第四章:詛咒的第七夜(上)129Please respect copyright.PENANA4q8JHEVPnV
129Please respect copyright.PENANAH8oS3BNvMY
祖先昀燁的記憶129Please respect copyright.PENANASqbL30QYG0
129Please respect copyright.PENANAMvBkzxl1FG
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAizaYBusu4n
129Please respect copyright.PENANAWJoITA8jIz
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANApZway7r7IE
129Please respect copyright.PENANALFqLwTosax
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——」129Please respect copyright.PENANABgYotAgFCx
129Please respect copyright.PENANAEuxF5Zg442
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAcfDKU67jql
129Please respect copyright.PENANAMUY4HZ9ynO
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAHjDifPDkOm
129Please respect copyright.PENANAxzYoQbzWoL
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANADS0fF11z0Z
129Please respect copyright.PENANAuCclCBOnNd
「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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAkxgyxmullt
129Please respect copyright.PENANAGGIXZvhpaH
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAhNs07txMrk
129Please respect copyright.PENANABoNIqgzHAw
「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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAjYJS2XYI9O
129Please respect copyright.PENANAFFXmllhFj7
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAaocXP96LEY
129Please respect copyright.PENANANfK0kg7KkR
我站在人群之中,靜靜的觀察著他。129Please respect copyright.PENANAy6UGqCNvDT
129Please respect copyright.PENANAbYD1nrK87h
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAYgyuZZLvST
129Please respect copyright.PENANAfXbU0CugJD
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANA0YtpRGHaIS
129Please respect copyright.PENANAuCVl8dtXPp
**129Please respect copyright.PENANAzLFA9ZoR6i
129Please respect copyright.PENANAI5FPAdmkR6
「誰想試試呢?」他問,語氣就像在問:「誰要吃糖果?」129Please respect copyright.PENANAb5vW8N77Ko
129Please respect copyright.PENANAWVmpMbpR6p
我回頭,看見她——昑偑。129Please respect copyright.PENANAN02JF4l20y
129Please respect copyright.PENANAmSnKkNmCqv
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,129Please respect copyright.PENANAir4SLr6wFX
129Please respect copyright.PENANADcPWBtE2UP
「要試試嗎?」129Please respect copyright.PENANACZqt9up9JK
129Please respect copyright.PENANAaeCi9EDyUS
她皺了眉,沒問原因,什麼也沒說,只是點了點頭。129Please respect copyright.PENANA2aS7fznn7W
129Please respect copyright.PENANAfzQfLepvWr
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129Please respect copyright.PENANAJOjBE5j7BP
129Please respect copyright.PENANAfOWVOJVI4W
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAXMUEzBlszV
129Please respect copyright.PENANA9sYXVVdj64
男人笑了。129Please respect copyright.PENANAuyOEy5vDgH
129Please respect copyright.PENANAjWzdtODxC3
他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言,聲音低得像在跟風講話。129Please respect copyright.PENANASBu1VlLXN8
129Please respect copyright.PENANA91PmtHswBO
然後,盒子打開。129Please respect copyright.PENANA6BrFfu7cFQ
129Please respect copyright.PENANAjs41MPVBzU
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANA24sgkyLAco
129Please respect copyright.PENANAXwjkvLO8KY
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAWeyScOLU0Q
129Please respect copyright.PENANAoY0b3BsMHF
「神蹟!這真的是神蹟!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAxn2E5WtP78
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試!」129Please respect copyright.PENANANXX0NKg4I6
「這……這是我們的機會啊!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAgGhLs1bqEf
129Please respect copyright.PENANAQO5WKNSmek
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAfMB9AQyabU
129Please respect copyright.PENANAjRZtbKtdo6
我卻沒有說話,只是盯著那盒子看。129Please respect copyright.PENANAfGp4hrgD6r
129Please respect copyright.PENANAtM0lhdwVYM
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAtKpKn36Auc
129Please respect copyright.PENANAZ76h6MMhlg
不是移動,是……呼吸。129Please respect copyright.PENANAfBrvJlxZ7o
