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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN4BNMejmf
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9zqrg43eR
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJUFsaqYEd
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL0Igr8KtU
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZq2xQE0Uv
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA7mcvPpLE
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHDHrM3sTl
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA5CL3OJL9
村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFAvBoSXs6
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIjWu5tn3w
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCBHOeuCTl
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8VuQbcJEj
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCR4DWJVn4
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0r6Nl9oMI
※※※※※493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiSPBDXVCS
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnMify4Fvj
如日常事例，少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYEjnkCkc7
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I2df0SIEu
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6GV8D5oj2
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY4jNcflzE
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOzuXSCr1o
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhG9n8Znu4
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YUs9a63WY
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIjVqZ8c1S
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6RqxI9NKL
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FQArpCd6u
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriES5c4xJQ
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3lKLgrMCh
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J0zaFBqH4
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U9iwoTWoP
對這些村民來說，已經足夠靈驗。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGTRHWaHAp
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaUpociLIi
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEQtgULRvk
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNVWkfiBro
「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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f0d0XbTav
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrGpa6h98P
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FitUtxGZm
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxGbwG21n5
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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k6wV7pAZw
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbGVg6oidE
「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」。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY1smnVJoG
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pZFsra5OL
「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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhFcfMPAef
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXxf7wDLyZ
少婦微低下半身，柔聲問道：「小末，妳撿到了什麼？」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFlaczzfJU
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uUhTXFzFD
「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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd1nOT8PLu
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLHIMUW2Eg
「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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ViTQSZreY
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfeoK7qZzj
「不行！不行！」小末大叫，「不能給別人看到！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5vMRzKZX8
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuK0FPq2oF
「妳又在說謊了！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoM0b3hkzw
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWKAiiuH4t
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？」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Occ9hJf5
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mGtPahOtW
小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴，片刻後才點頭勉強同意。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bEix5cxfv
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbQipCmQdT
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UiLOgbvqf
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZTcnSTfOK
以前小末常常對著她大嚷：『為什麼不早點來救我母親？』493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkNuU0HJeM
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmQlhrVp0n
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE7ycV6jIp
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7smlScO3M
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gm4SxuBN0
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7ulERLe3E
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXbGTXx9Kb
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER7GyuDEsF
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT40FvwQ7w
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLXK1MftVS
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkUiMkOUDU
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwNvLcz3C
「小末，到底是什麼東西……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1tmrefHUS
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LukradBSP
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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFeTb6fUS3
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpchFzOZNy
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLLphHNIbg
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsm01Q2Rm5
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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX59Xm0oVud
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSrTEyyE26
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…」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tpRDlD7Pw
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIOPJYT6Ml
石片移開後，少婦低下身看去時，不禁倒抽了一口氣──493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JQTM6Dj9C
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXS9YMH7qO
那不是人類嗎？493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWswjCjg2j
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KAbul1WqE
…不，那…是人類嗎？……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYbuQJbFnN
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOL5660DB2
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2NoKtGRb8
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP11xoNW4i
「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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jlW3qI7yQ
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAaHB9XnCg
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJMFyCOSEA
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ8txkYVEb
「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看！一定會！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkzxHJ4I59
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMPc7039kn
「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字，幾不成聲。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtxa1Rg1s8
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow0JuvW9Mm
「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔！也不可以告訴別人！這是…」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa38xPuklS
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BDswm4JPL
「小末！」少婦竭力喚道，「小末…等一下…這種東西……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1OWXGRo0z
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7ZacJydxV
「唔？」小末無辜地眨眨眼，等著少婦說話。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo4iuuaGX0
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2fPmtqVar
「這種東西……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobdhlzpZIc
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh0ptHuLeW
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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KuCIl7S8n
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3z9B4D2f6
因為，這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz3ckEvFVQ
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipfExSMWVx
……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn5FUtlf4M
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxJ01s6oBO
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？493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmWP3LuhBV
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEG6brFnfy
「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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZox4gihgvO
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTdkUcTxpq
「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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw66rxmunp
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPBSM0yqya
心口，只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUQxcKTYrJ
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsEPQOWgBM
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……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqVtzpmP1k
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NN3DZEuN4
小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0KgrK8G8u
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsq0KNHCHz
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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumMZqbbWkf
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pWClGbd0x
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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFzgD20tXf
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFayXeJ1hg
指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時，『她』霍然張明雙眼！493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrSPc4iXlR
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPoRe5zauB
少婦赫然抽回手，醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p8fgqWZ5q
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBpCtjoEL9
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道：「哇──張開眼睛了！醒過來了！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE8jm8Wd2p
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmaO2ZLqQP
『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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld3ovpN6GH
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn8fjvwn7x
『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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8kr7ntniE
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtpboLMT6n
「我是小末！小末小末小末！」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKi4Pj4jK8
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7sFCBVvxM
少婦不禁脫口說出：「……神……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY1QMCLEEL
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QZgoM6rw3
腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmoR4X3Tjv
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItLEtKaPFt
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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3tJfXgw33
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQlsJ6XAQg
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyetTYivKG
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDz3GJ26jm
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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCCMG9z7Z0
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDfSKnoSZo
『她』擺動的靈活的長臂，與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8b7eQkY0z
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuoc2BLnBk
『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……493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LIkr2lGxa
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMIq4crWDp
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。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtogRYrbh1w
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMlHvcoqU
回到村子，村民們善意地招呼著，「夫人！您還沒走啊！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXuThEm5z4
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdBL80YCoP
「小末呢？」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWORjqdDTQe
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8RDAyy2PC
「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情，「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57TqzLRnyj
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5PPfm3R7b
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎？」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUBgYmEl5U
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YBzLD3HDy
「啊？」村人搔搔頭，「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygs4plpfC4
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H2OfCX234
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！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt1zV9nP40
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV73v3k9FK6
沒有神。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AeFgOEfG4
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjICPFCyWqG
小末看到少婦，漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳，喘息笑著。493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCWldHtMPc
493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhtsnEpEVg
「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔！」493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9RX3laIHS
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