約略是三年前，正值櫻花爛漫季節，一位蒙紗的少婦帶著一籃藥箱來到這座不起眼的山谷小村裡行醫。以一飯一宿作為求治的代價，倒也令人覺得親切同情。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylKMrZHpxC
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6lJM9LEsj
雖然在這村落沒什麼特殊罕見的疾症，但無論是怎樣難易的病痛卻在她的治療下一一痊癒，即使是不大不小但總無法根除的常疾，也乖順地逐漸消跡。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtITzlPPaaK
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9SicUxiA9
對村民來說，她定是位偉大的巫女，也只有侍奉神祇的巫女與神官才能趨除病痛。所以儘管沒有人見過她真正的面貌，也沒有人知道她是從何而來為何而來，都視作侍奉神之人而理所當然地接受。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVywROzq8me
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDBg76iOHq
行醫後不久，少婦拿出了精美珍貴的布料贈與村民，請他們在山上為她搭建居所。連貴族也罕見的布疋與樣式奇特的屋落，儘管惹人驚異卻也視應當然。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQAhlu3ZZc
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYqzwmSznA
村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3rKjUCgAA
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjltD4Bb2pU
少婦總是罩上一層薄紗遮掩面容，其中原由則是村民們好奇而不敢探究的問題。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ev5lcxA5S
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrj2KnxJgz
但就與供奉侍神之人一樣，樸實的村民對這位夫人一直滿懷著敬意與感恩。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXAB7bvpGt
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXEAvq6jTG
※※※※※571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p61pZgZ13
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueG46n5VRu
如日常事例，少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo7WiiOGle
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkBV9m56Wf
剛開始時，像這樣走在崎嶇的山路小徑，每隔片刻便因體力不足而停佇休息，而隨著路程加長，行進的速度愈加遲緩，在走到山谷時往往需費上半個白天的時間。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IOkPc4P2r
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8C3zZE8Qq
然而日復一日地走下來，很快地便適應了山路的跛斜，雙腳踩地的踏穩與敏捷也讓自己意識到原本是如何嬌生慣養。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLB7NFBM8h
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWrTgmAxwK
經過一時辰的山路，脫出林葉蔭蔽，眼前一片低平。山勢成兩方夾圍出一塊橢形的峽地，一道細小的水流在谷地尾端切出，往山谷外的世界延伸。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhPz5Cp8Zp
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5QxWsHAKU
谷內盡被闢成田地，十數戶茅頂土屋鬆散地聚落在谷內微高之處，少婦走入由田壟蜿蜒至屋落的土徑，幾名在田中收成的農伕見人立即嚷聲問安，接著轉向其他田埂裡的村人遠喝通知少婦的來到。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8cCqxSyCB
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaySKV4HxDw
走至舍落中央的寬地時，少婦身週已經圍滿了村人，村婦們有的牽著自家的孩子或是手抱嬰兒前來，每個人開口一聲聲『夫人』地嘈嘈雜雜嚷話著。少婦一面聽他們的閒談日常，一面為需要療治的人一一看診。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq7ePll9Zx
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR2xFP1I02
在這座村裡不太有什麼難以應付的絕症，最多是風寒腹洩皮膚病，一些被宿疾所纏身的老人家，也只要經過一般藥石與飲膳的調養，便就無所礙窒。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSK7Ot3i8d
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0RTBWzU8W
對這些村民來說，已經足夠靈驗。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMbEoqmHB8
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOBSMWjj8H
除了病痛看診外，村民們也會額外與少婦聊一些村內的近況與自家的種種。少婦只是靜靜地聽著，大多時並沒有搭腔，但村民們卻反而說得更是躍躍有勁。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb469KoZ5a0
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxypxvWDGve
「讓我過去！讓我過去！」一個小女孩費力地推擠開大人們圍成的人牆，然後又再被擠了出去，她不停地高聲尖叫，「讓我過去啦！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Y8tOS0eT
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFRwmRho75
少婦認得那個女孩，名字叫小末。她記得很清楚，那個小女孩的母親是在她來到這個村落前難產而死的。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq448u6WKV
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLAjX0CziI
少婦往小末的方向跨了一步，人群便散了開來，小末一股腦地從人群中撞出，興奮地抓住少婦的衣袖嚷叫：「夫人！妳快來看！妳快來看！我撿到了很棒的東西哦！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq93JMehIx
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTRSrC3Btj
「小末，妳又要騙人了！」四週的大人們不以為意地取笑，連一旁的小孩子也跟著起哄叫著：「騙人鬼」。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGwhZvBEO4
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI9ts0gUmg
「我才沒有騙人！才沒有！」小末回頭大聲罵道，手指仍緊抓著少婦的袖襬。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiYoNYnVzM
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkmOVtC3Rh
少婦微低下半身，柔聲問道：「小末，妳撿到了什麼？」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgZmMqzt24
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUpp4mHDxz
「妳跟我來看就知道了啦！」小末立即拉著少婦的手，作勢就要衝出前去。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70OOamIC24
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ZXaApMel
「等一下！小末！」大人們抓起小末手臂，嚴聲訓斥，「不可以對夫人沒禮貌，妳自己把東西帶過來！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ao7Tv4vt3
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1sLgXqGmZ
「不行！不行！」小末大叫，「不能給別人看到！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfq2ZhWxZv
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsc5q7r2B5
「妳又在說謊了！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEbS3W0uss
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eClnM3dv6
少婦感到一陣頭痛，只得出聲制止，「別說了。」她蹲下與小末齊高，安撫道：「我晚點再看，好嗎？」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv4eUfdnNT
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfBbokFW79
