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月將落、日將出，天色曖昧，墨藍紫橙灰白。空氣清爽，不濕不翳，恐怕正午烈日將會惡毒萬分。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UxmIOaaw2
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu7kQcgxzV
老農不怕。他年過六十，從事農務五十餘年，見盡風雨，豈會害怕好天氣？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDFNVlUPy9
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFH9xjKXsu
早餐後，他沒急著工作，先是繞著水田走一片，察看有沒有異樣。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW0Z9UkhVY
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrJpxs9Tnx
奇怪！昨晚無風無雨，怎麼部份水田一片狼藉？老農立即跑進田裡拐幾圈粗略點算損失。看！秧田不是大範圍受破壞，受損水秧不是集體被折斷或被連根拔起，而是每隔四五根就有一兩棵遭殃。根本不是大自然風雨做成，明顯是人為破壞！340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURHv4Hba03
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLikfBUFSm
近來有否開罪別人？難道是住在村口那個小子惡作劇？一定是他！他是在城市長大的孩子，一年裡頭僅有七月、八月回鄉度假，從沒在田裡工作，不知農人辛酸。記得去年那個壞小子偷溜入老農水田嬉玩耍樂，將水秧弄得歪歪斜斜，影響收成品質，賣不到好價錢。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62U5HYyHfV
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZupA9Otyt
老農越想越氣，擸起木棍衝往村口向那戶人家討公道。對方連聲否認，說孩子這幾天都在家裡溫習做功課，沒可能偷溜到他田裡搞破壞。老農不相信，硬要拖那小子出來受棍。家長們情急之下執起鋤頭泥耙反擊，嚇得老農跋腿跑走。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv06GSBwWFI
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43opPJ4BJK
站在自家水田前，放眼望去，滿腔委屈，欲哭無淚。不。沒多餘時間傷春悲秋。洗把臉，然後盡快拔走死秧，以免腐根惹蟲。蹲下來細心檢查水秧狀況，好的留，壞的拔。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnZHqyzkIB
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WsNEhf6sF
拔拔拔，拔掉心頭肉似的。一棵秧不僅是一棵秧，而是他一整年的努力和收入！他想在做冬時吃好肉、喝好酒或是在新年時買串爆竹煙火。兒時樂子不多，爆竹紅噹噹的，燃起來時熱熱鬧鬧的，是他最期待的玩意。這種期待彷彿自當時開始落地生根……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FlyMLqUPV
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAhDeFp88I
「我來幫忙的。」一個瘦長影子從後而至。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83cheZCoXn
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOudKzEkd4E
「你剛才不是否認了嗎？」老農氣在心頭，繼續半蹲拔秧，沒有回頭望。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBi92gYc7Y
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xXTmWSgvx
「真的不是我做！」小子急急耍手否認：「大家擔心你獨個兒……」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79viFAAa2H
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wc9YDKVbO
「擔心我獨個兒處理不來嗎？看不起我嗎？」老農提聲斥喝：「我沒有讀過書的文化人那麼見多識廣，但不代表我無本事！我種田五十多年，有哪個步驟會難倒我？沒有！聽見了沒？沒有任何問題會難倒我！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RihH5IOWu
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE2AFfCj2w
「我不是這意思……」小子不知所措，怯怯後退幾步。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqYTUwVcIi
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2OPJ8e4aL
老農脾氣暴躁卻不魯莽。他吁一口氣，壓下內心煩鬱，擺起臭臉以平和聲線對小子說：「你能承受粗活嗎？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBb5eTBqtm
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3DNmfDPxG
小子沒頭沒腦點點頭。老農奸笑，笑小子不知世途險惡，猶幸自己不是甚麼壞心眼的傢伙。他想了想，給小子分配些許簡單細活——說不上粗重，亦不需怎麼動腦筋——但對成市人而言，這無疑是真正粗活。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVyOqiv3cn
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gutfFeXkS
未到正午，小子已汗流浹背，兩頰通紅，紅得像爆竹。老農看得樂呵呵的——他聯想起兒子孩時可愛模樣。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G4wyiV6KK
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wlZlSQFYE
老農的獨生子名叫阿犇，今年四十七歲。他早在三十年前到城市找工作去。起初一、兩年會回探望老農；後來幾年僅是寄信、寄生活費或日用品，說新年期間留廠工作會有高額加班費；接下來的日子，每隔一段日子會托朋友捎來一兩句簡單問候。所謂一段日子，短則兩年，長則五年。屈指一算。不對喔！原來是七年。他最後一次收到阿犇消息已是七年前的事。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKhAcyl3Mg
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbbCiGqUrg
阿犇永遠不會回來——老農如此認為。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5LdrbBCzG
