勁。606Please respect copyright.PENANAX1MntmpgPu
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「讓我過去!讓我過去!」一個小女孩費力地推擠開大人們圍成的人牆,然後又再被擠了出去,她不停地高聲尖叫,「讓我過去啦!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAH0yqSt1mcz
606Please respect copyright.PENANAb3iJQClRkC
少婦認得那個女孩,名字叫小末。她記得很清楚,那個小女孩的母親是在她來到這個村落前難產而死的。606Please respect copyright.PENANAYrwGy657y7
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少婦往小末的方向跨了一步,人群便散了開來,小末一股腦地從人群中撞出,興奮地抓住少婦的衣袖嚷叫:「夫人!妳快來看!妳快來看!我撿到了很棒的東西哦!」606Please respect copyright.PENANA4WIyg4p8UD
606Please respect copyright.PENANAf3sSVHMO8B
「小末,妳又要騙人了!」四週的大人們不以為意地取笑,連一旁的小孩子也跟著起哄叫著:「騙人鬼」。606Please respect copyright.PENANAwKtDS5MwU7
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「我才沒有騙人!才沒有!」小末回頭大聲罵道,手指仍緊抓著少婦的袖襬。606Please respect copyright.PENANAp9hfd7HbgT
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少婦微低下半身,柔聲問道:「小末,妳撿到了什麼?」606Please respect copyright.PENANAbI54a7Kn2w
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「妳跟我來看就知道了啦!」小末立即拉著少婦的手,作勢就要衝出前去。606Please respect copyright.PENANAs5RmPYtwEx
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「等一下!小末!」大人們抓起小末手臂,嚴聲訓斥,「不可以對夫人沒禮貌,妳自己把東西帶過來!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAsRQ8mS96bO
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「不行!不行!」小末大叫,「不能給別人看到!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAw3Y9JQ3tEg
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「妳又在說謊了!」606Please respect copyright.PENANA3fNSZ20JmI
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少婦感到一陣頭痛,只得出聲制止,「別說了。」她蹲下與小末齊高,安撫道:「我晚點再看,好嗎?」606Please respect copyright.PENANAYL3XtEaqet
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小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴,片刻後才點頭勉強同意。606Please respect copyright.PENANATBjffVaZ6W
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於是,小末就站在人群外圍靜靜盯著少婦,不時煩燥地走來走去,然後跑開片刻、再又跑了回來。606Please respect copyright.PENANAtYxLHRjVCo
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以前小末常常對著她大嚷:『為什麼不早點來救我母親?』606Please respect copyright.PENANAEotHwKqRki
606Please respect copyright.PENANADwqKRxyUZR
後來大概是被大人責罵的關係吧,小末再也沒有說出那種話,卻開始說起自己看到了母親的亡魂、夢到了母親的亡魂。內容則不外乎是母親預言將降災給哪個會欺負小末的人,要不就是母親得到了神的賜福,會再回到小末身邊云云。606Please respect copyright.PENANA4psDqCTMEG
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像這樣顯而易見的謊言只招來更多的嘲笑,小末卻更為堅信自己看得見母親的亡魂、甚或是其它死者的鬼魂。606Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5PJBhNUyV
606Please respect copyright.PENANAeIYT2BcKMK
後來少婦私底下編了一個故事告訴小末,一個失去父母的小孩向神祈求再見到自己的父母一面,代價是一整年的時間不可開口說話,小孩做到了,因此見到了自己的父母。然而卻因為她太久沒說話的關係,她在現世的親友都遺忘她不認識她了。從那之後,小末就不再說謊,也逐漸不再提起自己母親的事。606Please respect copyright.PENANAWij1ykai5q
606Please respect copyright.PENANAsOErCvbDZI
只是,到現在其他人還是會常常拿過去說謊的事來取笑她,小末雖然生氣,卻也未認真掛在心上計較,或許是年紀尚小的關係。606Please respect copyright.PENANAJMVjcKf5Wf
606Please respect copyright.PENANAOdRaOQgJ1j
少婦收拾了藥箱,把村民們贈送的一些莊稼打成小包袱,小末已等不及地纏到她身旁,拉著她就跑,還不時回頭把好管閒事的村民或其他小孩給喝跑。606Please respect copyright.PENANAhpQkAs5Ko6
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「小末,到底是什麼東西……」606Please respect copyright.PENANApT14pHyQ9D
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小末以指尖壓唇示意,然後壓低聲音:「不能說不能說,妳看了就知道了!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAfUnVacRo7m
606Please respect copyright.PENANAeghYXc0pvG
結果,小末把她帶到了小溪的磯岸上,一群大小不一的石塊疊出傾陡的矮壁裡,有許多可以藏物的狹縫。606Please respect copyright.PENANABUuFqG2ppc
606Please respect copyright.PENANALDPLeKDxmF
小末迅速地爬過幾疊邊緣尖銳的大石塊,回頭拼命向少婦招呼:「這裡這裡!趕快來看!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAO7BaiReeBv
