第四章:詛咒的第七夜(上)93Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ9dWIAY0O
93Please respect copyright.PENANAtv8N4DMOna
祖先昀燁的記憶93Please respect copyright.PENANAyU3cQY0Y2c
93Please respect copyright.PENANAHHqrw5dre6
那是一個小農村,村子世代自耕,日出而作、日落而息。沒有人見過外面的城市,也沒人走出過群山。村裡人都說,山外的世界危險、複雜,還有會把人拐走的「人販子」或「征兵隊」,只有少數幾天,會有商隊經過,帶來物資和外界的消息。村民們過得與世無爭,雖苦,但平靜。93Please respect copyright.PENANABTHtajD2Nj
93Please respect copyright.PENANAayL13YBFy0
那天陽光很好,太好,熱得有點不尋常。我坐在田邊,手裡握著還沾著泥的鋤頭,背後汗水緩慢地滲透衣服。那時候的我,還相信努力就會有結果,還覺得一個男人只要扛得起家裡的田地,就扛得起整個世界。93Please respect copyright.PENANAH2TWEbHz7T
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剛從田裡回來,汗水還掛在下巴上,就聽見村口有人喊:「有客人來啦——」93Please respect copyright.PENANAhTRjKxT2yn
93Please respect copyright.PENANAiIUUhsvdiA
那是一個陌生男子,身穿乾淨的白袍,帶著一個黑色的皮袋。他說他是從城裡來的,是個「尋找古物與商機的學者」,路過這裡。93Please respect copyright.PENANAIxbnOFmuGH
93Please respect copyright.PENANAtOMhgAaWNg
他的模樣很平凡。說話輕聲細語,態度和善,笑起來時嘴角彎得像一條剛曬好的布條,不惹人厭,甚至讓人有些放鬆。93Please respect copyright.PENANAVUVpC8PjBn
93Please respect copyright.PENANA1R5Tz7k1kD
我們對「城裡人」總是有種說不清的敬畏。他的出現,讓村裡老少都圍了過來。村長請他進家裡坐,他也不推辭,只說來這是為了分享一個「恩惠」,一種能改善我們貧困的方式。93Please respect copyright.PENANAHFHveMPW2L
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「我從大城裡的聖教會帶來了禮物。」他從皮袋裡,取出一個黑盒子。93Please respect copyright.PENANAK1vApv8R9i
93Please respect copyright.PENANAnbUbrgymMa
盒子不大,像是某種祭祀用的器皿。表面刻著一圈我們從沒見過的符文,像爬蟲的骨頭交錯纏繞。93Please respect copyright.PENANA2IUS2irgyD
93Please respect copyright.PENANAHKxyXv0ErX
「這是來自文明之地的奇物,只要虔誠的把你『最珍惜的東西』放進去,神,會讓它繁衍。」他說這句話的時候,語氣就像講一段熟記的經文。93Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9FpYwUJOt
93Please respect copyright.PENANAnhNdT29j85
大家竊竊私語,有些孩子開始問能不能放玩具進去。老人則皺眉,像是不敢相信這種「城裡的把戲」會成功。93Please respect copyright.PENANArENxHnk7yV
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我站在人群之中,靜靜的觀察著他。93Please respect copyright.PENANAEVnFv6LGFP
93Please respect copyright.PENANAkf75TGiQOJ
他眼神清明,看不出一點詭異,語氣也始終親切。要不是我站得夠遠,我大概也會和他們一樣,被這溫和的笑聲給麻痺。93Please respect copyright.PENANA5gCA77z0FW
93Please respect copyright.PENANARGDu5M7AWd
直到他目光掃過我,輕輕點頭致意。那一瞬間,我不知道為什麼,後背發冷,像是有什麼東西正從他的影子裡望出來。93Please respect copyright.PENANAC7LXEbM9Or
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**93Please respect copyright.PENANA4bbEVVjQy2
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「誰想試試呢?」他問,語氣就像在問:「誰要吃糖果?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAhvGZXFCGK9
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我回頭,看見她——昑偑。93Please respect copyright.PENANAYiPevkAWLF
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她一直站在我身後。那雙眼睛清澈得像一口老井,裡面裝滿了我從小到大的記憶。從小和我一起長大的她,是我唯一相信的人,93Please respect copyright.PENANAWOwPDPm7rp
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「要試試嗎?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAqWMWk9p0Vn
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她皺了眉,沒問原因,什麼也沒說,只是點了點頭。93Please respect copyright.PENANATWk12d0ZPP
93Please respect copyright.PENANAtuM0vbmL6W
我們邁開身子走了過去,男子面帶微笑的看著我們,潔白的雙手遞出了盒子93Please respect copyright.PENANAOKVq8hE80r
93Please respect copyright.PENANA4JGiOL9fsw
昑楓從脖子上摘下一條銀鏈,那是她母親留給她的唯一遺物。她的手有點顫抖,但還是走到那人面前,把墜子放進盒子裡。93Please respect copyright.PENANAMeJx7v5FQx
93Please respect copyright.PENANAtSSlL63ON9
男人笑了。93Please respect copyright.PENANAAGY9UB6gTZ