129Please respect copyright.PENANAMwX6gE3Cso
它像是活著的。129Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3XOen5HqD
129Please respect copyright.PENANAoKLv12NC2V
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAJznKOi8LqN
129Please respect copyright.PENANACZmmkpr6rG
我眉頭皺緊,心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。129Please respect copyright.PENANAfQKwmZnSdC
129Please respect copyright.PENANAaplh7AfVeU
我咬緊牙關,走到人群前方,喝道:129Please respect copyright.PENANAelDnxdy9yT
129Please respect copyright.PENANAQBX2ZqVW62
「夠了!!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAyrfXYjZOpN
129Please respect copyright.PENANAGz0lEXZ0V9
聲音像石頭砸進水面,炸開全場的喧鬧。129Please respect copyright.PENANASl1AEn3S93
129Please respect copyright.PENANAl5Pzsrdtzw
「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?!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAPTwgcJS47L
129Please respect copyright.PENANAPOXMw6oD0E
我指著那盒子,目光銳利:129Please respect copyright.PENANAANsiLNtKc8
129Please respect copyright.PENANA1pGQhvOT8J
「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?!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAz717l2rCK2
129Please respect copyright.PENANA5XVWwITcaf
「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。129Please respect copyright.PENANAoe9wRlkHE7
129Please respect copyright.PENANA9MCYMQnDPx
「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?」129Please respect copyright.PENANApGPOKUpOBw
129Please respect copyright.PENANALs5rUABIpv
「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」129Please respect copyright.PENANA7zYyVKXDVI
129Please respect copyright.PENANAQR5Cry8d1H
「對啊,東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道?」129Please respect copyright.PENANAyCPwaPtvYx
129Please respect copyright.PENANAGoyCQqKJvq
我深吸了一口氣,聲音低了下來,卻更沉重:129Please respect copyright.PENANAyhOEOwVQb3
129Please respect copyright.PENANAEhVJ0tpyDN
「你們知道我的人,我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西,不對勁。」129Please respect copyright.PENANAygNvwKntnn
129Please respect copyright.PENANAKEErDYr6hr
所有人的目光又看向那男人。129Please respect copyright.PENANAARKIw6orF9
129Please respect copyright.PENANA2RW6vLDGDb
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANACpdDkw74K1
129Please respect copyright.PENANAWWbMSPhIEd
我覺得不寒而慄。129Please respect copyright.PENANA4BRr5L4ZLO
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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。129Please respect copyright.PENANARhPmQPLPZl
129Please respect copyright.PENANAwTT6MdJfor
他低聲說了一句話,語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見:129Please respect copyright.PENANA2Zq3n7ll54
129Please respect copyright.PENANAdCp3PtjNnk
「……七天喔。」129Please respect copyright.PENANAnjGqGCm2qI
129Please respect copyright.PENANAGdVVmvAcsZ
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAHDiRGSQZAj
129Please respect copyright.PENANA8hCMwNpTGx
**129Please respect copyright.PENANAO302HhHZpw
129Please respect copyright.PENANA4okEUOzwzl
一開始,一切都沒變。129Please respect copyright.PENANAUMUGAcOYmw
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAPiI4aqBVaQ
129Please respect copyright.PENANAtixPysKfhB
在一天夜裡,發生了一件事。129Please respect copyright.PENANAOU0TTR3Lnd
129Please respect copyright.PENANAosxT4cPvOq
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANA9dj5yIEmql
129Please respect copyright.PENANAVNX1x7kUS1
他餓得臉色發白,嘴唇開裂,他終於撐不下去了。129Please respect copyright.PENANA3iceOyK9Jh
129Please respect copyright.PENANAd49hv1E6d3
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAu5BPM7TJxX
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幾秒後——129Please respect copyright.PENANAY1Oy4tpmLh
129Please respect copyright.PENANAFqPijtKJrD
兩把米,靜靜地躺在盒底,甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。129Please respect copyright.PENANAWOIi5l61Lm
129Please respect copyright.PENANAPGc5O6Srzf
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAiVTrNi65Wd
129Please respect copyright.PENANAntv1bVkFo4
