■■■319Please respect copyright.PENANAsRR4YU3Z1V
319Please respect copyright.PENANArKqHqSIFBI
「這樣就包紮好了,要記得這幾天別讓傷口碰到水。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAGEzVGu1wOF
319Please respect copyright.PENANA7RmytinsCi
在替我受傷的手掌套上了網狀繃帶後,梳著西裝髮型的森叔再三叮嚀起應該要注意的事項。319Please respect copyright.PENANAa2VYPg2uLx
319Please respect copyright.PENANAadL7rHBT6D
319Please respect copyright.PENANAl4iUYH98s7
「……嗯。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAGdXNNg2BZX
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「用不著擔心葛城老師的事情,村長已經派大家去搜索周圍了,相信最晚到了明天就會有結果了。」319Please respect copyright.PENANADr1rxXSwQA
319Please respect copyright.PENANAgmEQ1lFbOE
大概是注意到我無精打采的樣子才會這麼說吧。319Please respect copyright.PENANA80pqxYkoL6
319Please respect copyright.PENANAxNeVA8QNDY
身為村裡唯一的醫生,森叔一直都非常關心對我們這些從小看到大的孩子。319Please respect copyright.PENANAK5WNGP4Yju
319Please respect copyright.PENANAQZjaxtw8tt
319Please respect copyright.PENANAWMUpxq29LW
「可是……」319Please respect copyright.PENANA3c4UbnY5Bw
319Please respect copyright.PENANA76yagj1hWt
事情得從我逃離那個怪物以後說起。319Please respect copyright.PENANAnYWYs5Yf4K
319Please respect copyright.PENANAXCVgVQ2l0V
好不容易在跌跌撞撞的情況下衝到派出所裡面,驚醒正昏昏欲睡的老員警後,我帶著村裡面聚集起來的長輩們一同返回出事的地點。319Please respect copyright.PENANAnQBPdEcOZD
319Please respect copyright.PENANAJZPNXHBjvF
然而,就在到達那裡以後,等待著我們的只有我在慌忙之中所遺留下的書包而已。319Please respect copyright.PENANA5dQ14CoQDd
319Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ6YJFD07D
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其餘的什麼都沒有。319Please respect copyright.PENANAkO6AEfGzgv
319Please respect copyright.PENANAhohpKyfNLI
沒有那怪物,當然也沒有葛城老師的蹤影。319Please respect copyright.PENANAuotkPcfmSA
319Please respect copyright.PENANAgQxWUoRXre
更令人難以置信的是,不論是掉落在地上的殘肢,甚至噴濺了一地的鮮血,所有能夠證明那怪物存在過的跡象都憑空消失。319Please respect copyright.PENANAdJYmqhHTxz
319Please respect copyright.PENANAP0J43sdUVA
一切就像是從未發生過似地,只有一陣接著一陣的風雨不斷地掃過街燈所照亮的地面。319Please respect copyright.PENANAAF7fMX3Byz
319Please respect copyright.PENANAqWEGIkuWaQ
唯一成為事實的只有葛城老師離奇消失這件事。319Please respect copyright.PENANAi32fLhLXHK
319Please respect copyright.PENANAVcp43cwscP
不管大家找遍了整個村子附近,都還是無法找到他的身影,這也是我最後得知的消息。319Please respect copyright.PENANAbwzKFDVEsA
319Please respect copyright.PENANAGIHqNQ5X6z
接下來,等我回過神來的時候,人就已經在森叔的診所這裡進行治療。319Please respect copyright.PENANA3CxLz5iCVU
319Please respect copyright.PENANARwEtSXqSgP
319Please respect copyright.PENANACtVPQcQ5Qp
「無論如何,妳能沒事就好。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ08vaLgWA
319Please respect copyright.PENANA0Sw6AYa7U7
不知道為什麼,森叔相當激動地緊緊握住我的雙手。319Please respect copyright.PENANAbsIWJIAo49
319Please respect copyright.PENANAj7HeNfoFVA
我垂下臉盯著包覆著米白色紗布的手掌和膝蓋,而傷口像是在提醒我那份真實感似地,仍不斷傳來燙熱的刺痛感。319Please respect copyright.PENANAOuYvw7Ojxa
就在這時候,診察室外面傳來了急促的腳步聲。319Please respect copyright.PENANA0VQzIK1WYi
319Please respect copyright.PENANAZK7Yl6J1Tc
319Please respect copyright.PENANAlaIBzaSrcS
「來夏─!」319Please respect copyright.PENANAriYiQ8lWFz
319Please respect copyright.PENANA7gEZ39eapV
匆匆忙忙拉開門的人是耕一,而穗香隨後也氣喘呼呼地從他身後出現。319Please respect copyright.PENANALjwvu9NwOB
319Please respect copyright.PENANAA2GaNocJhM
