■■■316Please respect copyright.PENANACn4EN6mVBJ
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「這樣就包紮好了,要記得這幾天別讓傷口碰到水。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAliJE9r1LWm
316Please respect copyright.PENANAKigSNnO1Ye
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAj8a05jGGHR
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「……嗯。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAUdcyFXVUVF
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAX81vOD69z2
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大概是注意到我無精打采的樣子才會這麼說吧。316Please respect copyright.PENANANt3GYbcwbG
316Please respect copyright.PENANAKVdEp8YOB3
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANA1NsvM5mOBM
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「可是……」316Please respect copyright.PENANAdZlkw6fXux
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事情得從我逃離那個怪物以後說起。316Please respect copyright.PENANAvbwgQHMYQw
316Please respect copyright.PENANAdZL4sOCeDv
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAv5FNAXEpLl
316Please respect copyright.PENANAHf6MmAFR4n
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAsk6iiYfOMl
316Please respect copyright.PENANAKWjBr9ttJn
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其餘的什麼都沒有。316Please respect copyright.PENANAzibAnIeGXQ
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沒有那怪物,當然也沒有葛城老師的蹤影。316Please respect copyright.PENANAOrboLWn81S
316Please respect copyright.PENANAj9i59wDt8j
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAFyhsNdnJyq
316Please respect copyright.PENANAWoN6q9de5n
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAJrHihNIbfZ
316Please respect copyright.PENANAOcMT1mtZwG
唯一成為事實的只有葛城老師離奇消失這件事。316Please respect copyright.PENANAGsWDNyHMzi
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAsD14aZwSjl
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAgy3QTVgrbE
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「無論如何,妳能沒事就好。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAJHAmJMvo5u
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANACVcQQ74O7y
316Please respect copyright.PENANA0AuyoOECbb
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAo7nnzl2Z0I
就在這時候,診察室外面傳來了急促的腳步聲。316Please respect copyright.PENANAiKWjKaa2ws
316Please respect copyright.PENANAhLmKCOaQpQ
316Please respect copyright.PENANA2tmgYKY4HZ
「來夏─!」316Please respect copyright.PENANAdnt0zPCKgO
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAmX4x1ftFNv
316Please respect copyright.PENANAOX7ogXEYm0
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANA8SPGmibmWl
316Please respect copyright.PENANAduE0IoAe5s
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「耕一……穗香……」316Please respect copyright.PENANATaYl61r4fx
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAPBbu3daTur
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANA0jhbvqdmYc
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「小夏……怎麼會這麼嚴重,手都包成這個樣子,很痛嗎?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9zx5STu1S
316Please respect copyright.PENANAnGBFFFoxGW
「我不要緊,只是跌倒的擦傷而已,反倒是葛城老師他……」316Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0PCBUVssD
316Please respect copyright.PENANAAoYWla016e
「嗯,我們知道,森叔已經在電話裡都跟我說過了。」316Please respect copyright.PENANASadxyptxkn
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAa90qrxgvwQ
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAlYBXitX9gI
316Please respect copyright.PENANAFAfAfWD5Lc
我再次向森叔點頭道謝後,在穗香的陪同下步出了診療室。316Please respect copyright.PENANAk1S7jUk06I
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「對了,耕一。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAqBJIyCFwqb
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANA2kiu0iFJzx
316Please respect copyright.PENANA6oWehzGtjK
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANASUVtsImCko
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「我知道了,那麼就先告辭了。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAlSJF2oulrw
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAbt1GYtoDs1
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「耕一……你和森叔今天有約嗎?」316Please respect copyright.PENANA9tTDJ518wt
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「算是吧,但不是什麼重要的事情。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAullgvBNIfG
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANADlrD3DrZPX
316Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ji4NwvvK5
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAGKkLd1mm4D
316Please respect copyright.PENANAXutdgdOVf3
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「小夏,那個……那邊走過來的好像是村長。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAYUl7E9aL4Y
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAWiJO6PmPwT
316Please respect copyright.PENANAHIo0hqL1ye
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAbVi5MHDEnB
316Please respect copyright.PENANAcnxN5RNro8
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAoP3glCDe9p
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「村長好。」316Please respect copyright.PENANA9y60OJkLYL
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAJTrvtLQbM8
316Please respect copyright.PENANAnSkGi6s4T1
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANApG5MIKEg1g
316Please respect copyright.PENANAI047YJNGUr
「村長他……剛剛是不是瞪了小夏一眼啊?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAOkzQir01dY
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「別亂說話。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAen36D3g4lJ
316Please respect copyright.PENANABxkPxX9U67
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAkCVi5GtHiY
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANA1cmDQXqwj9
316Please respect copyright.PENANAeUnlJBGgDL
途中在經過穗香家的時候,耕一罕見地像這樣主動交待著。316Please respect copyright.PENANAKmD5mmkWuC
316Please respect copyright.PENANAGLGlcWZ7QH
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAzzwhSDG2ct
316Please respect copyright.PENANAkOlXp6asJq
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAqhPXdwP27n
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「來夏,襲擊妳跟葛城的到底是什麼東西?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAeGW2WHDVpL
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANATTW0M4rGbF
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANA9eMYP2yWyd
316Please respect copyright.PENANAEoGzdaDdtL
「……把穗香支開就是這個原因嗎?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAAFKVaWi0lx
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAPccUVYJxSZ
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「也是……如果是耕一你的話,應該會相信吧……」316Please respect copyright.PENANAwVZfME9Xj0
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANANeiVXPnAR6
316Please respect copyright.PENANAXcmg614hJY
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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAUYDb21kBNw
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAweHZqCA0LP
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「不得不確信?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAh3xiAntYxs
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在耕一的追問之下,我才吞吞吐吐地透漏。316Please respect copyright.PENANAUl4hf3hmQW
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「那個怪物……真的……很像冬笑。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAG28nogMvvK
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAjsTouy9Klt
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAyxLqQPTh6t
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「很像──冬笑嗎。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAB0uPR36sBA
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANA8YqTJ6fzOY
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAsrlzCTxOzX
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「我知道聽起來很奇怪,但是耕一……你會相信我吧?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAKl9MAJV9xe
316Please respect copyright.PENANAoYlZxZH9ZO
「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?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAfOpJDKi8WX
316Please respect copyright.PENANAnQMggUN3ZP
「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──」316Please respect copyright.PENANAWFXimRCI4p
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「不,那還很難說吧。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAQqBVcfcHEj
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「什麼……意思?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAV90a9oibKp
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周遭的雨聲彷彿突然停止了一樣。316Please respect copyright.PENANA8twuza51Pg
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAcyJpnmcOVm
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「怎麼了?突然擺出那種吃到蟲子似的表情。」316Please respect copyright.PENANACa00bM8qX8
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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?」316Please respect copyright.PENANAZ56u78eTZC
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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。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAkJN7SibNdb
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「怎麼可能當作沒聽到啊!!」316Please respect copyright.PENANAWn9VmM6Wjc
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAW0VrJQDjwb
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陷入了無聲的沉默。316Please respect copyright.PENANAWbWf5ztEjc
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANADEbHBxUCjs
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「……我只是推論而已,還沒有決定性的證據。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAXcdu4gripa
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臉頰上的水滴滑動。316Please respect copyright.PENANANdIfWSNGre
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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。316Please respect copyright.PENANAg0cea57l09
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「因為我認為──殺死冬笑的人就是葛城。」316Please respect copyright.PENANAnpnqj7Bovt
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