可惜,酒讓嘴不牢。129Please respect copyright.PENANAswU491s3gh
129Please respect copyright.PENANApGg8xAmBW6
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——!」129Please respect copyright.PENANAnAQzPb86II
129Please respect copyright.PENANAV8o9kn7x9O
他一邊笑一邊哭,整條村街都聽見了。129Please respect copyright.PENANAvn5mqMSxHN
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**129Please respect copyright.PENANAY18zVprXey
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試驗開始了。129Please respect copyright.PENANAChq6ojDZMz
129Please respect copyright.PENANAgjddRARepP
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」。129Please respect copyright.PENANAtqdNmLt4qs
129Please respect copyright.PENANAO2izpYqthx
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAYihukPnpjj
129Please respect copyright.PENANAZtIYzoSOFS
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAyUDbQ1Nrpr
129Please respect copyright.PENANAqUfb8UAwKq
我和昑偑站在不遠處,看著那群人。129Please respect copyright.PENANAnlYy8rNiC4
129Please respect copyright.PENANAZkyznIvO2U
他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑,只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。129Please respect copyright.PENANA3PAhIgz9rL
129Please respect copyright.PENANACY1vW3q7UJ
「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。129Please respect copyright.PENANAZpwSJBynmN
129Please respect copyright.PENANAUuokCXIMVF
「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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAhIgnpnfNPH
129Please respect copyright.PENANA6tnEGAEH3L
她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。129Please respect copyright.PENANAhb34TD49aH
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**129Please respect copyright.PENANA9ucWH9jana
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我和昑偑,依舊守著自己的小屋。129Please respect copyright.PENANAdF42KVzD4Y
129Please respect copyright.PENANAjNk1uIjqDI
我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。129Please respect copyright.PENANAloQLLobObK
129Please respect copyright.PENANAJevmwWlJlr
起初還有些人勸我們:「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧?」129Please respect copyright.PENANAC1uaTuBgzv
129Please respect copyright.PENANAfpgUVkY6JI
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?」129Please respect copyright.PENANAh8i1wkG6c1
129Please respect copyright.PENANAGU1fJrpbM5
再後來——他們不說了,只是看著我們譏笑。129Please respect copyright.PENANAtP7T5K92jt
129Please respect copyright.PENANAKZLhXa38er
我們成了全村唯一的異類。129Please respect copyright.PENANAPN6cJuNYpB
129Please respect copyright.PENANAWqUac3gzHD
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANApnbgvCFQfD
129Please respect copyright.PENANAs15TWDFb7F
屋內卻只有我們兩個,一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。129Please respect copyright.PENANAlMzQlo0Ccu
129Please respect copyright.PENANAc8BS4BK62f
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAdN2gNH486I
129Please respect copyright.PENANAwXYP1sWDwt
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:129Please respect copyright.PENANAXVqIK2tR7S
129Please respect copyright.PENANAvYLdpTwk9b
「你後悔嗎?」129Please respect copyright.PENANAxDSRbW6hVX
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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。129Please respect copyright.PENANA855MJ9zsHy
129Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ7JBqPFJu
「……有點吧。」我說。129Please respect copyright.PENANAfvOqvYIfnQ
129Please respect copyright.PENANA0yctHB67fq
她笑了笑,沒再多說,只補了一句:「我不後悔。你說的,我信。」129Please respect copyright.PENANANj5MjHLeAF
129Please respect copyright.PENANAX4G71rjGNz
我們繼續吃著地瓜,像什麼事也沒發生過。129Please respect copyright.PENANA872Ja5H1sS
129Please respect copyright.PENANAc7IOMaXL3R
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAgNEU84p3wc
129Please respect copyright.PENANAtMzT2qweYQ
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。129Please respect copyright.PENANAgfgmEMWJdB
129Please respect copyright.PENANAez9q33cwGk