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他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言,聲音低得像在跟風講話。93Please respect copyright.PENANA2tG0fzQAdS
93Please respect copyright.PENANAYFt0zYJDgL
然後,盒子打開。93Please respect copyright.PENANAjzg0aHswJV
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兩條一模一樣的銀鏈子靜靜地躺在盒底,像是鏡子裡的映像,也像是……孿生的東西。93Please respect copyright.PENANABCl8xvRAXR
93Please respect copyright.PENANAZgfAdqHnd8
那一刻,人群安靜了幾秒,隨即爆出驚呼。有人讚嘆,有人懷疑,但更多人——開始相信。93Please respect copyright.PENANASLpYPDnVBU
93Please respect copyright.PENANAsZCmfxp7XB
「神蹟!這真的是神蹟!」93Please respect copyright.PENANA3jFw7xzIPD
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAGRUQ9s3fYm
「這……這是我們的機會啊!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAycHCY4S5gy
93Please respect copyright.PENANAQnXCTaq2mK
空氣中的熱度忽然攀升,那些原本懷疑的目光瞬間轉為火熱。有人開始翻出腰間的布袋,有人轉身就往家裡跑。93Please respect copyright.PENANASlZnkmqUhb
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我卻沒有說話,只是盯著那盒子看。93Please respect copyright.PENANAHnwcB8OYZ6
93Please respect copyright.PENANAnY82VMX182
我不知道是不是陽光的角度問題,還是自己的錯覺——有一瞬間,我覺得那個盒子,好像動了一下。93Please respect copyright.PENANA49pTiK1k9a
93Please respect copyright.PENANAM12l7ufdgx
不是移動,是……呼吸。93Please respect copyright.PENANA3lAQtWxJcS
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它像是活著的。93Please respect copyright.PENANACbpaMkPxOU
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盒子表面微微脈動著,不再只是刻在盒面上的花紋,而像是一種等待甦醒的皮膚。我甚至錯覺,它正「看」著我,用一種深不見底的方式。93Please respect copyright.PENANAGSPlkrZvWa
93Please respect copyright.PENANAqcwuHGi2qi
我眉頭皺緊,心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。93Please respect copyright.PENANA4qSlUPAYLB
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我咬緊牙關,走到人群前方,喝道:93Please respect copyright.PENANAJGvxP5mz0k
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「夠了!!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAWnocCClyws
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聲音像石頭砸進水面,炸開全場的喧鬧。93Please respect copyright.PENANACcSSFFK7en
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「你們都瘋了嗎?剛剛還不敢相信,現在看到一條銀鏈就開始把信仰都丟了?!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAjH2Xuel40k
93Please respect copyright.PENANAjl76uM0q2Q
我指著那盒子,目光銳利:93Please respect copyright.PENANAdJCeVwRrgJ
93Please respect copyright.PENANATqFq1fWge5
「天下沒有不勞而獲的事!你們想靠這東西活下去,那你們的手、你們的田、你們的家人算什麼?!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAhNH3y4iOS8
93Please respect copyright.PENANAapRwsDEYe4
「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。93Please respect copyright.PENANAdOqhBkpZBL
93Please respect copyright.PENANAkY6q8airfc
「你們才該冷靜!這東西從哪來的?這個人又是誰?他說是恩惠,你們就信了?他說是神的東西,你們就不問代價?」93Please respect copyright.PENANA03XdcP6DGM
93Please respect copyright.PENANAaMU9X9XwIv
「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」93Please respect copyright.PENANANXDtG3lGsn
93Please respect copyright.PENANAhZ8Ru6GWHd
「對啊,東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAhmnKrNkxdO
93Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ulx8CmM9K
我深吸了一口氣,聲音低了下來,卻更沉重:93Please respect copyright.PENANANwxqs4sHUl
93Please respect copyright.PENANAgUfI5QLjYo
