■■■123Please respect copyright.PENANAG5atVDEvXO
123Please respect copyright.PENANAefZglRHTpD
「──冬笑?請等一下!請問妳是結城冬笑小姐嗎!?」123Please respect copyright.PENANARHm0ovvt5K
123Please respect copyright.PENANAUPzjymtuFN
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxgD8LRyYH3
123Please respect copyright.PENANAZVsqqeiVdT
下班的時候在路上被來路不明的男人給叫住。123Please respect copyright.PENANAHKKxpKMBow
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若是換作平常的情況,我肯定頭也不回地當作沒聽到,絕不會給對方好臉色看。123Please respect copyright.PENANArD08WkXDqA
123Please respect copyright.PENANAA0rQCzcwIz
只是這次,從對方口中說出的並非搭訕的話語,而是對我來說是相當久違的──我親生妹妹的名字。123Please respect copyright.PENANAQoe2wHRUIY
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3Cm09fAXPb
123Please respect copyright.PENANAi8rwHZblNu
「抱歉,你認錯人了。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAY9eNNOPIaE
123Please respect copyright.PENANAsFDiWKmsBl
但基於某種程度上考量,我還是決定主動保持距離,而且這也不算說謊就是了。123Please respect copyright.PENANAWSCva6t1UA
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlCrKJSNw3q
123Please respect copyright.PENANAUaFGK9wHCf
「哦!那妳肯定就是冬笑的姊姊,結城來夏小姐了吧?」123Please respect copyright.PENANA0A8F8rERLp
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6d9SWcxnYy
「───」123Please respect copyright.PENANAtT8iZqIQEI
123Please respect copyright.PENANAYNHQ5RsQ04
老實說我感到相當意外,這個皮膚黝黑的男人不但清楚我的舊姓,甚至連我的家庭狀況都相當清楚。123Please respect copyright.PENANA0AbdIp64tL
123Please respect copyright.PENANAyY2mlrl4Ry
這樣一來,肯定不是個能夠隨便打發掉的傢伙,因此我決定接受他的邀約,前往附近的家庭餐館吃飯,反正今天加班的我也還沒有吃晚餐。123Please respect copyright.PENANAL5LImzQYoO
123Please respect copyright.PENANA2Fz6u4sqPM
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「還沒有自我介紹啊,我姓青海,職業是一名自由記者。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAWU08rLeqW1
123Please respect copyright.PENANALqXlJDXjOo
我接過皺巴巴的名片,上頭的名字寫著青海雄介。123Please respect copyright.PENANAiidAO596GC
123Please respect copyright.PENANAS2EB9x6THT
我再次打量起眼前的男人,染著一頭金色的刺蝟髮型的他身材相當魁梧,坦克背心外面套著一件顏色鮮艷的花襯衫,若是再加上一副吊兒啷鐺的墨鏡和金項鍊的話,就相當符合我心目中的混混形象了。123Please respect copyright.PENANAgrriamEdrG
123Please respect copyright.PENANA8OIM8fDc1B
從眼角的魚尾紋判斷,年紀的話大概比我大上十歲左右,也就是接近四十歲的年紀,但可能更大也不一定。123Please respect copyright.PENANAC27OV1y2TP
123Please respect copyright.PENANAireXoX0Olx
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「哦,對了,我吸菸的話妳不介意吧?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAqu9aw9Bw9j
123Please respect copyright.PENANAfSiOSL7Tq8
「我介意。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAXbnTfek5UX
123Please respect copyright.PENANAM1raWFluee
「這樣啊,那就得請妳將就一下了。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAGNxA0lxRcR
123Please respect copyright.PENANARhyjcL6Z4X
很好,我對這個男人的第一印象簡直糟透了。123Please respect copyright.PENANAxaNXRyjAsU
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwMhHrLI185
偏偏有鑑於他掌握到的情報超乎我想像中的多,我決定多花點時間聽聽他的用意。123Please respect copyright.PENANAD7retaJp4O
123Please respect copyright.PENANAOIBBpCgEZZ
123Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZUU7bOjGB
「我就單刀直入地說了吧,可以請妳告訴我神命村的一切嗎?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAmSRY9mYVHG
123Please respect copyright.PENANAkE9yyv7lfG
點起了菸,光是這句話就可以知道這個名叫青海的男人來歷相當不簡單。123Please respect copyright.PENANAKcrUow4HkY
123Please respect copyright.PENANA52ozyUkYUn
這是我自從被神谷阿姨收留以來,第一次從外人口中聽到神命村這三個字。基本上,一般人是絕對不知道的,就算翻閱目前所有市售的地圖,甚至是網路上的空拍圖,都絕不可能得知神命村的存在。123Please respect copyright.PENANAixmu3WMJP7
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxg2R81gPj5
123Please respect copyright.PENANAp5zPfoenw5
