根據居民的指示，我沿著竹林小徑走了一整天，終於到達目的地：一間全竹結構的寺廟。它比我預想中更為破落，冷冷清清的。我抬頭望向高高懸掛在山門的匾額，寫著「竹寺」。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBOj0JIwGE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBPIOvhwzu
蠻有意思的名字。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpsvz2ZYmd
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuevztLgpYD
當我正要邁步內進時，一個打扮樸素的瘦削大叔剛好開門踏出。四目交投，雙方都愣住了幾秒。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dTKOkLqF1
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimlIKQz2pJ
「歡迎內進。」沒等我回答，大叔已轉身為我引路。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3AlCY8Jz3
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UrIgVhK1O
眼見天色漸暗，我不再磨蹭，看能否找到綫索，省卻逗留此地的時間：「不好意思喔，大叔！請問黃XX女士住在這裡嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaD2ocF46w
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyJdKLX6KS
大叔的腳步突兀地戛然而止。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXIxTWaHNb
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLzMh4TpJ3
是我的提問過於唐突嗎？308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ex7JX4zKD
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55M53OJ1qx
大叔回頭仔細打量我，神色疑惑，似乎在猜測我和黃女士的關係。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9kePekqZT
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFeWRepypz
「有人託我將信件親手轉交予黃女士。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvizokdhoCN
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJAjJrIBcM
「黃女士已離開這裡好一段時間，不知何時會回來……甚或是不知會否回來。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XDjAGmKcM
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcjt7Bpdt5
「她有透露去處嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoLk8PHhX1
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYPSFK8Jzp
「沒有……我帶你去她昔日的房間試找綫索。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAew2bHGjve
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE54tfPgZUy
大叔再次邁步，步履沒有之前的輕，重若銀鉛。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAOWSWDLBK
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1br0cBNH5m
陰冷的空氣，空洞的房間，慘白的牆身，最基本的傢俬和雜物。沒有生活的氣息。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PcBdRfOuP
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqNn3G8BMf
「剛才在門外碰見你，也還真令我驚訝。」大叔沒有進入房間，逕自在門外呢呢喃喃。「竹寺曾香火鼎盛。後來毗鄰的兩個小鎮分別新建更大更金碧輝煌的寺廟，無意間將信眾分流開去，到來竹寺掛單的僧侶亦逐漸減少，住持最終徇眾要求到另一寺廟主持大局。他指派我長駐於此，打掃清潔，說要方便途經的旅客。我一直覺得他想多了，豈料今天就遇見你。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczTC6SU6r6
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW5xrZKomu
「可能佛祖不想我白走一趟。」我話中有話，提醒侍奉佛祖的大叔不要忘記佛祖的存在，萬萬不能撒謊。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkWAbiA3zn
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigV3vbrdVf
「我可以明天帶你見住持。他有掛單紀錄，可能有黃女士的聯絡資料。」大叔也不是省油的燈，簡單幾句就將我逼至沒有退路的位置：「但我希望你能先對我坦白事情的前因後果。住持是個大忙人。我可不希望為他增添不必要的麻煩。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvoQOyE8Hb
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRq4qctKGR
我只得坦白交代。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuID2lsUff
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFZVwgf1az
我的妻子過身了。臨終前，她希望我能預留一年時間為她完成唯一的遺願：親手將遺書交予離家出走多年的生母——黃女士。事隔多年，黃女士曾在多個地方落腳。我每次根據綫索趕至時，她早已遷居。輾轉間，我追尋至竹寺……308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvyXl8iMIH
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbz8d6nQLo
「距離一年限期，還剩多少日子？」大叔生起關切之情。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aRV5Y9Hir
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB0kG40QZP
「三日。竹寺很可能是我的最後機會。」我加倍留意他的神色舉止。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRtJxdyEhy
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWWLQWJx1x
「不考慮延長？」大叔表現出來的的關切絕對超過一個陌生人該有的限度。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiXaWbmHiX
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuNNYHw6f1
「妻子信緣份。她認為努力過後仍沒能找到，證明彼此有緣無份，毋須強求。她還叮囑我要燒毀遺書。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBpaH1LPPG
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D3nOjcFyP
大叔若有所思後，講出驚人的一句：「若果一年期限屆滿時仍找不到黃女士，介意給我看看遺書嗎？」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsoSEMR14n
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoUHM6gqkg
「極度介意！」我心裡認定大叔有事隱瞞。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HIHGakhDS
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvglfCcTM6m
尷尬氣氛令大叔不再多話。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVAeCIb88g
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNlS0tHQTy
晚餐後，大叔在其他地方忙著，我則留在房間對著愛妻的照片痛哭一場。哭過以後，壓力得以紓緩，但心頭卻未能添加半分澄明，混沌混濁。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnbDb7jsaU
