■■■131Please respect copyright.PENANA8h9uG1CPNc
131Please respect copyright.PENANASPEEZU2E41
天空很藍。131Please respect copyright.PENANAk5JhDLy6wy
131Please respect copyright.PENANAAMLf8wLCIe
我坐在青海先生的中古豐田Crown裡,瞇著眼睛隔著車窗望起熟悉的山中景色。131Please respect copyright.PENANAcI9MWfK4ya
131Please respect copyright.PENANAX9rB8syKvy
小時候總是那麼接近的天空,曾幾何時,在被水泥的叢林所遮蔽後,便不再抬起頭來注意過了呢。131Please respect copyright.PENANA3GhsHuQNHT
131Please respect copyright.PENANAddyFNkTvHs
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在兩個星期前與身旁的男人相遇之前,我從未想過還會再次回來這個地方。131Please respect copyright.PENANA4pOreuG4S4
131Please respect copyright.PENANA93LBHUxX7l
路上的車很少,即便今天是連續假日的白天,大概也要隔個七、八分鐘左右,單線道的另一側才會有汽車駛過,除此之外別說是建築物了,連個可供暫時休憩的觀景臺都沒有,放眼望去只有沿著山勢環繞,蜿蜒曲折的柏油路面而已。131Please respect copyright.PENANAjmuj03w2XR
131Please respect copyright.PENANAZmOQFiUVLn
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「結城小姐,要是到了的話要提醒我啊!還真看不出來神命村就在這附近呢!」131Please respect copyright.PENANA08IfIb988F
131Please respect copyright.PENANAcQuzW3VmeW
這男人的身體似乎不會覺得累。131Please respect copyright.PENANAJZOM1DkemA
131Please respect copyright.PENANAvL5DX8jdx0
先不論總共開了多少路程,從國道轉入縣道後少說經過了四個多小時,不但看不出他有疲倦的跡象,興致反而更加高昂起來。131Please respect copyright.PENANAaOhMJJaEXQ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAmD0PztQte1
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「快了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA49hzXIRKav
131Please respect copyright.PENANAR8C5beiY0H
雖然作為指標的公車站牌並不一定還存在,但大致上的位置還能憑我過去的印象辨識。131Please respect copyright.PENANAMIFK9VrS69
131Please respect copyright.PENANAp5lP5q6jiu
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「最後我想再強調一遍,青海先生,這趟旅程並不能保證我們的生命安全。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAu6k7bwk3ch
131Please respect copyright.PENANAYMpOvguQfn
穗香的事情,對我來說是有回去確認的必要,但對外人來說可不是如此。131Please respect copyright.PENANAN4czW8X8NU
131Please respect copyright.PENANAElG0yw60oX
131Please respect copyright.PENANAiV0EY5gKnb
「喂喂喂,可別太小看我啊!別看我這樣子,作為記者的專業還是有的。能獲得第一手神命村的資訊,賭上性命這點小事算什麼啊!」131Please respect copyright.PENANAqzVICiTOkD
131Please respect copyright.PENANAGIAegOe2Mx
青海先生說到慷慨激昂處奮力地拍打了一下方向盤,車身隨之微微晃動了一下。131Please respect copyright.PENANAVS4VEzrtOs
131Please respect copyright.PENANAaSDTHyljmC
我不禁嘆氣,從以前就很難理解這類人的想法,在我看來,神命村並不值得豁出性命去調查……當然也有可能是為了錢,不過每個人有每個人的想法,他堅持如此我也沒理由反對。131Please respect copyright.PENANAMoUgdi52FF
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyQH8n4Pv1y
131Please respect copyright.PENANANPtToTW46w
「但他們要殺我可沒這麼容易,不瞞妳說,我可是抱著自殺炸彈前來的啊,哈哈。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAlloJyY1I6P
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyGCnTPftwm
「原來如此。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAduwjhOU12L
131Please respect copyright.PENANAvOK7XtumZf