606Please respect copyright.PENANAVHh1gvFqEw
少婦謹慎緩慢地越過石塊來到小末身旁,小末深吸一口氣,手按在遮住洞口的一塊扁長石片上,眼中閃爍著興奮的光芒,「我要打開囉…」606Please respect copyright.PENANAe3UjDnzyzP
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石片移開後,少婦低下身看去時,不禁倒抽了一口氣──606Please respect copyright.PENANAi4jdQjiVd2
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那不是人類嗎?606Please respect copyright.PENANAQXE7eZup6h
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…不,那…是人類嗎?……606Please respect copyright.PENANA9y4I4Uxug6
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型體像是巨大的卵,帶著與常人無異的粉肉色,在頂端則像是生出肉芽一般,長著一張女人的臉孔緊閉雙眼,一頭烏黑的長髮從『頭』頂披曳落在卵的四周。606Please respect copyright.PENANAfKkDoZJrhk
606Please respect copyright.PENANAl89vlH2tl0
「很漂亮吧!很漂亮吧!」小末高興地對少婦露出欣喜的笑容,「昨天的昨天剛撿到時是蛋,然後長芽,今天長出臉跟頭髮耶!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAdngTzU7DIs
606Please respect copyright.PENANAIrgPa0JnA7
少婦只有瞪大著眼,看著小末雀悅地與她分享著自己的秘密。606Please respect copyright.PENANAUFjZRXrYFF
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「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看!一定會!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAHppDY6Q5zk
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「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字,幾不成聲。606Please respect copyright.PENANAfu3foNsDoM
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「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔!也不可以告訴別人!這是…」606Please respect copyright.PENANAHSlv6uHi3W
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「小末!」少婦竭力喚道,「小末…等一下…這種東西……」606Please respect copyright.PENANA8suP0o6FS8
606Please respect copyright.PENANASRuA3XEHiz
「唔?」小末無辜地眨眨眼,等著少婦說話。606Please respect copyright.PENANA8xWNFaW5pH
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「這種東西……」606Please respect copyright.PENANAuGB10Pe3EH
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該怎麼說出口……她確定這顆卵是超脫她所能理解之物,不,也不是十分地陌生,因為……606Please respect copyright.PENANAQoaGQScDv7
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因為,這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……606Please respect copyright.PENANAfRdiTWPmUM
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……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……606Please respect copyright.PENANAKHTDNL7vxR
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為什麼?自己明明不再是過去的那個人了,為什麼還會看到這種東西?606Please respect copyright.PENANAvq6mr3mezN
606Please respect copyright.PENANA49D6WFDgN8
「夫人!夫人!」小末急切地拉晃著她的袖口,「夫人妳知道這是什麼動物對不對?告訴我告訴我!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAAdtRtXd1dD
606Please respect copyright.PENANAGiW74OGSlJ
「這…這個…是……」少婦恍惚地低聲囁嚅,意識無法控制地恍惚飄遊,眼前的小女孩也似是恍惚的景象。606Please respect copyright.PENANAge88gOU7Cn
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心口,只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。606Please respect copyright.PENANA247muCh3SB
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她伸吸口氣,強迫自己假造出可以冷靜面對現狀的思緒來,「總之,先讓我確認一下,這種東西…說不定有危險……」606Please respect copyright.PENANAixRzh0nrDK
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小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。606Please respect copyright.PENANAD5dycF9knM
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少婦忍住嫌惡感與恐懼,伸手用掌心覆觸卵的表面,上下輕移……606Please respect copyright.PENANAZzdGrbTVnu
606Please respect copyright.PENANAgyu05IOV6n
觸感與人肉相彷,體溫不冷不熱,甚至隱約可見流動的細小血筋,至於呼息的起迭與脈動……分不清是不是把自己的吁吸錯認為是那個物體的吁吸,手掌中的起伏與顫動像是自己所引發又不像是,明明早已判斷出,錯覺卻層層不絕地湧起……606Please respect copyright.PENANADR6wmPhXKx
