■■■204Please respect copyright.PENANAcGHZbV0eag
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天空很藍。204Please respect copyright.PENANAQiaHpPy8nF
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAJqyMLgGuyo
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAeETnMcN7oe
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAXjPYmundec
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAX8X1dEiPHi
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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!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAekJH0wnmTA
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這男人的身體似乎不會覺得累。204Please respect copyright.PENANA2b62jjtDrS
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA752Qx0Wxmq
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「快了。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAz1zZH5hV2F
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA57h3jXT0Xk
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAkK5ZyCclEn
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAcmNQh10CGU
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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!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAiWOwxdfLnj
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAebRFxPy38G
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAzt2fbSTakD
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAvpypXxp7PH
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「原來如此。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAaYISYmYkte
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「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?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAE501ghWaqb
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「嗯,以你而言算是做得不錯。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAY7i6KYtBkG
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不是刻薄的話,我是發自內心這麼覺得。204Please respect copyright.PENANAMyn6YP3C59
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAyrA05yFMbY
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結果再開了半個小時就看到了公車站牌。204Please respect copyright.PENANA3QmgByWA1c
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ovk62dBtI
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANARFy92hMoU5
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAXgfqzjmuKX
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAf2D65gPvwt
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAirdgJmok4w
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「請不要隨意觸碰我的肩膀。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAgdd6nNGXMZ
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAooYhf0nSe0
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAKcD0yuwlcx
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「謝謝你的關心。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAPniFSFRYAj
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA2NhCY1PpoN
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAQqEwZkDa4s
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……老實說我很想她。204Please respect copyright.PENANAI2HBVKbGBj
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANASR2teBImrZ
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走在每個曲折都是那麼熟悉的森林小徑。204Please respect copyright.PENANAhzoau4MXuT
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAroaUqZ4BuN
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAlUgE2emELX
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA8FGW3coLX4
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAJ82cVUpEOI
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAW0EdE4BQPH
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAmF58LIQHjs
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年僅十六、七歲的少年行了一禮。204Please respect copyright.PENANA7onHx2O2t3
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANANJ2eargG5h
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAn3b2RLmhLK
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAdBSpFQaKnK
204Please respect copyright.PENANApu4L3FA8OY
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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAgN7VNct5Og
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAhM1Gjy35nv
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA3We5HCeOSU
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當然,關於那些怪物的情況則是一點都沒提到。204Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0hVJnnpaf
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANA3fNzieFqcr
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAOrqLVedIIN
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走出小徑後,我們一路從學校的方向走回村子。204Please respect copyright.PENANAqrVtbrbeuY
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANApNRrpASuGg
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAIfiKISPAdJ
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAbhlLcfxoqg
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAMN6gvs1S52
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANASvhr0WEGaJ
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAdd2rWioo2L
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「哦,好氣派的房子啊!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAncV5V9b3t4
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANA7WDj3wNf2L
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……老實說再次來到這裡讓我覺得很恐怖。204Please respect copyright.PENANAJLu9ENbg28
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAkv6F0rTsEO
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAlRILC2bEJw
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAFvTAQm3vol
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANATEhPoN1F29
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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?204Please respect copyright.PENANAYVkZYbyNT6
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「嘿,結城小姐,妳認為他們把那些樹人藏在哪裡?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAMjp8MmG4JS
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAaGvEIiTgU8
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「我不知道。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAL1gyHNTHbX
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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!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAn8XC5g0lwr
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「那但願你能寫出與其相稱的報導。」204Please respect copyright.PENANA7vCGPRtvTV
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANA6x3zo00YOB
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說穿了這傢伙就是為了錢吧,反正與我無關。204Please respect copyright.PENANAhIMttZVnG5
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「喔,對了,妳那好朋友漂不漂亮啊?」204Please respect copyright.PENANAsxa7e2IXzN
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「……」204Please respect copyright.PENANA4qPbY3l0zB
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我因為懶得理這個討厭的男人而別開了臉。204Please respect copyright.PENANAi7MT6qF8V9
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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──204Please respect copyright.PENANASGwyWEvfV9
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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。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAyuq464N01v
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多年未見而外貌丕變的好友深深行了一禮。204Please respect copyright.PENANAq31u2SxBns
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「好久不見。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAldjXjsLthB
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「啊……妳好妳好,抱歉讓妳見笑了。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAGiSTYXbJCB
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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」。204Please respect copyright.PENANAN4n9YWlRFf
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「───」204Please respect copyright.PENANAkYP8UWZHJ6
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAiaYQJV27YJ
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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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAG4ShebjRQf
204Please respect copyright.PENANAg71L5e6kzt
204Please respect copyright.PENANAecT5geqZ8D
「請先用茶。」204Please respect copyright.PENANAQD3555AD5J
204Please respect copyright.PENANAhSA9RkrTnl
「正好口渴了呢,那我就不客氣啦!」204Please respect copyright.PENANAPO89NixHFP
204Please respect copyright.PENANAJvtJSZgpDC
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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAahaYkWnmiE
204Please respect copyright.PENANAYuEdciuNNy
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。204Please respect copyright.PENANAo8lWZTZU1U
204Please respect copyright.PENANAXmBAZe4ScP
204Please respect copyright.PENANAbTDP7DccPQ