「你們知道我的人,我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西,不對勁。」93Please respect copyright.PENANAAoPDBo3EYY
93Please respect copyright.PENANAY95CIDbZN5
所有人的目光又看向那男人。93Please respect copyright.PENANAlqOTL0n6ne
93Please respect copyright.PENANA2TOSc9jFwS
男人依舊微笑,沒動怒、沒解釋、甚至沒試圖說服。他只是站在那裡,靜靜看著我,像是在等一場注定會發生的風暴。93Please respect copyright.PENANAstKELb4c71
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我覺得不寒而慄。93Please respect copyright.PENANA5SNGK8rWLi
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然後,他輕輕地,對我笑了一下——那笑容不像剛才的溫和,像是早已看穿一切的、令人發毛的平靜。93Please respect copyright.PENANAYg2Rb3qB30
93Please respect copyright.PENANA5flROGicEu
他低聲說了一句話,語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見:93Please respect copyright.PENANA2zPLrELaZ6
93Please respect copyright.PENANApLBSen6Unl
「……七天喔。」93Please respect copyright.PENANAtH73SaJ03F
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沒有留下任何解釋,也沒有繼續推銷,只是轉身,像完成了一項任務似的,輕描淡寫地離開了村口。93Please respect copyright.PENANAX0Zzc1jZtZ
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**93Please respect copyright.PENANAnN31XbszbW
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一開始,一切都沒變。93Please respect copyright.PENANAhmwH7OFi8a
村民們壓抑住了誘惑。沒有人使用盒子,甚至有人提議把它埋進老井底下,永遠不要再提起。但日子還是苦。田地瘦,孩子餓,藥草不夠,獸欄裡的豬瘦得像紙片,晚上還會發出咿咿的哀鳴聲。93Please respect copyright.PENANAr7aJ9EgxAp
93Please respect copyright.PENANAB5gDliSTkV
在一天夜裡,發生了一件事。93Please respect copyright.PENANAiJB03GK43U
93Please respect copyright.PENANAGxIlDY5rC3
那是村口的老流浪漢,平時靠撿拾農田邊角、幫人挑水討點食物活著。那天晚上,他坐在自家破棚裡,連續咳了半個時辰,咳到臉色發青。93Please respect copyright.PENANAPNcjtzMs4O
93Please respect copyright.PENANADEgk5zcToz
他餓得臉色發白,嘴唇開裂,他終於撐不下去了。93Please respect copyright.PENANAau3J8VesJ4
93Please respect copyright.PENANATKbEINUBQq
沒人知道他是怎麼偷進村長家,把藏在櫃底的盒子找出來的。他只是顫顫巍巍地捧著一把稻米,把它投進盒子,嘴裡念著幾句不知是真是假的祈禱詞。93Please respect copyright.PENANA2tqMkt7BVM
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幾秒後——93Please respect copyright.PENANA8vETCjIXZM
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兩把米,靜靜地躺在盒底,甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。93Please respect copyright.PENANAY4bVsb30cx
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那一夜他沒說任何話,只是緊緊抱著那把米,像是在抱自己唯一還能相信的東西。93Please respect copyright.PENANAhRcXOnymuH
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可惜,酒讓嘴不牢。93Please respect copyright.PENANAWBgaX9x4jK
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第二天,他喝醉了,在街邊搖搖晃晃地喊:「哈哈哈!是真的!那盒子是真的!神明真的會給東西啊——!」93Please respect copyright.PENANAjMbzzvWh2J
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他一邊笑一邊哭,整條村街都聽見了。93Please respect copyright.PENANAIK2oxan8Xf
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**93Please respect copyright.PENANA8Oef5atI6C
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試驗開始了。93Please respect copyright.PENANAMiopZRuJZT
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村裡年輕人率先效仿,把破鞋、乾掉的蘿蔔、還有老母親留下的骨雕飾品一樣樣丟進盒子。每一次,盒子都照單全收,並「回贈」兩份。就像它從不挑剔,只求你「誠意十足」。93Please respect copyright.PENANAAYvcvh6KFF
93Please respect copyright.PENANAJpyx8T2hWR
村民們驚呼、雀躍,甚至開始比賽誰複製得最多,誰投的東西最有價值。從糧食、布匹、牲畜、工具、金銀、首飾,甚至到符咒、經書……盒子通通照做,毫無底線。93Please respect copyright.PENANAoW6reNApqO
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短短幾天時間,村裡的集會廣場已經排滿人。他們抬著大缸、裝著牲口、拿著傳家寶輪流操作,像是在朝聖。93Please respect copyright.PENANAWlTee6sYAd