大概是很急著趕過來的吧,他們兩個的瀏海都因為淋濕而顯得有些凌亂不堪,褲管也都是濕答答的。319Please respect copyright.PENANAzQpDR6jkqd
319Please respect copyright.PENANAwxMeOQerFt
319Please respect copyright.PENANAyjWylkXJCb
「耕一……穗香……」319Please respect copyright.PENANAmAMsdnzNTX
319Please respect copyright.PENANA1pcaIjkDtm
感到安心的瞬間,眼淚突然就噗哧噗哧地流了下來。319Please respect copyright.PENANAQSM1RVlwwL
319Please respect copyright.PENANAoUI6VyXhXk
被我這樣子給嚇到的耕一,似乎將原本想說的話給吞了回去,任由跟著流淚的穗香詢問著我身體的狀況。319Please respect copyright.PENANAAM25AKKcKs
319Please respect copyright.PENANAP2K6MLO8ho
319Please respect copyright.PENANAPI55phxAbE
「小夏……怎麼會這麼嚴重,手都包成這個樣子,很痛嗎?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAJjNM1gpAqM
319Please respect copyright.PENANA0Logik0iTS
「我不要緊,只是跌倒的擦傷而已,反倒是葛城老師他……」319Please respect copyright.PENANAiTuOTsCXqZ
319Please respect copyright.PENANANUhilhSRJJ
「嗯,我們知道,森叔已經在電話裡都跟我說過了。」319Please respect copyright.PENANASrn8YRTX5X
319Please respect copyright.PENANA145Uao9UVC
由於森叔交代過先別引起不必要的恐慌,因此耕一所得到的資訊,大概就是我們被熊襲擊而已。雖然欺騙並非我的本意,但我也能理解森叔目前的顧慮。319Please respect copyright.PENANA1OgdkWoK2a
319Please respect copyright.PENANAyxNLLbfiNN
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「時間也不早了,現在先讓來夏回去休息吧,有消息我會馬上聯絡妳們。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAVVj62eTxMf
319Please respect copyright.PENANAJZomDr1Umc
我再次向森叔點頭道謝後,在穗香的陪同下步出了診療室。319Please respect copyright.PENANA8wJxeBTvtA
319Please respect copyright.PENANAWoLoqjHh8l
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「對了,耕一。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAyi0qVXgPjJ
319Please respect copyright.PENANAucwucxebR5
然而,在我們離開之前,森叔突然出聲叫住了正準備拉上門的耕一。319Please respect copyright.PENANAzNuGPS7BO3
319Please respect copyright.PENANAPBcQ2T1kSa
319Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6vabIdceb
「今天的那個就先延後吧,這陣子可能會比較忙,時間的話……哎,過陣子再找時間吧。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAOygI2VygFK
319Please respect copyright.PENANA9s8aTxnkNH
「我知道了,那麼就先告辭了。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAFSU5d832mZ
319Please respect copyright.PENANAUApE6TLuvZ
耕一向著燈光充足的診療室裡面行了一禮,接著關門跟了上來。319Please respect copyright.PENANAta1J2l2D8c
319Please respect copyright.PENANAW5XFU81Jq9
319Please respect copyright.PENANABdK0uVBrBv
「耕一……你和森叔今天有約嗎?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAdqXIKVB1WH
319Please respect copyright.PENANApB02MNo4Mm
「算是吧,但不是什麼重要的事情。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAt9VnYT3If0
319Please respect copyright.PENANAK0OpJmnZDR
對於我的提問,耕一似乎沒有想要回答的意思,大概真的如他所說不是很重要吧。319Please respect copyright.PENANAI58nVuSRGh
319Please respect copyright.PENANAPjFEbQTfbd
外面的雨下得很大,再加上走廊並沒有開燈的緣故,在聽覺和視覺雙雙受到干擾的限制下,我們彼此都不發一語地穿越長長地木造走廊。319Please respect copyright.PENANAk6QYSJNxU3
319Please respect copyright.PENANAorJyBjLlCF
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「小夏,那個……那邊走過來的好像是村長。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAzR3WFWTpoa
319Please respect copyright.PENANA69QP7fIunh
等到我們在門口準備撐傘的時候,穗香拉了拉我的衣角。319Please respect copyright.PENANAmWa2rtljK6
319Please respect copyright.PENANAJpd8Ot0dHe
遠遠就看到滂沱的雨勢中有兩個披著深色簑衣的人影走了過來,就如同穗香所說的,是我們神命村的村長和他身旁的助理。319Please respect copyright.PENANAyICBs9VMoN
