■■■251Please respect copyright.PENANABLV6WYqAys
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天空很藍。251Please respect copyright.PENANA9dmrN2ocSA
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我坐在青海先生的中古豐田Crown裡,瞇著眼睛隔著車窗望起熟悉的山中景色。251Please respect copyright.PENANA54lz0xcLis
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小時候總是那麼接近的天空,曾幾何時,在被水泥的叢林所遮蔽後,便不再抬起頭來注意過了呢。251Please respect copyright.PENANAOH4TT1wArw
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在兩個星期前與身旁的男人相遇之前,我從未想過還會再次回來這個地方。251Please respect copyright.PENANAVOvKLGJ97f
251Please respect copyright.PENANADsoP2u5GHs
路上的車很少,即便今天是連續假日的白天,大概也要隔個七、八分鐘左右,單線道的另一側才會有汽車駛過,除此之外別說是建築物了,連個可供暫時休憩的觀景臺都沒有,放眼望去只有沿著山勢環繞,蜿蜒曲折的柏油路面而已。251Please respect copyright.PENANA3QCdbhtiWQ
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「結城小姐,要是到了的話要提醒我啊!還真看不出來神命村就在這附近呢!」251Please respect copyright.PENANA3LmszGoyb2
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這男人的身體似乎不會覺得累。251Please respect copyright.PENANAMG8I015NVq
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先不論總共開了多少路程,從國道轉入縣道後少說經過了四個多小時,不但看不出他有疲倦的跡象,興致反而更加高昂起來。251Please respect copyright.PENANApqjsymWGRF
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「快了。」251Please respect copyright.PENANASjxN2ukviR
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雖然作為指標的公車站牌並不一定還存在,但大致上的位置還能憑我過去的印象辨識。251Please respect copyright.PENANAMzskz0Qs5H
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「最後我想再強調一遍,青海先生,這趟旅程並不能保證我們的生命安全。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAzB7aiSZ0BY
251Please respect copyright.PENANAPawr5LjPVH
穗香的事情,對我來說是有回去確認的必要,但對外人來說可不是如此。251Please respect copyright.PENANAwF1aVvo6Kd
251Please respect copyright.PENANAHUhgXPR4Q3
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「喂喂喂,可別太小看我啊!別看我這樣子,作為記者的專業還是有的。能獲得第一手神命村的資訊,賭上性命這點小事算什麼啊!」251Please respect copyright.PENANAmFV4ymcsbQ
251Please respect copyright.PENANAmOHoJOTxb4
青海先生說到慷慨激昂處奮力地拍打了一下方向盤,車身隨之微微晃動了一下。251Please respect copyright.PENANANSG10tjBLL
251Please respect copyright.PENANAQ38R2xavUq
我不禁嘆氣,從以前就很難理解這類人的想法,在我看來,神命村並不值得豁出性命去調查……當然也有可能是為了錢,不過每個人有每個人的想法,他堅持如此我也沒理由反對。251Please respect copyright.PENANAuZ8fVpPcyT
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「但他們要殺我可沒這麼容易,不瞞妳說,我可是抱著自殺炸彈前來的啊,哈哈。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAURiQ3Pf4Kz
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「原來如此。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAwKteNWT2HZ
251Please respect copyright.PENANA21ji4rS5L2
「稍微感興趣點嘛。我有個朋友,要是我兩天內沒有聯絡他的話,就會將我截至目前為止所撰寫的稿子一次發給全世界各大報社,如何?很棒的保險吧?」251Please respect copyright.PENANAKl7I5TuOfn
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「嗯,以你而言算是做得不錯。」251Please respect copyright.PENANA0cP5xPe2Jd
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不是刻薄的話,我是發自內心這麼覺得。251Please respect copyright.PENANAA4C137rNAP
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大概是我原本就不抱太大的期望,所以能做到這步我認為算是相當不錯的了,我自己也留有好幾份複印的信以防萬一。251Please respect copyright.PENANAOM509wseUz
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結果再開了半個小時就看到了公車站牌。251Please respect copyright.PENANA4AmZGelweE
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我先下車,青海先生將車停到勉強容納得下一台汽車的路邊,才走過來與我會合。251Please respect copyright.PENANANj8O5TneNM