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我和昑偑站在不遠處,看著那群人。93Please respect copyright.PENANAeBEiLhb6Q4
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他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑,只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。93Please respect copyright.PENANA15na8cVyi6
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「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。93Please respect copyright.PENANAXB45jV7F6O
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「不,是他給了他們理由去瘋。」昑偑冷靜地回應,咬了一口冷掉的地瓜。93Please respect copyright.PENANArwIAI9buxx
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她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。93Please respect copyright.PENANAw04a9kwdgb
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**93Please respect copyright.PENANAivF0wCMP2n
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我和昑偑,依舊守著自己的小屋。93Please respect copyright.PENANAnQEJmL0jw5
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我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。93Please respect copyright.PENANAqkSCwNyqRe
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起初還有些人勸我們:「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAZcTuV7Y6rF
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後來變成:「是不是放不進去東西啊?還是你們連『珍惜的東西』都沒有?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAqXYCEovjeH
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再後來——他們不說了,只是看著我們譏笑。93Please respect copyright.PENANAUmWa8Ti0sm
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我們成了全村唯一的異類。93Please respect copyright.PENANAaGbRS2LVNR
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那天晚上,我們坐在屋子裡,天花板滴著水,油燈忽明忽滅。外頭廣場熱鬧的像過節,有人在燒烤,有人在唱歌,還有人在討論明天要複製什麼——有個醉漢還說要複製老婆,笑得差點翻進水桶裡。93Please respect copyright.PENANAQUElw8jP5j
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屋內卻只有我們兩個,一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。93Please respect copyright.PENANARMo9OOIQmJ
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昑偑把剝好的一半遞給我,我沒接,只是盯著手上那塊地瓜出神。93Please respect copyright.PENANAdaD8Y9ePUn
93Please respect copyright.PENANAEthHU3v9qy
她看了我一眼,咬了自己那半塊一口,過了好一會,才輕聲開口:93Please respect copyright.PENANAxuyzKS6RAQ
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「你後悔嗎?」93Please respect copyright.PENANAzpIeyARfFx
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我沒有立刻回答,只是聽見屋外又響起了煙火聲,火光照亮我們窗紙上交疊的影子。93Please respect copyright.PENANALHZEnJioQc
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「……有點吧。」我說。93Please respect copyright.PENANAn7CcFJyTK0
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她笑了笑,沒再多說,只補了一句:「我不後悔。你說的,我信。」93Please respect copyright.PENANA1rGenYAzkH
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我們繼續吃著地瓜,像什麼事也沒發生過。93Please respect copyright.PENANAYd10LwWQyi
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可窗外的火光越來越亮,笑聲越來越遠。我卻莫名感覺,那些將幸福建立在盒子上的人們,正一點一點,離開人類的樣子。93Please respect copyright.PENANA2QmNNjQRA8
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而窗邊桌上,那條複製而來的銀鏈,照映著窗外的燈火,透出一絲詭異的光芒。93Please respect copyright.PENANA1MMQA2RRun
93Please respect copyright.PENANA9KE1oyaj8Z