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。235Please respect copyright.PENANApCqIaldP7C
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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?235Please respect copyright.PENANAS6Y25A0R2n
235Please respect copyright.PENANAu9oajjknUj
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」。235Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8YJmCoZaB
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAB1f42kJY5Z
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAatv3lpNgR2
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我坐在家門前,看著鄰居掛紅色的裝飾,托住腮幫這樣想。235Please respect copyright.PENANASV1FZOKH8S
235Please respect copyright.PENANA0VCO31zEHU
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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAoJrVWcl4ZC
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANARGpBXwkzfb
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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!235Please respect copyright.PENANAMLGRUcEYiw
235Please respect copyright.PENANApgpOLjtH1m
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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAO36RjsGFRo
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我揚聲罵了他一頓,嚇得他直往山裡跑。235Please respect copyright.PENANA2VyTVMIfeY
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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⋯⋯235Please respect copyright.PENANAPv7g0k0AFI
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想著想著,我漸漸睡著⋯⋯235Please respect copyright.PENANAV0E7cSVwCY
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAQkh6K6TI8q
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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⋯⋯235Please respect copyright.PENANAqznrldkkbg
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANA9zCT7Q1x8k
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連婆婆叫我去許願樹扔寶牒也沒力氣,怎麼也掛不上去。235Please respect copyright.PENANA8fp7p1oWox
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANA3iXYCMwW5t
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAPIip7EzB78
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「我才不讓你們願望成真,哼!」235Please respect copyright.PENANA2m6RG7wOmE
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我看到他坐在樹上,頓時驚訝的瞪大眼睛。235Please respect copyright.PENANApvLHpeqMSP
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「偷看犯!」235Please respect copyright.PENANATNfLXl3An5
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樹上的他回首俯視我,露出厭惡的表情。235Please respect copyright.PENANAWHhhRtIUWQ
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「討厭的人類,誰偷看你啦!」235Please respect copyright.PENANACFySLZ3vws
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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。235Please respect copyright.PENANAAuWwkznpQH
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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?235Please respect copyright.PENANAYTv7pCpE43