251Please respect copyright.PENANAAwuyzVcBLx
站牌本體雖然變得鏽跡斑斑,但還是看得出來仍有作用,只是班次變得比以前更少就是了。251Please respect copyright.PENANAC8W3XTq6kG
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「神命村居然還有公共汽車可以到啊,居然有這種好事。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAW6ox1DK28O
251Please respect copyright.PENANAyZljmTKWy9
戴起玳瑁色Ray-Ban太陽眼鏡的他,要不是胸前那相機的存在,就真的與路邊的混混無異。251Please respect copyright.PENANAK6SwwbEqfD
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「不過妳也真是的,早說的話我們坐公車來不就好了嗎?多省事啊,哈哈。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAWSRDxFuDY4
251Please respect copyright.PENANAeErSdLAHfU
「請不要隨意觸碰我的肩膀。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAENi6VMLikc
251Please respect copyright.PENANA9dSQq2Zehs
這似乎是他想展現友好的方式,但我並不領情,本來我們之間就只是利害一致的關係,但這個人除了專業的部份以外都很容易惹我不爽。251Please respect copyright.PENANAp2nRFPxiF8
251Please respect copyright.PENANAWIxUKARMM8
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「別這樣不近人情啊,這麼不可愛會交不到朋友吧?真是可惜了那樣的臉蛋。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAP6sRxltw77
251Please respect copyright.PENANAAiW7K29iyL
「謝謝你的關心。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAxrCpZkEf2s
251Please respect copyright.PENANAOdMYj9dKb1
我並未將男人的話放在心上,自己朝著小徑的方向走去,他在自討沒趣摸摸鼻子後識相地跟了上來。251Please respect copyright.PENANAdkKpzV5FKl
251Please respect copyright.PENANA0PNMRTuZBw
但他說的也是事實,自從到了都市以後,大概是個性不善掩飾的關係,普通的朋友是有很多,但並沒有所謂的知心好友。因此,我才會如此重視穗香這個好友的存在。251Please respect copyright.PENANASVh6ApXayO
251Please respect copyright.PENANAF1i3HKqiJy
……老實說我很想她。251Please respect copyright.PENANA49E54C9I6i
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尤其是從青海先生這邊得知芥川實至郎──也就是前教主已死去,由她擔任的現在,我認為是個和她見面的最好時機。251Please respect copyright.PENANAEejcakojUE
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走在每個曲折都是那麼熟悉的森林小徑。251Please respect copyright.PENANA4rx881Op1y
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由於我擺明不想聊天的關係,不知不覺中青海先生已經走到我前面去了。251Please respect copyright.PENANAFluJ1UPYaF
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不知道是我的體力變差還是怎樣,走過一半的路以後就開始覺得喘不過氣。251Please respect copyright.PENANA9CZVIM5NxC
251Please respect copyright.PENANAsSRiPWHih0
原先認為還算好穿的靴子讓腳趾好痛,自以為能阻擋蚊蟲的內搭褲則是沒發揮半點作用,種種不應該犯的錯居然會發生在我身上,真是豈有此理。251Please respect copyright.PENANAwYeBUqJPFL
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然而,就在我小聲嘀咕的時候,走在前面的青海先生突然停了下來。251Please respect copyright.PENANArsd9JIBgZf
251Please respect copyright.PENANARJEjkePDRi
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原因無他,因為在更前面的地方,一名穿著甚平浴衣的少年正站在那裡。251Please respect copyright.PENANATbe8YvJ76y
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「午安,想必是結城來夏小姐和青海雄介先生吧,村長已經恭候多時了。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAkBku88N0Zw
251Please respect copyright.PENANA2gTFjC6VLD
年僅十六、七歲的少年行了一禮。251Please respect copyright.PENANAogHK8e7rMV
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他的臉讓我有點眼熟,但實在是想不起名字,畢竟當年我離開村子的時候,他可能還沒就讀小學吧。251Please respect copyright.PENANADmYflLkgOs
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但此時此刻,我實在是沒有心思去想那些,制定的秘密計畫老早就被別人發現,讓我感到苦惱不已。251Please respect copyright.PENANAHSgKN1txUA
251Please respect copyright.PENANAi9mzjOu7KT