「在這之前先由我提問,你和冬笑是什麼關係?」123Please respect copyright.PENANA09gBuXfmSe
123Please respect copyright.PENANA66dlbAUZeW
我現在唯一想到的可能性,就是十幾年前冬笑在都市所接觸過的人。123Please respect copyright.PENANA4c2H9d3O6F
123Please respect copyright.PENANAbQIocsY9zb
123Please respect copyright.PENANAnxpgeQMR33
「這個嘛,該怎麼說呢……資助她的一種關係。嘿,可別誤會,不是援助交際啊,那時候被上面派去做蹺家少女的報導,所以只是花錢跟她買情報而已,會得知神命村和妳們家的關係也是在那時候。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAPwt30LvugS
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3e8f6kxx09
男人得意地挑了幾下眉,我這邊反而將眉頭皺了起來……總覺得有點不舒服,第一個問題就讓我有點打退堂鼓。123Please respect copyright.PENANAgYusz71Taf
123Please respect copyright.PENANAgWC7Zn1Wi5
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「既然提都提到了,我姑且就先確認一下,冬笑她應該已經不在人世了吧?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAPUvspOZSS4
123Please respect copyright.PENANAKDkIqlfGbB
「看來你對村子的規則相當清楚。」123Please respect copyright.PENANANt7zirqOBe
123Please respect copyright.PENANAB4gqZCXp9d
「這話未免太抬舉我了,我也是費了好大的勁才拿到這極少的情報,對神命村的了解肯定沒有比在裡面生活過的妳還要來得多。」123Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZnJ5ExbJw
123Please respect copyright.PENANAFOVstGyXKs
男人深深地吸了一口菸,接著對著菸灰缸彈了兩下菸灰。123Please respect copyright.PENANAv20JmxZRzM
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIBmWTil6uY
123Please respect copyright.PENANAmhVYnyrfwR
「所以,請妳務必將妳所知的情報提供給我,我想寫一篇專題報導,若是證據充分的話,我打算將其交給國際媒體揭發這個村子。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAy3bpoLay4r
123Please respect copyright.PENANAntWkkXIh4K
我雖然不喜歡眼前的男人,但仍可從他的眼神中看得出作為記者的專業及熱忱。123Please respect copyright.PENANAwpqWhdzbpr
123Please respect copyright.PENANAuOawxcEND3
這時服務生正巧過來詢問點餐,於是我點了一份焗烤義大利麵套餐搭配熱咖啡,而青海先生則是點了份與他外貌大相逕庭的豪華巧克力聖代。123Please respect copyright.PENANAytdM9lpC38
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvkNr5pgHd0
123Please respect copyright.PENANAh4ZRQtGt9m
「青海先生,你的想法我能理解。只不過正如你所見,我是被村子『淘汰』而倖存的人,換句話說,我對村子本身並不了解,這點還得請你先將你那邊的情報提供給我。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAF9WmGUYwId
123Please respect copyright.PENANATj5RNxFYOR
熱咖啡送上來的速度很快,苦澀的口感讓我稍微提振了上班所耗費掉的精神。123Please respect copyright.PENANAi4hZiueJGw
123Please respect copyright.PENANAlvvuojo0EH
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「作為交換條件,我會將當初促使我成功逃離的那個事件,鉅細靡遺地提供給你。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAgbbWn0uaVN
123Please respect copyright.PENANAwMyj4RwvEh
說歸這麼說,其實就算他什麼都不知道,我還是會將那個事件完整地告訴他。123Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ct1RCALRk
123Please respect copyright.PENANA69pxEYBBBN
因為我答應過耕一,要將當時的事情全都公開給外界知道。123Please respect copyright.PENANALLznkXfVuY
123Please respect copyright.PENANA12iZjk9fLs
其實我很早以前就想說了,只不過神谷阿姨認為會招來危險,因此希望我暫緩公開的時間點,如今我認為現在正是個值得把握的機會。123Please respect copyright.PENANAuhAfuJ0juX
123Please respect copyright.PENANALKawYru8Fm
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「這麼好的提案怎麼可能不接受呢!」123Please respect copyright.PENANAGUGWE7Vgtu
123Please respect copyright.PENANA9BcxBNkdYM
青海先生想都不想就同意了我的要求。123Please respect copyright.PENANAlCxVOGK1G8
123Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3J5L42Azp
接著,他從相機包裡取出一台小型的平板電腦,打開圖片的資料夾。123Please respect copyright.PENANAhNsE1YdrWp
123Please respect copyright.PENANAOVYC5JJ1V0
123Please respect copyright.PENANA08DoQVc88s
「首先,要提到神命村的話,就不得不提到這個男人──」123Please respect copyright.PENANAFCfubpWYm9
123Please respect copyright.PENANAj81wfcklAL
男人的手指點按,原本小張的個人獨照被放大。123Please respect copyright.PENANAQyibbK402r
123Please respect copyright.PENANAj13j1t6PtD