「稍微感興趣點嘛。我有個朋友,要是我兩天內沒有聯絡他的話,就會將我截至目前為止所撰寫的稿子一次發給全世界各大報社,如何?很棒的保險吧?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAA4V6vYMQ0I
131Please respect copyright.PENANAUe2sPvqLJi
「嗯,以你而言算是做得不錯。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAii0g7NOYPE
131Please respect copyright.PENANA84PfGLs0xa
不是刻薄的話,我是發自內心這麼覺得。131Please respect copyright.PENANAt8SEj1AXzf
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyahYOzgp0x
大概是我原本就不抱太大的期望,所以能做到這步我認為算是相當不錯的了,我自己也留有好幾份複印的信以防萬一。131Please respect copyright.PENANAJsUjs5FOeT
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結果再開了半個小時就看到了公車站牌。131Please respect copyright.PENANAH7I0qDzYkx
131Please respect copyright.PENANAMWaKSzK9Fo
我先下車,青海先生將車停到勉強容納得下一台汽車的路邊,才走過來與我會合。131Please respect copyright.PENANA4Pg0YYAUp4
131Please respect copyright.PENANAKtTWbX501l
站牌本體雖然變得鏽跡斑斑,但還是看得出來仍有作用,只是班次變得比以前更少就是了。131Please respect copyright.PENANApfq2NPPQeP
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJlonZavIXD
131Please respect copyright.PENANARjN8QltWTB
「神命村居然還有公共汽車可以到啊,居然有這種好事。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAkO8MoFLTYe
131Please respect copyright.PENANAOLFA2sRbsd
戴起玳瑁色Ray-Ban太陽眼鏡的他,要不是胸前那相機的存在,就真的與路邊的混混無異。131Please respect copyright.PENANA2xquf79ZTL
131Please respect copyright.PENANADENoXBZfry
131Please respect copyright.PENANAOcAeepLI3I
「不過妳也真是的,早說的話我們坐公車來不就好了嗎?多省事啊,哈哈。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAsGQpIWuoBN
131Please respect copyright.PENANAGcC7xs6kqC
「請不要隨意觸碰我的肩膀。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAXqzzEfGrIW
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyTRwbumiJY
這似乎是他想展現友好的方式,但我並不領情,本來我們之間就只是利害一致的關係,但這個人除了專業的部份以外都很容易惹我不爽。131Please respect copyright.PENANA0UHs9phebn
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEc9KOPxQ21
131Please respect copyright.PENANA0kIH2prRIB
「別這樣不近人情啊,這麼不可愛會交不到朋友吧?真是可惜了那樣的臉蛋。」131Please respect copyright.PENANADmpJ8q6kIC
131Please respect copyright.PENANACqsjHV9M4L
「謝謝你的關心。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAlf4lbijj61
131Please respect copyright.PENANA0JjjGfKoUF
我並未將男人的話放在心上,自己朝著小徑的方向走去,他在自討沒趣摸摸鼻子後識相地跟了上來。131Please respect copyright.PENANAhMgJAYWv4Z
131Please respect copyright.PENANAGk3nih9sLm
但他說的也是事實,自從到了都市以後,大概是個性不善掩飾的關係,普通的朋友是有很多,但並沒有所謂的知心好友。因此,我才會如此重視穗香這個好友的存在。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOiyqcZvW5E
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJwn9hbWQgv
……老實說我很想她。131Please respect copyright.PENANAgiXI9YTAA9
131Please respect copyright.PENANAHSJbCxPLST
尤其是從青海先生這邊得知芥川實至郎──也就是前教主已死去,由她擔任的現在,我認為是個和她見面的最好時機。131Please respect copyright.PENANAPiXalIRyvU
131Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ8RJbU7Wj
131Please respect copyright.PENANA5oBXH3aQ9T
131Please respect copyright.PENANAVuE2tgexAq
走在每個曲折都是那麼熟悉的森林小徑。131Please respect copyright.PENANAU3W5aAfyND
131Please respect copyright.PENANAOVyA3fKIhU