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKPkqJVhas
我離房在寺內溜達散心。逛著逛著，忽爾看見大叔彎腰對著花園中的小樹喁喁細語，臉上盡是蜜甜。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBwYnWzQiD
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcmqdsdQvE
我上前跟大叔打招呼。他微笑回應，和顏悅色，渾身散發著慈祥氣息，沒有白天時的隔膜。我嘗試放下戒心，開心見誠與他聊天。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r2x4pB9fE
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedOUHxO9l2
不知怎地，聊著聊著，話題竟牽到大叔的心事去。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPLlhthrQd
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrnJxeBYQR
「貪，使人執著於一切順情之境。嗔，使人執著於一切違情之境。痴，使人不明白真理，致使生起貪嗔。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo53qAyK9j
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3x1wU7TAF
我痴愚半生，痛苦不已。到此地求法，希望住持指點迷津。但他認為我凡心未盡，要我留在這裡靜思。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAq2R10UZq
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpRyx1TdNS
我在竹寺侍奉多年，住持依然不為所動。我以為他在敷衍我。今天遇到你，我才明白住持所言非虛：任何無關的人事物都可輕易勾起我對逝去伴侶的思念。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnj9arX4Zs
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1EgWNFUzT
我終於明白初時大叔何以對我不太友善。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDMs6vZRQp
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAFR3JrqDz
將心比心。喪妻之後，任何人事物均能勾起我和對太太的思念。我曾抱怨上天幸災樂禍，何解不讓我安靜避世。我已盡力放下身邊一切，辭掉工作，不聯絡親友，遷出愛巢，但偏偏愛妻的遺願就是要我去彌補她的畢生遺憾！我沒有一刻能放下她，因為我的分分秒秒就是為她而過。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk8f1Fv0PL
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI9F7L9kpB
那種痛苦實非筆墨所能形容。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWdwmfkSa4
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC72ZMr1qEs
「你的妻子真聰明，給你的痛苦設下一年期限。只要你在這一年裡拼命為她圓願，往後也就了無遺憾或悔疚。我可沒那麼幸運，不知要拖著這副臭皮囊乾等到哪年哪月哪日……」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vkAZidz2Z
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr7HvwdEFz
說罷，他跟我和小樹說晚安，然後揚長而去。
翌日，我翻遍整間竹寺亦找不到大叔，只在他的房間找到他留給我的手繪地圖。我跟著地圖的指示走了大半天，來到住持現處的寺廟。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYvXJgIcNn
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD2ODNOc5e
住持聽罷我的經歷後，不禁黯然慨嘆：「黃女士始終凡心未盡……」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmDpP6g3HV
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrGgZM2gat
黃女士當年拋夫棄女，與情夫私奔。豈料甜蜜日子不長久，情夫患急病逝世。黃女士大受打擊，認為是自己作孽甚深，連累情夫。她來到竹寺，望住持能指點迷津。住持認為她深陷激動情緒當中，容易作出錯誤選擇，逐要她在竹寺靜思己過。可惜她半夜逃離。當黃女士重臨竹寺時，她已花光積蓄在黑市做手術整容及變性，以情夫的外表現身……308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAKnTukzaH
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLvLVPWWrk
「大叔就是黃女士？」我不禁驚呼。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwZwSDbmsD
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsshQDOetM4
震驚之情瞬間即逝，取而代之的是說不出的矛盾。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUlfRNaFpx
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPtXBokqIe
這個人，我恨不來，亦原諒不了。
翌日，我和住持往竹寺走一趟。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH1J6ev36m
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcRil66Y25
寺前，我倆不約而同抬頭望向匾額。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7mUfURzMb
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLo5qv35Wz
「你知道『竹寺』何以得名嗎？」住持問。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jzMFaA86O
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvCjsGLqpx
「等？」我的猜想有如初來之時。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3pxDkriBp
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeVAwUMxQH
「這名字只不過是客觀描述寺廟本身。」住持揚手指向全竹結構的寺廟：「大家實在想多了，對自己的想像投放情感，賦予它過多的意義，致使看不見眼前真象。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLpJyILluI
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU9eZqUdQx
我驀地憶起大叔前夜的說話。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEYVotcwmC
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilHKwiHPyF
住持直接走往花園。不出他所料，小樹已被連根拔起，樹下土地被挖出一個大坑，足以容納一個成人。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXOYwL3Gsy
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqqkoYVCXV
我心頭一涼，頓時明白那是甚麼一回事：多年以來，情夫的屍首一直埋在這裡。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kDs5VpTHt
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpfmnSoobR
我鼻頭一酸，淚如雨下。308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3rJnANHz0
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLaFbA4CeU
「『強逼自己放下執著』也是一種執著。」308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbaaBBOKWw
308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AU4IPhDQJ
住持淡然望天，開始為一切生者亡者誦經。