照片裡頭髮灰白的老人,這時期鬍鬚比我印象中還要短上許多,左眼也還沒有變得混濁。123Please respect copyright.PENANA8odScQUNC3
123Please respect copyright.PENANAJkfE7lp37d
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「──芥川實至郎,也就是神命教的教主,同時也是身兼多間跨國企業的總裁。123Please respect copyright.PENANAkj45qP3IVw
123Please respect copyright.PENANABCy5RsztyT
而他也將這份領導能力發揮至極致,其創立的神命教所倡導的回歸自然主義,深受各界的菁英份子所推崇,至於中間興盛的過程如何我就不贅述。總而言之,在各界取之不盡的資源支持下,距今三十年前,以他為首的菁英份子們決定仿照1974年的人民聖殿農業計畫,在某個深山中成立了自給自足的小鎮,也就是妳所認識的神命村。」123Please respect copyright.PENANANQn2iM47N6
123Please respect copyright.PENANAg1aDSsmeZB
「請稍等一下,各界的菁英份子?」123Please respect copyright.PENANA5up7eudvQF
123Please respect copyright.PENANA5zf4cvMXbF
「是的,包含妳的父親結城正信副教授在內,全部的居民都是經過道德篩選過的高知識份子。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAwnO6Dp75Eh
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIiHmG1iMP4
我想起曾經在父親背包裡發現的證件,證明這個男人所言不假。123Please respect copyright.PENANAy5IKPib8oC
123Please respect copyright.PENANAiMNhSKtKe3
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「再加上有著嚴格遵循教義的教主,神命村與當年釀成悲劇的瓊斯鎮完全不同,如果單看表面的話,確實可以是現代理想鄉的體現。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAGksqV6qc4M
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWxPGBTBMaW
「那地方才不是什麼理想鄉……」123Please respect copyright.PENANADIS0pRwtrP
123Please respect copyright.PENANAJxOHzndG2A
我看著咖啡裡日光燈的倒影,手指不自覺地用力起來。123Please respect copyright.PENANAqCeszwZpSS
123Please respect copyright.PENANAyt8DjhWFTW
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「沒錯,到此為止就是我所理解的全部。輪到妳了,來吧,告訴我妳是怎麼逃離那個村子的?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAQNv20jrVd0
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVwLmVJ6hAt
他將平板電腦切換到錄音模式。123Please respect copyright.PENANAuLQawKvpBh
123Please respect copyright.PENANAvEdHQOZHr4
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那是個很長的故事。123Please respect copyright.PENANACknuN0eLG5
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我簡單地做了個深呼吸,試著將那塵封已久的記憶再度打開,當年在教室裡的光景彷彿重現在眼前──123Please respect copyright.PENANAvfdjYvWkeI
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◇123Please respect copyright.PENANADenTD37R00
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「嗯……想不到經歷了這樣的慘劇啊。」123Please respect copyright.PENANA0RLTLOqHvA
123Please respect copyright.PENANA3qtRY91aFM
我說完以後,青海雄介這個男人明顯對我的故事內容感到震驚。123Please respect copyright.PENANANKkRz8iXf0
123Please respect copyright.PENANAQh03DGrfbq
他在不斷地用湯匙點著見底玻璃杯好一陣子後,才說出讓我差點暈厥的結論。123Please respect copyright.PENANASWaAuLTIs1
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「那麼,要不要試著回去看看?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAyNFfwV5ygl
123Please respect copyright.PENANAhZ858jy1vv
「青海先生,請問你是在跟我開玩笑嗎?」123Please respect copyright.PENANArmPI2UVSev
123Please respect copyright.PENANAyK1vNV23fG
雖然早就有預感眼前的這個男人會提出諸如此類的要求,但我還是按捺不住不滿的情緒。123Please respect copyright.PENANA5upfaKo0Qw
123Please respect copyright.PENANAHIsYl3Wl36
123Please respect copyright.PENANAr99kQWpydp
「喂喂,別這麼嚴肅嘛,我這不是懷疑妳的意思,因為妳看已經過去這麼多年了,也沒見到妳所提到的那些怪物,如果真如那位……嗯,耕一同學所推測的,是為了繁衍,那麼早該入侵我們人類社會,我們也就不能像現在這樣悠閒地坐在這喝咖啡……我說到這妳應該懂我的想法了吧,結城小姐。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAqgO7a3yQXi
123Please respect copyright.PENANAb9xV0iaqEk
「請說重點。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ0c9SF4y6
123Please respect copyright.PENANAPPkHVkYybj
「嘛,我的意思是,我認為現在神命村內部已經是相當穩定的狀態。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAn90eC6rRQU
123Please respect copyright.PENANAVNWouJr3Dl
男人收起一派輕鬆的坐姿,以相當認真的眼神直視著我。123Please respect copyright.PENANAVMQNOkpy2Z
