■■■315Please respect copyright.PENANAT8YCTqXJcA
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「這樣就包紮好了,要記得這幾天別讓傷口碰到水。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAGhAgunDcga
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANApBD2LkkwPE
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「……嗯。」315Please respect copyright.PENANApIaSVEw8kc
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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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAUMkX8WKt55
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大概是注意到我無精打采的樣子才會這麼說吧。315Please respect copyright.PENANAl17a9qEmtw
315Please respect copyright.PENANAarVtGdsOIR
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA6vp62fTW9N
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「可是……」315Please respect copyright.PENANAbgfLmMdXqO
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事情得從我逃離那個怪物以後說起。315Please respect copyright.PENANALVp45CyzX3
315Please respect copyright.PENANAtO1rN4EcBr
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAjkjM0h6M2o
315Please respect copyright.PENANA46P8BNhR2p
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAOQIHxTr5Qj
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其餘的什麼都沒有。315Please respect copyright.PENANA7vmlqGW8Bi
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沒有那怪物,當然也沒有葛城老師的蹤影。315Please respect copyright.PENANAf3IG01XICh
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAFdIcQkqm5y
315Please respect copyright.PENANArPuCexxQ1K
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAg0wpXW3Rqg
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唯一成為事實的只有葛城老師離奇消失這件事。315Please respect copyright.PENANAFlj3O5WZ7l
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAXIZDquPokK
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAgvGkWXMxQk
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「無論如何,妳能沒事就好。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAp6e7vc7QQJ
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不知道為什麼,森叔相當激動地緊緊握住我的雙手。315Please respect copyright.PENANA0Qr3BSBEtk
315Please respect copyright.PENANAbtWrf6R5gV
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA4fCvCI9OYi
就在這時候,診察室外面傳來了急促的腳步聲。315Please respect copyright.PENANAZBxgHKztma
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「來夏─!」315Please respect copyright.PENANAWlUjxnpVNO
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAdKkqE9cojC
315Please respect copyright.PENANAqANLGUQWtC
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAezv5Wwt4ew
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「耕一……穗香……」315Please respect copyright.PENANAM5gHIaeY10
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感到安心的瞬間,眼淚突然就噗哧噗哧地流了下來。315Please respect copyright.PENANAberLuTF4Su
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAzThleHLPcH
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「小夏……怎麼會這麼嚴重,手都包成這個樣子,很痛嗎?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAIazQa1gY47
315Please respect copyright.PENANAYH8E3JB6k2
「我不要緊,只是跌倒的擦傷而已,反倒是葛城老師他……」315Please respect copyright.PENANADEOuTzlqfG
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「嗯,我們知道,森叔已經在電話裡都跟我說過了。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAxGl6SWyMcz
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA8LLxs4J2y3
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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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAVvNb9A1QE9
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我再次向森叔點頭道謝後,在穗香的陪同下步出了診療室。315Please respect copyright.PENANAEhmrqg7CiG
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「對了,耕一。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAK4dETyTSHV
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANANg6ilJEW6L
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「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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAZSVDkk4Wjc
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「我知道了,那麼就先告辭了。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAytBpoHneCN
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANABYbq0CiFjd
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「耕一……你和森叔今天有約嗎?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAO7H59wvT3P
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「算是吧,但不是什麼重要的事情。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAY6TbYidjB7
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAKzNNiswbML
315Please respect copyright.PENANAorIifi3RMB
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA8WQMynXeMu
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「小夏,那個……那邊走過來的好像是村長。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAiqunR5P8v6
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等到我們在門口準備撐傘的時候,穗香拉了拉我的衣角。315Please respect copyright.PENANAe4asUQmvjy
315Please respect copyright.PENANAoLG1jT0x2y
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA1Dr95pKutk
315Please respect copyright.PENANA7I3ZytDW9E
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAJJmZEX8Leo
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「村長好。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAuzjcmTFZ3e
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAcbjX7XSe4D
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA6ieissuOtW
315Please respect copyright.PENANAe8SlTjlfYF
「村長他……剛剛是不是瞪了小夏一眼啊?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAeABUhfCex8
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「別亂說話。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAjDdv2zBVBR
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA6Oh1IljgSs
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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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAoKlTWLmNlY
315Please respect copyright.PENANA3lOvy9biFg
途中在經過穗香家的時候,耕一罕見地像這樣主動交待著。315Please respect copyright.PENANA78Tgm0O5g7
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAkZWZ08rEJc
315Please respect copyright.PENANA6zPZByOJ47
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANArkPmsfzzJf
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「來夏,襲擊妳跟葛城的到底是什麼東西?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAFgJzcDbU3Y
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAiHSBx4Mjjn
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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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAsz9na2m0OH
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「……把穗香支開就是這個原因嗎?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAP05wogluJm
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「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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANADv9kpWFPCW
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「也是……如果是耕一你的話,應該會相信吧……」315Please respect copyright.PENANAoNzUvfBLPz
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAX6K8ThlIN7
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA1HsJAXWrIS
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAVjB3wrbQgj
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「不得不確信?」315Please respect copyright.PENANA3aFV5ftkkj
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在耕一的追問之下,我才吞吞吐吐地透漏。315Please respect copyright.PENANAOnFdGAdjd3
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「那個怪物……真的……很像冬笑。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAhyJiBNox7r
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAJNv2OpYUkM
315Please respect copyright.PENANANfggNFX8rO
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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAFIf4NdIT9T
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「很像──冬笑嗎。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAFJcPZbpwZG
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在這之前一次都沒有停頓過的耕一也不得不思索起來。315Please respect copyright.PENANAmrwVAMDXFg
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA5jwwaHNYgx
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「我知道聽起來很奇怪,但是耕一……你會相信我吧?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAmd24j7MI42
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「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?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAlQklzubCN3
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「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──」315Please respect copyright.PENANAXC7ngZbrvS
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「不,那還很難說吧。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAUpyidlQVGy
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「什麼……意思?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAH9IR5Gr3nn
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周遭的雨聲彷彿突然停止了一樣。315Please respect copyright.PENANA245aWgejCG
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA0DQ9e4licw
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「怎麼了?突然擺出那種吃到蟲子似的表情。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAVwMe74Iqmy
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「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?」315Please respect copyright.PENANAjlItkLNBwT
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「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。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAcQ4Ulbxh2u
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「怎麼可能當作沒聽到啊!!」315Please respect copyright.PENANAuLN1fZ3xtr
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAkE1EgYHzH0
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陷入了無聲的沉默。315Please respect copyright.PENANASrQHfjK0t1
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANAci4MkEVjmh
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「……我只是推論而已,還沒有決定性的證據。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAu7tSIOsNAh
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臉頰上的水滴滑動。315Please respect copyright.PENANA2YIwFDzTSE
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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。315Please respect copyright.PENANA49z7GWBGzV
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「因為我認為──殺死冬笑的人就是葛城。」315Please respect copyright.PENANAnPB9OL6UNk
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