319Please respect copyright.PENANAABZf5FArgc
年紀約莫七十多歲的村長留著長至喉結的灰色鬍鬚,一隻眼睛因為白內障而呈現混濁不清,滿是皺紋的臉上總是維持著冷峻的表情,是村人們都相當敬畏的存在,尤其是身為晚輩的我們,不巧遇到的話只有低頭行禮的份。319Please respect copyright.PENANAhDVsQsRDCh
319Please respect copyright.PENANA6Knf38FSP4
319Please respect copyright.PENANAWwvX8R6Cod
「村長好。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAXOMJc003nU
319Please respect copyright.PENANA9DeGyZ4emv
我趕緊將眼角的淚痕擦了擦,經過如同往常般不被理睬的行禮,村長和助理逕自往診所內走去。319Please respect copyright.PENANATh4uNE6DwD
319Please respect copyright.PENANAIc51GOZNE2
然而,不知道自己的是不是錯覺,在抬起臉的瞬間,似乎和那蟲類般無機質的視線交錯而過。319Please respect copyright.PENANARlhXRVZNoy
319Please respect copyright.PENANAIty0DGcBVG
「村長他……剛剛是不是瞪了小夏一眼啊?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAHkwcfGGQza
319Please respect copyright.PENANAIakoxJTGBa
「別亂說話。」319Please respect copyright.PENANA1bvwUH4QjR
319Please respect copyright.PENANATwVaY2c3We
在耕一不悅地指正穗香的同時,我望著身後那兩件簑衣漸漸沒入走廊盡頭的黑暗中。319Please respect copyright.PENANAfu1pVf2b8j
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「那麼,我先陪來夏回去拿她的東西,穗香妳就先幫她放點熱水吧。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAJl5QzfMppp
319Please respect copyright.PENANAIxsl3FW0Qw
途中在經過穗香家的時候,耕一罕見地像這樣主動交待著。319Please respect copyright.PENANAD5kFFYL1l7
319Please respect copyright.PENANADbQmrOlO6P
而一向聽他話的穗香自然只有默默點頭的份,我在將整個淋濕的書包先交給她以後,和耕一一人一把傘並肩走在渠道旁的碎石子小路上。319Please respect copyright.PENANAXhBWoA5DaV
319Please respect copyright.PENANARGayk5tk6O
傾盆的毫雨沒有任何減緩的跡象,遠方的景色皆瀰漫著濃密的雨霧。耕一在走了一小段路後停下腳步,望了望四周確定沒有人以後,以稍微大過雨聲的音量問起我來。319Please respect copyright.PENANAiZe9iNIOM9
319Please respect copyright.PENANArEFYg3xe4Q
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「來夏,襲擊妳跟葛城的到底是什麼東西?」319Please respect copyright.PENANARABdtBI3kx
319Please respect copyright.PENANAtRMmiDF4Mm
那是相當冷靜地,彷彿任何謊言都能看穿的眼神,他果然早就發現了吧。319Please respect copyright.PENANATui7S2vdL4
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「還有,為什麼這麼晚了妳還跟葛城在外面,我希望妳能將一切都老實地對我說。」319Please respect copyright.PENANANmesVEWi25
319Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ3Jvh9G6h
「……把穗香支開就是這個原因嗎?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAqQF62f5fkB
319Please respect copyright.PENANAvUx3uwp6dy
「嗯,以她的個性最好什麼都不要知道比較好,而我這邊希望了解事情的全貌,才能知道有沒有幫得上妳的忙。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAdq3tGxHpwN
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「也是……如果是耕一你的話,應該會相信吧……」319Please respect copyright.PENANAZRgvFM4ARo
319Please respect copyright.PENANA6grtqJa9Tr
於是,我將那在不久前發生的,完全不符常理的經過都告訴耕一。319Please respect copyright.PENANAJhObbMABX2
319Please respect copyright.PENANA8AMvDWehqz
體育倉庫的事、遇到怪物的事,甚至葛城老師在我面前被殺害的細節,毫無保留地全都讓他知道。319Please respect copyright.PENANAPLQk3ZgPbJ
319Please respect copyright.PENANA76Hqo4jpMd
只是最後……明明毫無根據,卻讓我不得不確信的那個,從那時候起就讓我一直猶豫該不該說出口。319Please respect copyright.PENANAEyDjyfP5FN
319Please respect copyright.PENANApYwO2XaKtP
319Please respect copyright.PENANAnhuSrQgvR0
「不得不確信?」319Please respect copyright.PENANASQTOkj8SaJ
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在耕一的追問之下,我才吞吞吐吐地透漏。319Please respect copyright.PENANAV7VD1zOodi