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFEU5unlip
憤怒。悲傷。無奈。寂寞。希望下一階段許是「沒所謂」。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfrVxfBBIc
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpqVKawqRj
就像住在村尾那個百歲人瑞婆婆那樣，老得癡癡呆呆，忘記一切，生活日常全靠家人打理。老農偶爾會經過她家，總會看見她坐在屋前搖搖椅，搖搖搖，遙遙望天望雲望鳥。有人說她安享晚年，有人說是折磨，老農認為她對身邊一切沒所謂——她無法感知，因而無法思考、無法反應，只可被動地隨遇而安……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ABTbvdllL
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KQheB6mdR
「你回家午餐吧。」老農懶得走路，乾脆留在水田另邊原地高聲喊話。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRD3FR9CH9
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54k11K4eEL
「好的。我用餐後會盡快回來繼續工作。」小子喜上眉梢，連忙放下水桶跑到老農面前回話。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4f78Qpszv
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzfscZkX9m
「你毋須回來。」老農下意識揮臂抹走眉頭汗珠，以免汗珠滴在眼裡妨礙他仔細打量小子的臉。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyq5Ia5KOi
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdqQxU2DCy
「我犯錯了嗎？抑或我表現欠佳？」沒料到小子的難過表情與阿犇有七分相像。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ts4vYWSoh
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn6laKKooZ
「你的表現很好！我是擔心你承受不來。絕不能一下子過度虛耗身體！」當年無法對阿犇啓口的關心話如今竟可流暢說出，對一個沒有半點血緣關係的陌生人。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBj4gXxywD
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgy9L9xsDc
「明白！謝謝你！」小子如釋重負，與老農揮手道別。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy5nPb4SqO
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uhHZuPuE7
目送小子遠去，老農始回到屋裡用膳。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTtlmuQjab
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7nc8il1gg
午餐是拜託鄰居女兒從城市買來的自熱飯連簡單餸菜。只需加入少量清水到碗底空格，靜待幾分鐘就可以飽餐一頓。味道佳，步驟簡單。來自城市的玩意真的很不錯。難怪年輕人對城市生活趨之若鶩……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ05ztDPNOf
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRoDBYfUDe
餐後，提不起勁工作。四處散步去。路經人瑞婆婆的家，見她仍然坐在屋前搖搖椅。推門內進，與婆婆家人打個招呼，然後找來小櫈子在婆婆身邊坐下。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQobydoXN32
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4E9IxuDOw
婆婆是老農同齡友人的外祖母。友人去年死了，友人父母三年前相繼離世，但婆婆仍然活著。沒有留意婆婆何時開始患得痴呆症。她知否兒孫已逝？希望她不知道。話雖惡毒，不過患上痴呆症或許一是好事……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VDXsCUk8m
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthvV8VJBP9
日將落，鳥知還。老農正為自身煩惱而煩惱，對眼前絢麗無感。冷不防一坨濃稠白液從天而降，正好落在他頭上。他抬頭一望，不由得大為驚訝：「這是哪來的鷺鳥？」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInf87Dy1oj
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dJ41lvtga
婆婆家人聽到老農大呼，紛紛跑到屋前抬頭看鳥，心知不妙。悉才鷺鳥飛遠，緊隨其後的是數之不盡的同類鷺鳥。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV47Q54qkP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UCNBr0xbr
「驅鳥！」婆婆曾孫首先回神，提醒眾人保護田地。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxc3f2Xa4V3
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDphiRpEe4A
老農恍然大悟，頓時明白昨夜破壞水田的正是這群鷺鳥！他拼命跑回家，因為鳥群肯定會經過他的水田！跑跑跑，跑跑跑。氣喘，腳軟，不得不停下腳步。水田重要，保住性命更重要——他希望可以再次見到阿犇！340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiW2cfYgtl
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9jVY91drN
機會渺茫，但他還是想要堅持下去！340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0OVJrApqR
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOAmr4xNwq
他掛念阿犇！從不稀罕大富大貴，只想家人好好陪伴身邊。兩老仙遊，妻子早逝，僅餘阿犇一人伴在身邊。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxsxWSgJmR
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r5DjnK6fE
怎麼阿犇不明白？怎麼阿犇不知道？怎麼阿犇狠心離開他？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aIXUhwWSI
