■■■133Please respect copyright.PENANAO7KAVcwFoC
133Please respect copyright.PENANAeVGdS9arWe
天空很藍。133Please respect copyright.PENANABffs1f7NPi
133Please respect copyright.PENANArPc3Tz3MqT
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANADoF27iAypp
133Please respect copyright.PENANASwh6A8GQF6
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA3hZd07mxEc
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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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA8dL9tWQCXs
133Please respect copyright.PENANA3EKrsYYr28
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAEzo4pE69qt
133Please respect copyright.PENANAauVZBiMiLN
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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!」133Please respect copyright.PENANApRUeziAieI
133Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZM3WTnLUz
這男人的身體似乎不會覺得累。133Please respect copyright.PENANAjyJOixpQvr
133Please respect copyright.PENANA1fUiUpWJga
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAc4LE2HXqf9
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「快了。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAfleINoJuJB
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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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAi6OcwSufmb
133Please respect copyright.PENANAoGnvTf3M1H
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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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAnao3Jxw1qC
133Please respect copyright.PENANAwIWiVrlVhU
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANABIOpBMCejt
133Please respect copyright.PENANAaGh44pSIVN
133Please respect copyright.PENANAbPMlnEsoLX
「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!」133Please respect copyright.PENANA2MFaipKsB2
133Please respect copyright.PENANApP408u0z6s
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAfBAb6bMgeE
133Please respect copyright.PENANAIx3yxnv2fK
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAAkNNTEpfar
133Please respect copyright.PENANAsJJUBb5rUm
133Please respect copyright.PENANAybVyP2yYFO
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANACRz629UYPC
133Please respect copyright.PENANAS7ouajJ3tK
「原來如此。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAJNV8Lz9eNq
133Please respect copyright.PENANAI5Cu60Ovbj
「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?」133Please respect copyright.PENANAVWvcoo8YRZ
133Please respect copyright.PENANAGsjq0cAgPd
「嗯,以你而言算是做得不錯。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAAFEQHS3QVk
133Please respect copyright.PENANAAYPTKQc6d6
不是刻薄的話,我是發自內心這麼覺得。133Please respect copyright.PENANAnG0pgAHsYq
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0PkpWvD8J
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAKRv2KaHD8A
133Please respect copyright.PENANAeFghgNXVNl
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結果再開了半個小時就看到了公車站牌。133Please respect copyright.PENANAp2HOyqD7go
133Please respect copyright.PENANAbHH0uvgQhz
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAEurXVGQ69V
133Please respect copyright.PENANAltw8h0ugxP
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAMmHylpPjIu
133Please respect copyright.PENANAVh9P17Phpb
133Please respect copyright.PENANAWtXMLBk5pw
「神命村居然還有公共汽車可以到啊,居然有這種好事。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAUkdd6kx8s1
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQUsv1AFb1u
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAhCDYCEFzUU
133Please respect copyright.PENANAyM1Bykymjj
133Please respect copyright.PENANAiMh3HXHh1d
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAs3IFBdZK2t
133Please respect copyright.PENANAPPy82hb1Vp
「請不要隨意觸碰我的肩膀。」133Please respect copyright.PENANASu6pOPvovv
133Please respect copyright.PENANA0hwj3rgobs
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAGGkHz3SpRH
133Please respect copyright.PENANAfB4OVzvhMi
133Please respect copyright.PENANAgsDMLhMqa2
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAJddWEdPFB8
133Please respect copyright.PENANANgpRlNsV4U
「謝謝你的關心。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAxOorDe3yJm
133Please respect copyright.PENANAes1BdHY7pM
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAHsZUjBPOv3
133Please respect copyright.PENANAZTLNc9vMH8
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAmU7aBLb5Zp
133Please respect copyright.PENANAXPUakxDaZe
……老實說我很想她。133Please respect copyright.PENANAx6yRyoBy7c
133Please respect copyright.PENANA6ymkASUluB
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANACJZ0GLL3qa
133Please respect copyright.PENANAou47pd7RmM
133Please respect copyright.PENANAM83RAWVYes
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走在每個曲折都是那麼熟悉的森林小徑。133Please respect copyright.PENANAFj1qQlnbke
133Please respect copyright.PENANAkfyM5KBtis
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANATk19Syu4LW
133Please respect copyright.PENANA7cv5avpBo6
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAtvR4MdEhG7
133Please respect copyright.PENANAuBpnlPsLZz
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAHnkv9zxEBm
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQGiU9NdGZy
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAprt0FkXFC4
133Please respect copyright.PENANAMmVsE4l2dW
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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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA0QsI0GJ42D
133Please respect copyright.PENANABaSa5LjseF
133Please respect copyright.PENANAZICSvXfFw8
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAv05E8MBSFS
133Please respect copyright.PENANAGYSBa7Xvi8
年僅十六、七歲的少年行了一禮。133Please respect copyright.PENANApI6rOMUIIR
133Please respect copyright.PENANAB1VCOdgVmI
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAsCnPayafJW
133Please respect copyright.PENANATLQqT1ITiZ
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAsqhQcbAlFL
133Please respect copyright.PENANAVFvVhMA35t
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「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAuQn6KM1pW4
133Please respect copyright.PENANA7JvQeC2ukn
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAsiI8hAsCEA
133Please respect copyright.PENANAh9jqYZL43p
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAbd9WD9O4px
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQu9HjfTTE0
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAuChOdW7Ba2
133Please respect copyright.PENANAqtUB28WKzm
當然,關於那些怪物的情況則是一點都沒提到。133Please respect copyright.PENANAuaycL8wgHB
133Please respect copyright.PENANARWGxiERONW
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQXN6CvXQjE
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAXBsIrFAULB
133Please respect copyright.PENANADKtiNq6zBz
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAf4dB2irKTJ
133Please respect copyright.PENANArzTSEXj0GV
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走出小徑後,我們一路從學校的方向走回村子。133Please respect copyright.PENANAq8NpywPfSs
133Please respect copyright.PENANAQuhKt70ZvN
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAmW9WgHwiIj
133Please respect copyright.PENANAiiRupo1Spf
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA2XzoNhPX0o
133Please respect copyright.PENANASULulLz5Kf
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「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANA57Wl1RP0wQ
133Please respect copyright.PENANAxCvjgVpjIu
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAMeNby9dP28
133Please respect copyright.PENANAgCHR0sWi8Z
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAquBpvFe9pa
133Please respect copyright.PENANAkKY1FxZ6H2
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAcWa9rwYdTr
133Please respect copyright.PENANAmrsjOl38VQ
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「哦,好氣派的房子啊!」133Please respect copyright.PENANAdyxdfmIpOw
133Please respect copyright.PENANAA82JOCMeWg
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA8oYVTAhLpB
133Please respect copyright.PENANA6GCk54MeWO
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……老實說再次來到這裡讓我覺得很恐怖。133Please respect copyright.PENANAwHV0pNbOTn
133Please respect copyright.PENANAIukT0lhJoK
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAMmYNjXrNLH
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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。133Please respect copyright.PENANALu64fKhNb0
133Please respect copyright.PENANAVT1i7fKuln
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAtZFpPyBcfC
133Please respect copyright.PENANAtpgw09dCAe
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「結城大人、青海先生,請在此稍後片刻,我這就去請村長前來。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAchMtAN9AsL
133Please respect copyright.PENANAfKO7YNYVn1
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?133Please respect copyright.PENANAMuMKPxVU7V
133Please respect copyright.PENANA22xNeRFeMT
133Please respect copyright.PENANA4j9JU97yCI
「嘿,結城小姐,妳認為他們把那些樹人藏在哪裡?」133Please respect copyright.PENANAekzHPWByIT
133Please respect copyright.PENANAYUAeab3HiN
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAXLFPgfxIYK
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「我不知道。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAFM5GAubm7f
133Please respect copyright.PENANA395WdcJCb4
「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!」133Please respect copyright.PENANAMvp3IyGPSD
133Please respect copyright.PENANAWjjCbuEKbD
「那但願你能寫出與其相稱的報導。」133Please respect copyright.PENANA8vseoQiVCi
133Please respect copyright.PENANAnm7kaLcMiR
「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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANApZmHbY4Piw
133Please respect copyright.PENANAaoqCfac4RH
說穿了這傢伙就是為了錢吧,反正與我無關。133Please respect copyright.PENANAZhYzzYqABA
133Please respect copyright.PENANA6yeSuuDXIG
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「喔,對了,妳那好朋友漂不漂亮啊?」133Please respect copyright.PENANAuutDLA0IGk
133Please respect copyright.PENANAjZO9Zl4GPM
「……」133Please respect copyright.PENANAc3XPRYOcvs
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我因為懶得理這個討厭的男人而別開了臉。133Please respect copyright.PENANANYE9koYSQP
133Please respect copyright.PENANA2AbgqfSdfM
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──133Please respect copyright.PENANAfqsWR4bzs6
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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。」133Please respect copyright.PENANAH7IFQpUMxD
133Please respect copyright.PENANAjRk9oLsSMX
多年未見而外貌丕變的好友深深行了一禮。133Please respect copyright.PENANADDxfmjHEfB
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「好久不見。」133Please respect copyright.PENANArDr5W0t0W0
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「啊……妳好妳好,抱歉讓妳見笑了。」133Please respect copyright.PENANA7DqLxP38Yi
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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」。133Please respect copyright.PENANA8dFjZfiV3g
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「───」133Please respect copyright.PENANAb61DJxdPlr
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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。133Please respect copyright.PENANATROQkHw1ta
133Please respect copyright.PENANADzJej8ae7G
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAsgqJzlzbd1
133Please respect copyright.PENANA9Gwr12tj6M
133Please respect copyright.PENANAunhYk4UwdH
「請先用茶。」133Please respect copyright.PENANALMqxoRP3DB
133Please respect copyright.PENANAPoc4IXp6ut
「正好口渴了呢,那我就不客氣啦!」133Please respect copyright.PENANAFzkg9l401e
133Please respect copyright.PENANAxMNh4wqHxI
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANAVbJXdRu1Ks
133Please respect copyright.PENANAewUZmIU9QT
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。133Please respect copyright.PENANA9uyp1tMNoF
133Please respect copyright.PENANA5Lyiu8Is0n
133Please respect copyright.PENANAP1I40h0D89