小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴，片刻後才點頭勉強同意。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdydeENlfpD
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqNf0k8Ads
於是，小末就站在人群外圍靜靜盯著少婦，不時煩燥地走來走去，然後跑開片刻、再又跑了回來。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCTDzmPxfe
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIJiFp5W50
以前小末常常對著她大嚷：『為什麼不早點來救我母親？』571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqDxcXz5X3
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJZfwKgvMg
後來大概是被大人責罵的關係吧，小末再也沒有說出那種話，卻開始說起自己看到了母親的亡魂、夢到了母親的亡魂。內容則不外乎是母親預言將降災給哪個會欺負小末的人，要不就是母親得到了神的賜福，會再回到小末身邊云云。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbe6K9wYs6
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM6BCLnlzo
像這樣顯而易見的謊言只招來更多的嘲笑，小末卻更為堅信自己看得見母親的亡魂、甚或是其它死者的鬼魂。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIn6VrauOo
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs6Zgam1PJ
後來少婦私底下編了一個故事告訴小末，一個失去父母的小孩向神祈求再見到自己的父母一面，代價是一整年的時間不可開口說話，小孩做到了，因此見到了自己的父母。然而卻因為她太久沒說話的關係，她在現世的親友都遺忘她不認識她了。從那之後，小末就不再說謊，也逐漸不再提起自己母親的事。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnhwJijCim
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAXRSlpRQ7
只是，到現在其他人還是會常常拿過去說謊的事來取笑她，小末雖然生氣，卻也未認真掛在心上計較，或許是年紀尚小的關係。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt8c5vD31b
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQV8XVbbsp
少婦收拾了藥箱，把村民們贈送的一些莊稼打成小包袱，小末已等不及地纏到她身旁，拉著她就跑，還不時回頭把好管閒事的村民或其他小孩給喝跑。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsoIDD56EA
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeRHxkzWxQ
「小末，到底是什麼東西……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOGNiv5kTS
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BhcUb4KEw
小末以指尖壓唇示意，然後壓低聲音：「不能說不能說，妳看了就知道了！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTtMriBWNn
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7uOOojcXX
結果，小末把她帶到了小溪的磯岸上，一群大小不一的石塊疊出傾陡的矮壁裡，有許多可以藏物的狹縫。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNQjU3NjyH
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf87tqSpMDw
小末迅速地爬過幾疊邊緣尖銳的大石塊，回頭拼命向少婦招呼：「這裡這裡！趕快來看！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd3cBSZXzI
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLz7Y2SB3p
少婦謹慎緩慢地越過石塊來到小末身旁，小末深吸一口氣，手按在遮住洞口的一塊扁長石片上，眼中閃爍著興奮的光芒，「我要打開囉…」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOSKqN9nq3
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUaVMKdpmA
石片移開後，少婦低下身看去時，不禁倒抽了一口氣──571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXNO0CT7PA
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFm0Uzl8T0
那不是人類嗎？571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgvkobrWJg
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iusnsVlri
…不，那…是人類嗎？……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50eIcq16fM
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XxGJIkcbi
型體像是巨大的卵，帶著與常人無異的粉肉色，在頂端則像是生出肉芽一般，長著一張女人的臉孔緊閉雙眼，一頭烏黑的長髮從『頭』頂披曳落在卵的四周。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICps9Buxgh
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyDniGTYbm
「很漂亮吧！很漂亮吧！」小末高興地對少婦露出欣喜的笑容，「昨天的昨天剛撿到時是蛋，然後長芽，今天長出臉跟頭髮耶！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJMqCfiJB3
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B5eLs1hXo
少婦只有瞪大著眼，看著小末雀悅地與她分享著自己的秘密。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G9nDk7F9r
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFizIdiCHVb
「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看！一定會！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7lXaaSyAn
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCdFmljtKj
「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字，幾不成聲。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwGnZVTr0r
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxWc72ZKMO
「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔！也不可以告訴別人！這是…」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBcmRMRWjj
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i3Abn5YZq
「小末！」少婦竭力喚道，「小末…等一下…這種東西……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgRpXm6ZmN
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWVYm97QHy
「唔？」小末無辜地眨眨眼，等著少婦說話。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fujfAXZ4K
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquzAf3uLK7
「這種東西……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSzER0raZ5
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMhbU8nURD
該怎麼說出口……她確定這顆卵是超脫她所能理解之物，不，也不是十分地陌生，因為……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIKmgfKzHr
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fjlg3be0m
因為，這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPJOM3FBos
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArLQWNLWzl
……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuan8HiitI0
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd32gB4Pmk6
為什麼？自己明明不再是過去的那個人了，為什麼還會看到這種東西？571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJLooxdi1E
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC8BJe6RRj