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerWQVaCQlT
老農突感後腦發麻，噁心，嘔吐。天旋地轉，軟癱倒地，意識模糊……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWnGWuRZ6r
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpntPTNMDe
幻聽？一連串爆竹聲在前方不遠處響起。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtMGBri22k
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqurZJLx4Sf
噼啪——噼噼啪啪噼啪噼噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪啪噼噼啪啪噼啪噼啪——噼噼啪啪噼啪噼噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪啪噼噼啪啪噼啪噼啪——噼噼啪啪噼啪噼噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪啪噼噼啪啪噼啪噼啪——噼噼啪啪噼啪噼噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪啪噼噼啪啪噼啪噼啪——噼噼啪啪噼啪噼噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪噼啪啪噼噼啪啪噼啪噼啪——340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiLUHEfL2U
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Y28q0S4j
驀地聯想起兒時歡度新年的熱鬧畫面。爆竹，油菜，雞肉，父母，友人，鄰居……340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwrrMwmSPf
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFpHU0of7s
昏迷一星期的老農終於醒來。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKwXXIZCLC
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN15ySwNbtl
醫院？城市？340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ebMEfTpae
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOyvFmW5Vg
他顫巍巍落床走向窗邊。日已落，鳥盡還，傍晚的城市很美麗。華燈初起，萬家燈火，光點或動或靜，如水如月。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOmxXtgkee
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3SJT5jR2K
水中月，存在又不存在，視乎觀者怎麼認為。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5f28hLDLt
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0K36jPOUq
載月的水，存在卻被無視，視乎觀者焦點何在。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNqRDUvL3R
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnDm5HC7hJ
泣不成聲。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4dGNbDRDh
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8Q76VZWfk
翌日，小子帶著果籃探望老農，說多吃水果才會身體好。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNneiV5tYkL
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQaabbRNQN
「當日午餐時看到新聞報導說一群候鳥因氣候變化而改變遷徙路線，剛好經過我們這地區。我和爸爸意識到事態嚴重，馬上帶同音響和揚聲器為村民驅鳥。大家發現爆竹聲最湊效！後來部份村民還特意抽空協助打理你的水田，大家都預估不了你何時甦醒過來。」小子清洗一個大蘋果，送到老農手心。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu9gILLzhh
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsnh0hxvLP
「謝謝大家。」老農接過蘋果，感到窩心。「你喜歡種田嗎？不如我把田地送給你！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWehQPXZdT
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8FzVw3wO6
「那不是該要留給你的兒子嗎？村民說你的兒子在城市打工。」小子看不懂老農心事，無意間直擊老農軟肋。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa5OGckyj7
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wvn1AXkjK
「他不會回來。」老農表情生起細微變化，淡然得微苦微澀。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyA9sCQyPr
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzidoB7Ihnn
「那就等啊！」小子看來不過十二歲，入世未深，不諳世間冷暖。「下班後就會回家！」340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUBiYVVuIS
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylZ5QL5d69
「那我就多等一段日子吧！」老農輕拍小子的頭，笑得隱晦。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Sk9IpYfw
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqNEiNdlTG
所謂一段日子，短則兩年，長則五年。屈指一算。不對喔！原來是七年。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWaROaccSH
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKSV4Iv5SW
或許更長。340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEYroILReZ