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「那個怪物……真的……很像冬笑。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAW35bXUckPz
319Please respect copyright.PENANAK5wVjQkp2x
當時那佇立在原地看著我的模樣,和死去的冬笑簡直一模一樣。319Please respect copyright.PENANAmKgGlxQbG0
319Please respect copyright.PENANAu65YOcN8MG
太過荒誕的想法,我先前並沒有讓大人們知道,不然他們肯定會認為我在精神狀況上出了什麼問題。319Please respect copyright.PENANAwVnoYubV7p
319Please respect copyright.PENANAf1pHL2Dl9Q
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「很像──冬笑嗎。」319Please respect copyright.PENANA1l9jHyS6gc
319Please respect copyright.PENANAelDy5cI4ju
在這之前一次都沒有停頓過的耕一也不得不思索起來。319Please respect copyright.PENANAGfE2RgVgCC
319Please respect copyright.PENANAQ556DB1xqg
那也是當然的吧,不管是誰,在聽到與不應出現在此的死者牽扯上關係,都會多少質疑那其中的合理性。319Please respect copyright.PENANAHtlEQ154Rd
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「我知道聽起來很奇怪,但是耕一……你會相信我吧?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAdER4D092sI
319Please respect copyright.PENANAcLwWql0wkv
「沒什麼好質疑的,畢竟說是開玩笑也太超過了。只是關於最後妳所說的讓我有點在意……但既然沒有攻擊妳的意思,難道冬笑的目的是要回來復仇嗎?」319Please respect copyright.PENANAwHDL6pDHwa
319Please respect copyright.PENANAsCQQ89Q4Np
「我不知道。但冬笑就算憎恨村子,也沒有任何要報復村子的理由,更何況也不可能只針對葛城老師──」319Please respect copyright.PENANAYdz0MyQDa2
319Please respect copyright.PENANA1TMn0seJOk
「不,那還很難說吧。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAGYjtSOnEp4
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「什麼……意思?」319Please respect copyright.PENANA6nhU5Ck5Da
319Please respect copyright.PENANAnBVuR1RCi0
周遭的雨聲彷彿突然停止了一樣。319Please respect copyright.PENANAe3XlqIqWrO
319Please respect copyright.PENANAY3vN84YzPG
明明是耕一極小聲地自言自語,一字一句在我耳裡聽起來卻格外地清晰。319Please respect copyright.PENANAaDR73lSHku
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「怎麼了?突然擺出那種吃到蟲子似的表情。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAvzXa4jdHBt
319Please respect copyright.PENANASIjYx3qepa
「我在問你是什麼意思……為什麼你會認為冬笑找葛城老師復仇是很正常的事情?」319Please respect copyright.PENANA2CcZCmxsNo
319Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ6IGGelr0
「啊……抱歉,是我不好,能先當作沒聽到嗎,因為還不到能說的時候。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAPuhsJmZaJD
319Please respect copyright.PENANALr0pZhPZdo
「怎麼可能當作沒聽到啊!!」319Please respect copyright.PENANAlgV1vuj93Q
319Please respect copyright.PENANArxatnUOD4P
我雙手用力地抓住耕一的肩膀,彼此的雨傘雙雙掉落到地上。319Please respect copyright.PENANA0vex5zg0lH
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陷入了無聲的沉默。319Please respect copyright.PENANAny9doFNi1t
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我們的身體就這樣任憑雨水無情地拍打,不到幾秒的時間,撐傘這個行為就變得一點意義都沒有。319Please respect copyright.PENANATrqUwDwhve
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「……我只是推論而已,還沒有決定性的證據。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAsgPCFJFmFy
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臉頰上的水滴滑動。319Please respect copyright.PENANA2DUIPP6Xk6
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耕一像是犯錯的孩子似地別了開臉,而我則是加重了手指的力道示意他繼續說下去。319Please respect copyright.PENANAmaGrhVynzQ
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「因為我認為──殺死冬笑的人就是葛城。」319Please respect copyright.PENANAlk7c9Yz8G4
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