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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAxwlEr5JwfP
216Please respect copyright.PENANAv8cYKi0FrZ
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?216Please respect copyright.PENANA83OqlpTpNf
216Please respect copyright.PENANAUkXNlpoka5
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」。216Please respect copyright.PENANAXjSXp0aOt6
216Please respect copyright.PENANAXI1F2v4BJY
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANArVyETb8w0l
216Please respect copyright.PENANAGs3zVPOI7K
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAcHDntkmsSS
216Please respect copyright.PENANAoEEoIWk3On
我坐在家門前,看著鄰居掛紅色的裝飾,托住腮幫這樣想。216Please respect copyright.PENANA1azX4CHQEa
216Please respect copyright.PENANA2BAdBZwyMb
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAHp817DJopG
216Please respect copyright.PENANAkOcZI3ZjIl
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2LxA2k0lT
216Please respect copyright.PENANA95hvEJNQW9
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!216Please respect copyright.PENANAPo51L8In8m
216Please respect copyright.PENANAdINIkbRWTo
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANA4XmOz3w9W4
216Please respect copyright.PENANADzTw3zDTuS
我揚聲罵了他一頓,嚇得他直往山裡跑。216Please respect copyright.PENANAc5jmox36ku
216Please respect copyright.PENANA0dhqNtb5hK
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⋯⋯216Please respect copyright.PENANAfY4lSb7L7L
216Please respect copyright.PENANAsGbVeyx56X
想著想著,我漸漸睡著⋯⋯216Please respect copyright.PENANAPeM0rHJ2ka
216Please respect copyright.PENANAsVrxwE1ATJ
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAg0LNAbLbGT
216Please respect copyright.PENANAgw7zq87FNc
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⋯⋯216Please respect copyright.PENANAJs2Zfs5ES5
216Please respect copyright.PENANAdvbB8d43rq
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANA6Pz7xQYJur
216Please respect copyright.PENANA8LixKJrFqj
連婆婆叫我去許願樹扔寶牒也沒力氣,怎麼也掛不上去。216Please respect copyright.PENANApvcMnpXbQ5
216Please respect copyright.PENANASTAhm8o1xq
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANADIYG0DHTos
216Please respect copyright.PENANAYnkwD1axvR
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAoy07M0gvef
216Please respect copyright.PENANApWgESnzJaB
「我才不讓你們願望成真,哼!」216Please respect copyright.PENANAs9dGD8aflt
216Please respect copyright.PENANA8rzLt7CDmT
我看到他坐在樹上,頓時驚訝的瞪大眼睛。216Please respect copyright.PENANATNeepQbEsw
216Please respect copyright.PENANAo4J8iBkskr
「偷看犯!」216Please respect copyright.PENANAWXXDYEboeN
216Please respect copyright.PENANAPx4jy1pvdQ
樹上的他回首俯視我,露出厭惡的表情。216Please respect copyright.PENANA9gosP90drE
216Please respect copyright.PENANAvkfLW4Aj7i
「討厭的人類,誰偷看你啦!」216Please respect copyright.PENANANEIJqWQJxZ
216Please respect copyright.PENANAEC3S17HFGB
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。216Please respect copyright.PENANAe2dN4PGAvj
216Please respect copyright.PENANAgLNRHNMpnn
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?216Please respect copyright.PENANAZ24JmTtQEe