「夫人！夫人！」小末急切地拉晃著她的袖口，「夫人妳知道這是什麼動物對不對？告訴我告訴我！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPCFEI3TUV
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WCtrGikm8
「這…這個…是……」少婦恍惚地低聲囁嚅，意識無法控制地恍惚飄遊，眼前的小女孩也似是恍惚的景象。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBGgXGTiHX
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iQtxgSsCH
心口，只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uFwrRNEMr
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PK0V1vffZ
她伸吸口氣，強迫自己假造出可以冷靜面對現狀的思緒來，「總之，先讓我確認一下，這種東西…說不定有危險……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpb1p6DaSH
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhxbKmupci
小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBEM4mp5mk
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZULJE5k8Xz
少婦忍住嫌惡感與恐懼，伸手用掌心覆觸卵的表面，上下輕移……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxoVAHoxu3
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOy3tdHlOo
觸感與人肉相彷，體溫不冷不熱，甚至隱約可見流動的細小血筋，至於呼息的起迭與脈動……分不清是不是把自己的吁吸錯認為是那個物體的吁吸，手掌中的起伏與顫動像是自己所引發又不像是，明明早已判斷出，錯覺卻層層不絕地湧起……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlbD8igwxs
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KEiLSZQtq
指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時，『她』霍然張明雙眼！571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr9C61c6oB
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVU8arxN3Y
少婦赫然抽回手，醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCRFUSQucy
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBCxCLWBgb
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道：「哇──張開眼睛了！醒過來了！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkaBUMut4q
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvlXI0LDA7
『她』笑得像是石雕一像生硬，少婦卻直覺得『她』的眼神與表情不停地無聲變動著。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWemteEWnv
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdClxKJ19Ms
『她』的眼神冰冷得幾乎可凍結體內的血液流動，似乎自己才是寄宿在某個肉塊裡的莫名異物……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVKpwuVfVx
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadOjDTd4EF
「我是小末！小末小末小末！」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoIvz0sK05
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyrQ72S5ja
少婦不禁脫口說出：「……神……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI2jOI47c4
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93izZJQePW
腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChAGmrBl3n
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8v0amxZnR
尖銳的笑聲從四面八方向少婦滾壓，她被當做是漩渦中心地纏繞著宣洩而下，連靈魂也快被沖刷怠盡似地。然後……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0U3UduX4x
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvAjocHHJH
就在要屈服這些無止境膨脹的笑意之時，透過薄紗，隱約地看到小女孩快樂地捧著巨卵上的頭顱抱出洞外。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIaS72zLJP
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB8SnMtRPn
臉孔後頭的身體仍留在洞穴內，所以被拉成了柔軟的長條，小末愉快地持續拉著，然後長條的身體兩側對稱地長出無數雙手臂來……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBhoaHcGjd
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogGOCbxB0z
『她』擺動的靈活的長臂，與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1POO4bd1Y
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8O8Sj3G28
『她』臉上的微笑依舊是生硬冰冷，聽不見的笑聲卻極盡尖銳盡宏大地刺擊著少婦……571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHafbjBtZfc
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9PXCeIuUi
當小末幻影似地從眼前離去時，少婦忽然醒了過來，四週景物絲豪未變，除了癱軟在地的自己與傾倒一旁的藥箱。她渾渾顫顫地拾起自己的東西，好不容易才踉蹌地走回村內。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMCyywzahX
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiPuzI4RiE
回到村子，村民們善意地招呼著，「夫人！您還沒走啊！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb5oXf8W0v
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbee8v6j4Ug
「小末呢？」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRFViQlqSO
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp281t8IWdB
「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情，「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA1Q2AEPJW
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G1I1pfP3W
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎？」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fj7eqFeeL
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWamF3gvTCk
「啊？」村人搔搔頭，「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gT5M0xr0v
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsdLIaJS0m
少婦不安地快步行至舍落，只見到小末在寬地上舞蹈般地狂跳著，一旁的村人還不斷吼道「別跳了！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9SKvOXBzt
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7SlVupsA0
沒有神。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbOMSpsA7F
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwxes69AjJ
小末看到少婦，漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳，喘息笑著。571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2BfWhU9ED
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXzD85qS53
「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔！」571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbiLCwv6sk
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