由於我擺明不想聊天的關係,不知不覺中青海先生已經走到我前面去了。131Please respect copyright.PENANAzYmJIekfd5
131Please respect copyright.PENANALcxy7ugJEB
不知道是我的體力變差還是怎樣,走過一半的路以後就開始覺得喘不過氣。131Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ6Jv02naB
131Please respect copyright.PENANA7CCkpRwrBR
原先認為還算好穿的靴子讓腳趾好痛,自以為能阻擋蚊蟲的內搭褲則是沒發揮半點作用,種種不應該犯的錯居然會發生在我身上,真是豈有此理。131Please respect copyright.PENANAAEBWekpUm5
131Please respect copyright.PENANABRcHke1URp
然而,就在我小聲嘀咕的時候,走在前面的青海先生突然停了下來。131Please respect copyright.PENANA69TxgMkkhf
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJkxpCmIol8
131Please respect copyright.PENANAuOxhywWLL1
原因無他,因為在更前面的地方,一名穿著甚平浴衣的少年正站在那裡。131Please respect copyright.PENANA8zcKaju17S
131Please respect copyright.PENANATLNsQdvrtX
131Please respect copyright.PENANAmqr5XiOTJ9
「午安,想必是結城來夏小姐和青海雄介先生吧,村長已經恭候多時了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAkIhPnPtY3l
131Please respect copyright.PENANAocNSjHOOnx
年僅十六、七歲的少年行了一禮。131Please respect copyright.PENANA73obdDH94T
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEA6BoPlQNZ
他的臉讓我有點眼熟,但實在是想不起名字,畢竟當年我離開村子的時候,他可能還沒就讀小學吧。131Please respect copyright.PENANAWJFzo89MKF
131Please respect copyright.PENANAtCRfzpaSdh
但此時此刻,我實在是沒有心思去想那些,制定的秘密計畫老早就被別人發現,讓我感到苦惱不已。131Please respect copyright.PENANA9MBjQedt2J
131Please respect copyright.PENANAz6IorQLXen
131Please respect copyright.PENANA5u7FfPHYMj
「無須驚慌,村長特地指派我來為兩位帶路,尤其為初次前來的青海先生導覽村子,請往這邊走。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAopXWEDKGIq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAgpZsi6WXy3
少年希望我們能放心跟著他,我想說反正回來的事情也曝露了,索性只能跟在他的後頭。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOyZVVUhXHI
131Please respect copyright.PENANA840hJWzO6J
等到走到能看見村子的位置時,便開始向青海先生介紹起整個神命村的現況。131Please respect copyright.PENANASwPErBHIhj
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJxXSZ3jDNM
我邊走邊聽,目前大概就是村子有意推廣觀光,所以需要與媒體合作而增加曝光率等等,少年如此解釋著。131Please respect copyright.PENANAiBlMNvlnH7
131Please respect copyright.PENANAuYCKvq5Lh7
當然,關於那些怪物的情況則是一點都沒提到。131Please respect copyright.PENANAxfwJrab2Gy
131Please respect copyright.PENANAy16APlPMjE
131Please respect copyright.PENANA0H81rX8REL
「哎呀,原來我們還蠻受妳的好朋友歡迎的嘛。果然現在時代不同了,由年輕人主導就是不一樣。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAhtoPDH9gX2
131Please respect copyright.PENANAHwQZkOfUIo
途中,青海先生一面興奮地到處按下快門,一面轉過頭來徵求我的意見,不過我沒有回話。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOnFeqroZ6E
131Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ih3fVkHsl
131Please respect copyright.PENANAj1uly1ZeKZ
走出小徑後,我們一路從學校的方向走回村子。131Please respect copyright.PENANAPMo5j0JMPc
131Please respect copyright.PENANAMEjI8W9dXo
廣闊的梯田裡面的稻草人仍舊佇立在麥田間,只不過衣著變得更加千奇百怪,據說要作為觀光的重點特色發展。我遠遠地看到幾個在田裡面灑著肥料的村民,不過我不確定是不是我所認識的人,因為視力沒有以前那麼好了,而且我一項都不喜歡有異物在臉上的感覺,更不要說是放在眼球上面。131Please respect copyright.PENANAdRdD3u36Nz
