從前村裡有一個傳說,山林住著一隻兇猛邪惡的野獸,每年都要求村民獻上祭品,不然就將全村剷成平地,所以村裡的人每年都乖乖準備祭品,直至一天,路過的修行僧指示村民,只要在門兩側貼上紅紙便能驅逐該山獸,村民半信半疑的照做,那年山獸真的沒有來,自此家家戶戶都張貼紅紙,村裡太平長安。240Please respect copyright.PENANAjmiKSEl8ad
240Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ys2HjOAP7
幼時,婆婆常在睡前跟我說這個故事,還記得那時候的我聽完,便想那年山獸沒有收到祭品,又不能入村,那麼牠該怎麼辦?窩在山上餓死嗎?240Please respect copyright.PENANApJMjhHpIzq
240Please respect copyright.PENANAgVcmbOZfme
小小的我這樣問了婆婆,婆婆回答我,「那樣可怕的東西,是生是死,沒人在乎」。240Please respect copyright.PENANA1mvxVB07di
240Please respect copyright.PENANATlQrfAhK0y
可憐的山獸,若不是伴在人類旁邊,也不會如此孤單。小小的我這樣想著,漸漸進入夢鄉。240Please respect copyright.PENANAnfDONxSGa4
240Please respect copyright.PENANAZb9m9zaRKm
時至今日,村裡仍保留貼紅紙的習俗,還會掛紅燈籠、紅彩帶,總之就是將整條村弄得紅通通,像是染滿鮮血一樣。240Please respect copyright.PENANAFEC47PKDws
240Please respect copyright.PENANApKAZQCyqiW
我坐在家門前,看著鄰居掛紅色的裝飾,托住腮幫這樣想。240Please respect copyright.PENANAqHOqjAtjcY
240Please respect copyright.PENANAamQlDabEt2
既然山獸討厭紅色,牠又怎會要吃祭品,攻擊村子,因為人類的血是紅色的。240Please respect copyright.PENANAYm3HEfPora
240Please respect copyright.PENANAGHPMdM0TbG
我無聊的胡思亂想,這時,婆婆出來說燒好了水,讓我去洗澡,洗乾淨過好年。240Please respect copyright.PENANABg780bOHKC
240Please respect copyright.PENANAjylI894NjH
我泡在熱水裡,水中還漂著兩片除穢的柚葉,我撥著在水中浮浮沉沉的葉子,突然,聽到窗外有動靜,心裡來氣,想說村裡的屁孩又來偷看,一群色胚子!240Please respect copyright.PENANAp0Z0vynic8
240Please respect copyright.PENANArCBHo1ZAfT
我裹好毛巾,朝窗外大罵,看到的卻不是村裡的屁孩,而是一個沒有見過的男生。雖然是沒有見過的人,但偷看就偷看,活該被罵。240Please respect copyright.PENANAlG14ezxhsD
240Please respect copyright.PENANAhA9wCkqZwg
我揚聲罵了他一頓,嚇得他直往山裡跑。240Please respect copyright.PENANAB40Gqa7D0i
240Please respect copyright.PENANAcZHGRGhibP
當天晚上,我心記掛著那個男生,不知他是從哪裡來的,也不知他有沒有好好回家,如果在山裡迷路,會不會被那隻山獸吃掉⋯⋯240Please respect copyright.PENANADXlPyax5mm
240Please respect copyright.PENANA239rK5JDhw
想著想著,我漸漸睡著⋯⋯240Please respect copyright.PENANAcu0PlUWmwE
240Please respect copyright.PENANAQTEYqG7PeD
在夢境裡,我站在一棵樹下,抬頭看著樹蔭,莫名感到一股平和溫暖,然後,有把聲音突然跟我說話,這聲音像在我耳蝸中作響,帶著迴音。240Please respect copyright.PENANAQ849y00CCq
240Please respect copyright.PENANACQMsAxUOXt
他跟我說,人類很自私,是你們為求賜保佑而獻貢祭品,一旦有了平安無憂,就捨去諾言契約,獨自快活,還將他隔絕山上,簡直豈有此理,他想出口悶氣也不行⋯⋯240Please respect copyright.PENANAPmks9iZqvj
240Please respect copyright.PENANA3L3TzTXQnE
那把聲音嘮叨了整晚,我翌日早上醒來,睡了好像沒睡過一樣。240Please respect copyright.PENANACp7AYOq41v
240Please respect copyright.PENANAuX80EEK15G
連婆婆叫我去許願樹扔寶牒也沒力氣,怎麼也掛不上去。240Please respect copyright.PENANAPxFAZeH3BA
240Please respect copyright.PENANAkGm7Ahrewl
我頹肩坐到一旁休息,仰頭看這許願樹,總覺得這樹跟夢裡那棵樹很像。240Please respect copyright.PENANAwt7RvLeJ5f
240Please respect copyright.PENANA6wQqxWIYzu
我繞住許願樹走了一周,抬頭看著樹蔭,陽光的碎片閃爍其中,讓我不期然瞇起眼睛。240Please respect copyright.PENANABdaICq3GF8
240Please respect copyright.PENANAQoQp8jW9OK
「我才不讓你們願望成真,哼!」240Please respect copyright.PENANAECxqTBl1ZO
240Please respect copyright.PENANA5BKUdzbq4A
我看到他坐在樹上,頓時驚訝的瞪大眼睛。240Please respect copyright.PENANAvNw8Yfq76M
240Please respect copyright.PENANA9lv0p1eaBR
「偷看犯!」240Please respect copyright.PENANARYyxFjMiqA
240Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5ulWX0ziS
樹上的他回首俯視我,露出厭惡的表情。240Please respect copyright.PENANAch5ccpycl9
240Please respect copyright.PENANAvSbPPGcHgQ
「討厭的人類,誰偷看你啦!」240Please respect copyright.PENANA8sW0sTYghp
240Please respect copyright.PENANALOaBIwZFNt
然後,他就消失了,夢裡出現的聲音也消失了。直到過年後,村裡紅色的裝飾全都卸下,在嬉鬧的孩童中,我似乎隱約見到他的身影,但定眼細看,又不見了。240Please respect copyright.PENANAPXg86UTI0t
240Please respect copyright.PENANATNghc1u9na
他,到底是誰?神?還是那隻山獸呢?嘴裡明明說討厭人類,為什麼還留在人類身邊?240Please respect copyright.PENANAexDeJ99mcL