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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8448t3FinS
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDih33ohQkm
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOCtbKECjZ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZggjFJbjg
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjQwNT0aIN
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7zx9aR3bp
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDBb5S60B2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNUPxUN69T
村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40cZ3jG2Wl
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTzshNFjDS
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVbkSRerM
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0MeCJ0HaM
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tm3wCgbCr
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly6wAUTsdT
※※※※※491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDCpwIaxRJ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDOeWcvBMe
如日常事例，少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHoaoFNBR8
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa29bP5Ys4t
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg09QUK6j8
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulFpAyHWFh
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3th8qRpVw
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGAMcg5eXx
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtXYpHHqxz
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7nHnysji
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSwzllVn9e
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZE7oHhtyA
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8fY2B6cOc
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFy1TI0j6R
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf0hDDKDJq
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwbt63tsGr
對這些村民來說，已經足夠靈驗。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ8OZnbRMo
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSa5DI7P4i
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshaWSMNcXv
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCQpYMama4
「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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDbVnvCNYY
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg0NNyaBU0
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPIDOUsYF2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyjwJYDYuw
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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6aw6cwYCX
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWRWxcb3ib
「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」。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6CarUSzIT
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0POmMnxVW
「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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9DPD8rpGb
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaWtydoyYq
少婦微低下半身，柔聲問道：「小末，妳撿到了什麼？」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGH0JHE84h
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq6cRti6SA
「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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEXxLorKGq
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOPj0qsj4l
「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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95yb7CHsy9
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEg6lIT3Nt
「不行！不行！」小末大叫，「不能給別人看到！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMixfq3HMT
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk32D4UYZLe
「妳又在說謊了！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0fmHGii7m
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6IBMHRJfb
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？」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1culp4sY6V
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvMB4Dzump
小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴，片刻後才點頭勉強同意。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6Vjum8MSY
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCYiaZBvzu
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtBFSByteu
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GhRUPwRRM
以前小末常常對著她大嚷：『為什麼不早點來救我母親？』491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPOy0F4GTn
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qxbe0GQ9K
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgtwN0m5zL
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyncOc6p7b7
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0zQSG4brQ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdlkJ7baj5
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg4fU1S5EQ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP68IftPKUe
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrstpo9vdV
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBiKHQF3oO
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScx8Dd0ieH
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaK3xtxwJW
「小末，到底是什麼東西……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGadVNsjOAM
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52BIWKD85o
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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEwUVysmAM
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIDrbqIDez
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeACL3FoZg6
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrmRrnhLg1
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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiNXFbh2Nl
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSVcfbkMql
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…」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzVjlQD9Cs
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevCbYLtGc5
石片移開後，少婦低下身看去時，不禁倒抽了一口氣──491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsUrbXRszu
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KUr8SfJ0I
那不是人類嗎？491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrGlaz8oFl
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc79D6lhiVw
…不，那…是人類嗎？……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJH3P085aZ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeNDj1rYBg
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm93qtJeynb
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhCRaRCX5U
「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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF5TJ2GbSb
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjabi4dViUR
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yiCZXeSnJ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXz1JqP0iS
「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看！一定會！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWatCMUBGrs
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0Sct8eeF2
「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字，幾不成聲。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWUdHRG5IG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSVhqp5ZJZ
「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔！也不可以告訴別人！這是…」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOIa9mBgMO
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIawwhwYuB
「小末！」少婦竭力喚道，「小末…等一下…這種東西……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPhWv1fMfz
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHAvGIkZpo
「唔？」小末無辜地眨眨眼，等著少婦說話。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3aR5MR7ev
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC8EzKu76B
「這種東西……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcSekdwhQZ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkr2vET064
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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBpQGy26kS
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31JmtLqere
因為，這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWweLV33Qpx
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaOoiGAb5h
……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM7ZCrxg8j
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSTY7XivBn
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？491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtR8ag2ec2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJmULyWLYE
「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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ8TVZsIHS
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o1AJWnYAk
「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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytoe7CJchy
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKItBYO1C0
心口，只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5Du0zqDPc
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtEOMh8Kt1
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……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0AhzBnsXm
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxKK5JANi5
小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCapHPZ3nk
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzyJT3E8AG
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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kP8RdKdi2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jocvTyoaa
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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ0aEAV8c0
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyamGONipi0
指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時，『她』霍然張明雙眼！491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwQCyzuBVs
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls2AgvUFvD
少婦赫然抽回手，醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBpHuwsD79
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMj4qxBRUE
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道：「哇──張開眼睛了！醒過來了！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu7KxBkO8V
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNHjF7WWP8
『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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofCz2BjyQ2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlkbE2yN1z
『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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5V17HsHLB
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC2Uqzf4dL
「我是小末！小末小末小末！」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHsKWzGltt
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcE0RDHnZR
少婦不禁脫口說出：「……神……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtytJ1hCacX
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz9zA6EoH0
腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGpwmp40r2
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxp854G8yi
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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3BMJrhP9W
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVvee6pv2G
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIwdRTThvo
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WPl6pC4o3
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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwR9tSryhO
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7LdeFOqsY
『她』擺動的靈活的長臂，與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoI0vmkE4X
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W0OhsQ1DH
『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……491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN85RbEsjq6
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGHFbtZupn
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。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbGIXKg1uQ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnpJjKtag3
回到村子，村民們善意地招呼著，「夫人！您還沒走啊！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yNyivi6v7
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipKSZN7OcL
「小末呢？」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRgCrGQBMT
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUz5et8vtf
「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情，「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfFFYKWHu5
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2rBSCIRq1
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎？」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OxBQSmHoJ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AuWvm9fPH
「啊？」村人搔搔頭，「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82TwTJAqs4
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SjKDRLGNe
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！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy8pvw4ldt
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZclJmAXrxX
沒有神。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmuMJ1wscJ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1kTqoO097
小末看到少婦，漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳，喘息笑著。491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfmAJfueTN
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rlz4lMlGW
「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔！」491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8gfJ5wu2D
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