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指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時,『她』霍然張明雙眼!606Please respect copyright.PENANAokm8Z44Tew
606Please respect copyright.PENANAAhj4R80YJL
少婦赫然抽回手,醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。606Please respect copyright.PENANAIqbLqAXMXd
606Please respect copyright.PENANATNpOXonlwj
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道:「哇──張開眼睛了!醒過來了!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAxoxjyZXpi3
606Please respect copyright.PENANAdYfkWhDw9X
『她』笑得像是石雕一像生硬,少婦卻直覺得『她』的眼神與表情不停地無聲變動著。606Please respect copyright.PENANAdrvgRBKoA5
606Please respect copyright.PENANA33ZOVpwwbS
『她』的眼神冰冷得幾乎可凍結體內的血液流動,似乎自己才是寄宿在某個肉塊裡的莫名異物……606Please respect copyright.PENANA9hIOTpGJQM
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「我是小末!小末小末小末!」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。606Please respect copyright.PENANAzwZT5DrGr3
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少婦不禁脫口說出:「……神……」606Please respect copyright.PENANAknkfLQseUn
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腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。606Please respect copyright.PENANAz3mMNF9elw
606Please respect copyright.PENANAwts9I7FriW
尖銳的笑聲從四面八方向少婦滾壓,她被當做是漩渦中心地纏繞著宣洩而下,連靈魂也快被沖刷怠盡似地。然後……606Please respect copyright.PENANAqjtGGY5LY6
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就在要屈服這些無止境膨脹的笑意之時,透過薄紗,隱約地看到小女孩快樂地捧著巨卵上的頭顱抱出洞外。606Please respect copyright.PENANAgtVPOLkgNJ
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臉孔後頭的身體仍留在洞穴內,所以被拉成了柔軟的長條,小末愉快地持續拉著,然後長條的身體兩側對稱地長出無數雙手臂來……606Please respect copyright.PENANA3MQgFwATDe
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『她』擺動的靈活的長臂,與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。606Please respect copyright.PENANAjbSeWppsRR
606Please respect copyright.PENANAIo6u06RN7J
『她』臉上的微笑依舊是生硬冰冷,聽不見的笑聲卻極盡尖銳盡宏大地刺擊著少婦……606Please respect copyright.PENANA0STyDERriY
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當小末幻影似地從眼前離去時,少婦忽然醒了過來,四週景物絲豪未變,除了癱軟在地的自己與傾倒一旁的藥箱。她渾渾顫顫地拾起自己的東西,好不容易才踉蹌地走回村內。606Please respect copyright.PENANACdSl0mRI0X
606Please respect copyright.PENANAwvEoM2Q57S
回到村子,村民們善意地招呼著,「夫人!您還沒走啊!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAq5HJFP5UnI
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「小末呢?」606Please respect copyright.PENANApXYzPnYNIJ
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「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情,「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAg7ceY37nK2
606Please respect copyright.PENANA74Upcti0l5
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎?」606Please respect copyright.PENANAoXC64YtOHb
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「啊?」村人搔搔頭,「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」606Please respect copyright.PENANA5V1b1e9xv0
606Please respect copyright.PENANAznqz9PoXj1
少婦不安地快步行至舍落,只見到小末在寬地上舞蹈般地狂跳著,一旁的村人還不斷吼道「別跳了!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAX7OtWXHSFF
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沒有神。606Please respect copyright.PENANAcdEb7Q87Wa
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小末看到少婦,漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳,喘息笑著。606Please respect copyright.PENANAJvEyZV5F7Q
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「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔!」606Please respect copyright.PENANAuWkvdvWEOR