131Please respect copyright.PENANAekwFX3m6zi
沿著碎石子的小路,我們經過一間又一間結構相同的木造建築。小時候不覺得有異,但現在看起來就像是建商販售的社區住宅一樣。至於經過我家前面,看到那寫著「結城」的熟悉門牌已經被替換上別的姓氏,心裡面還是感到一股莫名的惆悵。131Please respect copyright.PENANAMu0T4Ruqby
131Please respect copyright.PENANA4QH2QRxm60
131Please respect copyright.PENANAMAoPNlLELw
「這裡就是村長的住所,那麼我就為兩位導覽至此,請容我暫且告辭了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAmKaZTeqj9o
131Please respect copyright.PENANADEpvEDsJAD
在莊嚴的和風木製大門前,少年將我們交付給年紀約五十好幾的婦人後便先行離去。131Please respect copyright.PENANAKDHI2vMYFn
131Please respect copyright.PENANAdscjRitdTZ
面容雖然比印象中老了一些,但這位名叫前田的阿姨我是認識的。131Please respect copyright.PENANAgQO0Mav4rJ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAFW6LthVobn
打從我有記憶開始,就聽父親提過她在村長家中侍奉,想不到至今仍然維持著原狀。可是她似乎沒有認出我來,說了句「這邊請」後,便引領我們前往會客室的方向。131Please respect copyright.PENANAFWZQnZH6BO
131Please respect copyright.PENANAsCbbItjNgY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAcHqIWlhRi5
「哦,好氣派的房子啊!」131Please respect copyright.PENANA3aDUQ05jJP
131Please respect copyright.PENANA86EtLIKFC4
比起有閒情逸致對著枯山水造景拍照的青海先生,我這邊則是與之相反的沈重心情。131Please respect copyright.PENANAyeM5R4892d
131Please respect copyright.PENANAGQwFoPmvd1
131Please respect copyright.PENANAFL5xNGKLxo
……老實說再次來到這裡讓我覺得很恐怖。131Please respect copyright.PENANAKZv2TMcER7
131Please respect copyright.PENANAWGQhykint0
以前是因為大家都畏懼村長而感到害怕,但如今讓我感到畏懼的是村子完全沒變的事實。時間這個概念彷彿在神命村中不存在似地,幾乎所有的一切都與過去相同,我從這裡離開簡直就像昨天的事情一樣。131Please respect copyright.PENANADHG8hHbYtO
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyeUS6YBktx
131Please respect copyright.PENANA6Npm4m0CDJ
在進入會客室前會經過一段鶯啼走廊,光是腳踏在上面就會發出刺耳的軋扎聲響。131Please respect copyright.PENANASGmSylsKqV
131Please respect copyright.PENANAki92mpAOoH
我在小時候聽父親提到過,這是種防盜的設計,年幼的我不管再怎麼放慢動作,結果都還是難以避免木頭發出高分貝的音量。131Please respect copyright.PENANA1N9KCJm4gY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAPDS63ci77V
131Please respect copyright.PENANAnTQ8JlI19j
「結城大人、青海先生,請在此稍後片刻,我這就去請村長前來。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAD3zV8rAdyI
131Please respect copyright.PENANAXARmc6Hy1u
必恭必敬地行禮後,前田阿姨伴隨著地板的響聲逐漸遠去,不過……她剛剛說大人?131Please respect copyright.PENANA05QzfNUNXG
131Please respect copyright.PENANANalh7g3x0D
131Please respect copyright.PENANABFJDrYVK1S
「嘿,結城小姐,妳認為他們把那些樹人藏在哪裡?」131Please respect copyright.PENANANfNouDs9Bl
131Please respect copyright.PENANAmDxbTBOtaY
別人前腳才剛走,這傢伙立刻就在榻榻米墊上鬆懈姿勢開始大聲嚷嚷起來,就算沒神經也該有個限度。131Please respect copyright.PENANASjTnlRj4pu
131Please respect copyright.PENANApMEOqTJqmU
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「我不知道。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAgvC2WywTC3
131Please respect copyright.PENANAATXIUAeBVg
「真可惜啊,不過倒是拍到了許多好照片就是了,這趟收穫可真不少!」131Please respect copyright.PENANA50H4cl1yCk
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyz79klsHad
「那但願你能寫出與其相稱的報導。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAps66UHoXXx
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEDNMQsO8WO
「所以要是能掌握些黑幕就好啦,聳動的標題最能吸引觀眾了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAWryVL2dIRw
131Please respect copyright.PENANAsdh2Wi4o5B
說穿了這傢伙就是為了錢吧,反正與我無關。131Please respect copyright.PENANAIpyKRhrcVS
131Please respect copyright.PENANABgvtycIvEY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEhORSFzy8Z
「喔,對了,妳那好朋友漂不漂亮啊?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAlCnyW9EQuj
131Please respect copyright.PENANAtU26yvA0SE
「……」131Please respect copyright.PENANAKaAPPmOP8J
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我因為懶得理這個討厭的男人而別開了臉。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOTrXLjx3XF
131Please respect copyright.PENANAZpzSUtFEEO
然而,就因為這動作讓我突然驚覺,前方不知道什麼時候正坐著一位身穿加賀友禪的美女。首先注意到的是她那雪白的長髮,脫俗的清瘦臉龐,雖然不明原由地閉著眼睛,但眼前的美人確實是──131Please respect copyright.PENANAo35sQaKoS6
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEFgJ003avZ
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「感謝兩位遠道而來,我是神命村的村長──桃井穗香,請多多指教。」131Please respect copyright.PENANASwYaFtsIT9
131Please respect copyright.PENANAqKZ2jTKbmZ
多年未見而外貌丕變的好友深深行了一禮。131Please respect copyright.PENANAn7OOCrogHD
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「好久不見。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAsKFtiE9nzK
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「啊……妳好妳好,抱歉讓妳見笑了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAG1i8QJqstA
131Please respect copyright.PENANAYBIsR3glW2
我趕緊回禮,而身旁的男人也跟著在一陣手忙腳亂之中坐正回禮,接著用他自以為小聲的音量接連對我說「真是個美人呢」、「不過眼睛好像看不見啊」。131Please respect copyright.PENANANtAtJDQQKJ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAeUO2AAZwLU
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「───」131Please respect copyright.PENANAZr8FzYKtha
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我沒空理他,先是觀察外面的走廊,出入口只有一個,也就是說,穗香走進來沒道理我會沒注意到才對。131Please respect copyright.PENANAq5wSrn7VGk
131Please respect copyright.PENANAG21KL2RTpi
這時候走廊那邊傳來有人走動的聲音,驗證了我的想法,隨後進來的前田阿姨奉上熱茶,收起托盤後再度踏著鶯鳴的音律離去。131Please respect copyright.PENANAC0sneugT7T
131Please respect copyright.PENANA2SiTr8krWu
131Please respect copyright.PENANAxcfYuSu6YX
「請先用茶。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAxWV2XMpkWV
131Please respect copyright.PENANAjP8qrFVoUY
「正好口渴了呢,那我就不客氣啦!」131Please respect copyright.PENANAqMcUcldiJh
131Please respect copyright.PENANAVFcW1qTqOm
不知道是真的口渴,還是想在美女面前展現自己海派的個性,他將陶杯裡的茶水一口飲盡。131Please respect copyright.PENANAyT9Bge5ucq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAPIPGD0K5IK
我在心裡面暗自想著這行為大概不妥,果不其然,才過沒多久,他的呼吸變得急促,那壯碩的身軀開始劇烈地抽搐,整個過程才不到兩分鐘就已經斷氣。131Please respect copyright.PENANAsyt19H66PI
131Please respect copyright.PENANAVr35Eb7sg5
131Please respect copyright.PENANAuNyo4vHUzA