123Please respect copyright.PENANAIZcVThpPNu
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「最糟的情況,先假設那怪物仍具有攻擊人類的習性好了,我認為妳的村子有可能已經找到抑制或是與怪物共存的方法,詳情我不知道,但至少我能擔保在村子肯定是沒有危險性的。」「那是你一廂情願的幻想,更何況我沒有理由相信如今村子依然存在。」123Please respect copyright.PENANA3TaZ1Z1Aaj
123Please respect copyright.PENANALKMhUUN6rQ
「是嗎?這樣吧,不如妳先看看這個吧。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAv4UVwhNtol
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjVPBjx1YTF
男人用湯匙挖了一點杯底殘留的巧克力醬含著,接著開啟了幾張拍得有些模糊的相片。123Please respect copyright.PENANAI7jh1vqrII
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「事實上,截至今年為止,神命村的農作物持續有在供應給固定的店家,也就是說,妳的村子仍然存在這點是毋庸置疑的。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAs50qJaFAG2
123Please respect copyright.PENANAq1sQWYL409
「───」123Please respect copyright.PENANAdeiYf6LWpp
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相片上所拍到的讓人相當懷念的畫面。123Please respect copyright.PENANAnhA4KKCp3c
123Please respect copyright.PENANAWyearsr70X
我冷冷地看著相片上白色的小貨車,上面毫無疑問地印著神命村的徽章。123Please respect copyright.PENANA0YnrgeOF8G
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「既然都有情報了,那要找到神命村應該不是難事,我想並沒有需要我幫忙的地方。」123Please respect copyright.PENANA8YCBt5mtlG
123Please respect copyright.PENANAjjjbtJg2tS
「哎,這只是有幾個熟識的同好朋友剛好目擊到,時間地點的差異都非常地大。畢竟不能光明正大地調查,所以我到現在連神命村大致上的地理位置都難已知曉。」123Please respect copyright.PENANA7nM1zDruuy
123Please respect copyright.PENANAXPYlKWqOGi
「……」123Please respect copyright.PENANAf7sn0mcWJ6
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我雖然裝作在聽的樣子,但其實並沒有打算這麼快告訴他的意思。123Please respect copyright.PENANAJZoDp7IcNM
123Please respect copyright.PENANAqScmeCfa1Q
因為我可不希望好不容易才提供資訊的記者,什麼都還沒報導就這麼一去不返。以這傢伙滿身的肌肉來看,他絕對是屬於行動派的那類型。123Please respect copyright.PENANAHgnM17vQIO
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「結城小姐,我並不想勉強妳,但妳對自己成長的故鄉一點留戀都沒有嗎?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAG07Qo6sA2M
123Please respect copyright.PENANAxbgTgA29xA
「……」123Please respect copyright.PENANAEZFECtFjsg
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男人的話並沒有讓我多想,低頭喝了一口已經冷掉的咖啡。123Please respect copyright.PENANA5LZJC22FlN
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「就算真的有好了,但我留戀的人已經全都不在了。」123Please respect copyright.PENANAI9rbCEoJB7
123Please respect copyright.PENANAGuxgdEldO9
「這話很有意思,妳是如何斷定所有人都不在了呢?根據妳剛才所說的,能確定死亡的只有耕一同學對吧,其餘的同學們可是生死未卜的喔?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAYKgfefH5q9
123Please respect copyright.PENANAg19m36FwZV
他積極地勸說著我,但還真給他起到了些作用,因為我確實有掛念的人在。123Please respect copyright.PENANAsXRScKRLwJ
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「……穗香。」123Please respect copyright.PENANApoqg6xTETr
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小聲唸出口的名字聽起來就像是生字一樣生澀。123Please respect copyright.PENANAgxqP8uL1fs
123Please respect copyright.PENANADXfUdwkZVH
然而,對面的男人反而激動地拍了桌面,不顧桌上的餐點直接將身體伸了過來。123Please respect copyright.PENANA7Y13xwRRxT
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「等等!妳提到的人該不會是桃井穗香吧!?太有意思了,那可是現任的教主啊!」123Please respect copyright.PENANAmx0zxSCSpG
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「現任的──教主?」123Please respect copyright.PENANAGELaIDkpRq
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這是我第一次對他的話感到震驚。123Please respect copyright.PENANA4kKtymCItS
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考量到穗香單純善良的性格,那機率幾近於不可能,實在難以與教主的形象重疊在一起。123Please respect copyright.PENANAx2lvKV32MY
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