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「無須驚慌,村長特地指派我來為兩位帶路,尤其為初次前來的青海先生導覽村子,請往這邊走。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAIrn2QxsWh9
251Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1We0nzRls
少年希望我們能放心跟著他,我想說反正回來的事情也曝露了,索性只能跟在他的後頭。251Please respect copyright.PENANAIp23GL2etu
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等到走到能看見村子的位置時,便開始向青海先生介紹起整個神命村的現況。251Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZsbD69E9i
251Please respect copyright.PENANAVIrCNKmaOw
我邊走邊聽,目前大概就是村子有意推廣觀光,所以需要與媒體合作而增加曝光率等等,少年如此解釋著。251Please respect copyright.PENANARo56ZSzGIZ
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當然,關於那些怪物的情況則是一點都沒提到。251Please respect copyright.PENANAeYyqxT3J9H
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「哎呀,原來我們還蠻受妳的好朋友歡迎的嘛。果然現在時代不同了,由年輕人主導就是不一樣。」251Please respect copyright.PENANA1JNAhcbBs5
251Please respect copyright.PENANAsOHfIyOlpb
途中,青海先生一面興奮地到處按下快門,一面轉過頭來徵求我的意見,不過我沒有回話。251Please respect copyright.PENANAlrRnifNvDi
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走出小徑後,我們一路從學校的方向走回村子。251Please respect copyright.PENANArHSJfxsLMA
251Please respect copyright.PENANAP9TwlXYFfj
廣闊的梯田裡面的稻草人仍舊佇立在麥田間,只不過衣著變得更加千奇百怪,據說要作為觀光的重點特色發展。我遠遠地看到幾個在田裡面灑著肥料的村民,不過我不確定是不是我所認識的人,因為視力沒有以前那麼好了,而且我一項都不喜歡有異物在臉上的感覺,更不要說是放在眼球上面。251Please respect copyright.PENANA7s1dczI1Qr
251Please respect copyright.PENANA5Eq3N2e2Og
沿著碎石子的小路,我們經過一間又一間結構相同的木造建築。小時候不覺得有異,但現在看起來就像是建商販售的社區住宅一樣。至於經過我家前面,看到那寫著「結城」的熟悉門牌已經被替換上別的姓氏,心裡面還是感到一股莫名的惆悵。251Please respect copyright.PENANAvEfIZmAKT1
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「這裡就是村長的住所,那麼我就為兩位導覽至此,請容我暫且告辭了。」251Please respect copyright.PENANATGtsWIXfK2
251Please respect copyright.PENANAGicUrx3XMS
在莊嚴的和風木製大門前,少年將我們交付給年紀約五十好幾的婦人後便先行離去。251Please respect copyright.PENANAJK3TIumhwf
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面容雖然比印象中老了一些,但這位名叫前田的阿姨我是認識的。251Please respect copyright.PENANAFJCPSU97d9
251Please respect copyright.PENANAPXBRwRHYCe
打從我有記憶開始,就聽父親提過她在村長家中侍奉,想不到至今仍然維持著原狀。可是她似乎沒有認出我來,說了句「這邊請」後,便引領我們前往會客室的方向。251Please respect copyright.PENANAtbPlA8qwMc
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「哦,好氣派的房子啊!」251Please respect copyright.PENANAyniY3ECcTR
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比起有閒情逸致對著枯山水造景拍照的青海先生,我這邊則是與之相反的沈重心情。251Please respect copyright.PENANAU84KF1oBDo
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……老實說再次來到這裡讓我覺得很恐怖。251Please respect copyright.PENANASSOnI0mKN2
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以前是因為大家都畏懼村長而感到害怕,但如今讓我感到畏懼的是村子完全沒變的事實。時間這個概念彷彿在神命村中不存在似地,幾乎所有的一切都與過去相同,我從這裡離開簡直就像昨天的事情一樣。251Please respect copyright.PENANAqHXkmL8hqt
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在進入會客室前會經過一段鶯啼走廊,光是腳踏在上面就會發出刺耳的軋扎聲響。251Please respect copyright.PENANAN6N2KcGT3L
251Please respect copyright.PENANALPD7z2ANQ4
我在小時候聽父親提到過,這是種防盜的設計,年幼的我不管再怎麼放慢動作,結果都還是難以避免木頭發出高分貝的音量。251Please respect copyright.PENANAo4TzjlpUaD
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「結城大人、青海先生,請在此稍後片刻,我這就去請村長前來。」251Please respect copyright.PENANABFgBVHNPPG
251Please respect copyright.PENANArRxSg4fY7G
必恭必敬地行禮後,前田阿姨伴隨著地板的響聲逐漸遠去,不過……她剛剛說大人?251Please respect copyright.PENANA9iWpIf3a9D
251Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5kVUxXW55
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「嘿,結城小姐,妳認為他們把那些樹人藏在哪裡?」251Please respect copyright.PENANAQzLJiAV6U3
251Please respect copyright.PENANAmvN168SwMd
別人前腳才剛走,這傢伙立刻就在榻榻米墊上鬆懈姿勢開始大聲嚷嚷起來,就算沒神經也該有個限度。251Please respect copyright.PENANAlkT9PFo4cf
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「我不知道。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAiFCJgGgzWP
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「真可惜啊,不過倒是拍到了許多好照片就是了,這趟收穫可真不少!」251Please respect copyright.PENANAt9DYzAVC5U
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「那但願你能寫出與其相稱的報導。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAb5bBVARdYu
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「所以要是能掌握些黑幕就好啦,聳動的標題最能吸引觀眾了。」251Please respect copyright.PENANA2XXmxGt6Bw
251Please respect copyright.PENANAX9rKUTMYJu
說穿了這傢伙就是為了錢吧,反正與我無關。251Please respect copyright.PENANA53X9yVSvfL
251Please respect copyright.PENANA4K0WjNIJ5r
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「喔,對了,妳那好朋友漂不漂亮啊?」251Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q0jlESpQs
251Please respect copyright.PENANAKHyvR0bH64
「……」251Please respect copyright.PENANAgjLCRaUl3b
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我因為懶得理這個討厭的男人而別開了臉。251Please respect copyright.PENANA93cvBhkKA4
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然而,就因為這動作讓我突然驚覺,前方不知道什麼時候正坐著一位身穿加賀友禪的美女。首先注意到的是她那雪白的長髮,脫俗的清瘦臉龐,雖然不明原由地閉著眼睛,但眼前的美人確實是──251Please respect copyright.PENANAB9tymawflT
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「感謝兩位遠道而來,我是神命村的村長──桃井穗香,請多多指教。」251Please respect copyright.PENANA6eci9jXsWx
251Please respect copyright.PENANAGQ9AjDziXR
多年未見而外貌丕變的好友深深行了一禮。251Please respect copyright.PENANAkvGT7ZG2Wx
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「好久不見。」251Please respect copyright.PENANATDt0yK4CXS
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「啊……妳好妳好,抱歉讓妳見笑了。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAkQZfzor00b
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我趕緊回禮,而身旁的男人也跟著在一陣手忙腳亂之中坐正回禮,接著用他自以為小聲的音量接連對我說「真是個美人呢」、「不過眼睛好像看不見啊」。251Please respect copyright.PENANA6sCl587Err
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「───」251Please respect copyright.PENANA5KyAj6XUnQ
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我沒空理他,先是觀察外面的走廊,出入口只有一個,也就是說,穗香走進來沒道理我會沒注意到才對。251Please respect copyright.PENANASMWEzIlUfC
251Please respect copyright.PENANAOuljkmHXBV
這時候走廊那邊傳來有人走動的聲音,驗證了我的想法,隨後進來的前田阿姨奉上熱茶,收起托盤後再度踏著鶯鳴的音律離去。251Please respect copyright.PENANA5UjH95UPAc
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「請先用茶。」251Please respect copyright.PENANAICnEwB6Knk
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「正好口渴了呢,那我就不客氣啦!」251Please respect copyright.PENANA7rTg0YNtxU
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不知道是真的口渴,還是想在美女面前展現自己海派的個性,他將陶杯裡的茶水一口飲盡。251Please respect copyright.PENANABIfgEiopWK
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我在心裡面暗自想著這行為大概不妥,果不其然,才過沒多久,他的呼吸變得急促,那壯碩的身軀開始劇烈地抽搐,整個過程才不到兩分鐘就已經斷氣。251Please respect copyright.PENANAFOhq6JU9az
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