從前村裡有一個傳說,山林住著一隻兇猛邪惡的野獸,每年都要求村民獻上祭品,不然就將全村剷成平地,所以村裡的人每年都乖乖準備祭品,直至一天,路過的修行僧指示村民,只要在門兩側貼上紅紙便能驅逐該山獸,村民半信半疑的照做,那年山獸真的沒有來,自此家家戶戶都張貼紅紙,村裡太平長安。182Please respect copyright.PENANAhuxb7FmKLz
182Please respect copyright.PENANApxWDhR5G9j
幼時,婆婆常在睡前跟我說這個故事,還記得那時候的我聽完,便想那年山獸沒有收到祭品,又不能入村,那麼牠該怎麼辦?窩在山上餓死嗎?182Please respect copyright.PENANA4CHPfwR46I
182Please respect copyright.PENANAAxC47SxwM1
小小的我這樣問了婆婆,婆婆回答我,「那樣可怕的東西,是生是死,沒人在乎」。182Please respect copyright.PENANADxrDROqFSp
182Please respect copyright.PENANAvbCFoz7GSQ
可憐的山獸,若不是伴在人類旁邊,也不會如此孤單。小小的我這樣想著,漸漸進入夢鄉。182Please respect copyright.PENANAL3Zdq1GArV
182Please respect copyright.PENANAGqDAWgLsPa
時至今日,村裡仍保留貼紅紙的習俗,還會掛紅燈籠、紅彩帶,總之就是將整條村弄得紅通通,像是染滿鮮血一樣。182Please respect copyright.PENANAydbZdHm2pO
182Please respect copyright.PENANAd4zrN7PDrZ
我坐在家門前,看著鄰居掛紅色的裝飾,托住腮幫這樣想。182Please respect copyright.PENANAGx0gg7VsLW
182Please respect copyright.PENANA5OdzJEWykY
既然山獸討厭紅色,牠又怎會要吃祭品,攻擊村子,因為人類的血是紅色的。182Please respect copyright.PENANAIxdiVx9yvr
182Please respect copyright.PENANAIFfQUlnaIj
我無聊的胡思亂想,這時,婆婆出來說燒好了水,讓我去洗澡,洗乾淨過好年。182Please respect copyright.PENANAI3DnhBe4Li
182Please respect copyright.PENANA6WNXFEel2l
我泡在熱水裡,水中還漂著兩片除穢的柚葉,我撥著在水中浮浮沉沉的葉子,突然,聽到窗外有動靜,心裡來氣,想說村裡的屁孩又來偷看,一群色胚子!182Please respect copyright.PENANA41ygKUXOKM
182Please respect copyright.PENANAhr8LqttJSW
我裹好毛巾,朝窗外大罵,看到的卻不是村裡的屁孩,而是一個沒有見過的男生。雖然是沒有見過的人,但偷看就偷看,活該被罵。182Please respect copyright.PENANAqCbo5ttjUi
182Please respect copyright.PENANA5BBajElICk
我揚聲罵了他一頓,嚇得他直往山裡跑。182Please respect copyright.PENANAt3Qa05DzlG
182Please respect copyright.PENANAtcvlZzzjQ9
當天晚上,我心記掛著那個男生,不知他是從哪裡來的,也不知他有沒有好好回家,如果在山裡迷路,會不會被那隻山獸吃掉⋯⋯182Please respect copyright.PENANA7932P52Jaz
182Please respect copyright.PENANANwVeXbE9vw
想著想著,我漸漸睡著⋯⋯182Please respect copyright.PENANALb6y9Dl9mi
182Please respect copyright.PENANAyNM5bOYHf8
在夢境裡,我站在一棵樹下,抬頭看著樹蔭,莫名感到一股平和溫暖,然後,有把聲音突然跟我說話,這聲音像在我耳蝸中作響,帶著迴音。182Please respect copyright.PENANAkYWd3la4ep
182Please respect copyright.PENANAvPZX9j84rc
他跟我說,人類很自私,是你們為求賜保佑而獻貢祭品,一旦有了平安無憂,就捨去諾言契約,獨自快活,還將他隔絕山上,簡直豈有此理,他想出口悶氣也不行⋯⋯182Please respect copyright.PENANAslOFygynVM
182Please respect copyright.PENANAtVHls6bqHR
那把聲音嘮叨了整晚,我翌日早上醒來,睡了好像沒睡過一樣。182Please respect copyright.PENANAhHkPLJGJw3
182Please respect copyright.PENANAyezFfyUJVc
連婆婆叫我去許願樹扔寶牒也沒力氣,怎麼也掛不上去。182Please respect copyright.PENANAmbjjcfGgvk
182Please respect copyright.PENANA7hjNz8y6gj
我頹肩坐到一旁休息,仰頭看這許願樹,總覺得這樹跟夢裡那棵樹很像。182Please respect copyright.PENANAYs3Gxvfjj5
182Please respect copyright.PENANA88xyFnTdzF
我繞住許願樹走了一周,抬頭看著樹蔭,陽光的碎片閃爍其中,讓我不期然瞇起眼睛。182Please respect copyright.PENANAe06jajLYE7
182Please respect copyright.PENANAGtVDnTEoxO
「我才不讓你們願望成真,哼!」182Please respect copyright.PENANA5rpRl7BMa1
182Please respect copyright.PENANAM00GPJ1ogj
我看到他坐在樹上,頓時驚訝的瞪大眼睛。182Please respect copyright.PENANAMPWvQbJpS5
182Please respect copyright.PENANAt4yCNevdrG
「偷看犯!」182Please respect copyright.PENANA81HXTWFufW
182Please respect copyright.PENANAxmH0WzzZqj
樹上的他回首俯視我,露出厭惡的表情。182Please respect copyright.PENANAnr03fpE2vK
182Please respect copyright.PENANAgXyzE0mjri
「討厭的人類,誰偷看你啦!」182Please respect copyright.PENANAFbxFpx9ZUO
182Please respect copyright.PENANAGgGWKqzDPb
然後,他就消失了,夢裡出現的聲音也消失了。直到過年後,村裡紅色的裝飾全都卸下,在嬉鬧的孩童中,我似乎隱約見到他的身影,但定眼細看,又不見了。182Please respect copyright.PENANA3M0adTXDfS
182Please respect copyright.PENANANNxfOuvmXP
他,到底是誰?神?還是那隻山獸呢?嘴裡明明說討厭人類,為什麼還留在人類身邊?182Please respect copyright.PENANAHVyHIO0Lp4