■■■67Please respect copyright.PENANAk36a6yfhpV
67Please respect copyright.PENANAzeT97ozj71
「──冬笑?請等一下!請問妳是結城冬笑小姐嗎!?」67Please respect copyright.PENANA1sAs7OySM2
67Please respect copyright.PENANAI9EkSkOCz6
67Please respect copyright.PENANAb4yY9q3Pjn
67Please respect copyright.PENANA6a3ux6NZIj
下班的時候在路上被來路不明的男人給叫住。67Please respect copyright.PENANAy3tU9qdZA0
67Please respect copyright.PENANAD53zQVMQ3D
若是換作平常的情況,我肯定頭也不回地當作沒聽到,絕不會給對方好臉色看。67Please respect copyright.PENANArgAtIMng1R
67Please respect copyright.PENANAxyyVp3e8Aq
只是這次,從對方口中說出的並非搭訕的話語,而是對我來說是相當久違的──我親生妹妹的名字。67Please respect copyright.PENANAFzQe0l1o0G
67Please respect copyright.PENANAXIWA0u16vI
67Please respect copyright.PENANAVPyDOrE8Ty
「抱歉,你認錯人了。」67Please respect copyright.PENANArFujWmQTZ5
67Please respect copyright.PENANAd4gvvd1M4y
但基於某種程度上考量,我還是決定主動保持距離,而且這也不算說謊就是了。67Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4ivq0tYGp
67Please respect copyright.PENANAwpuZ9PM5qG
67Please respect copyright.PENANAUIOTrPe6Ru
「哦!那妳肯定就是冬笑的姊姊,結城來夏小姐了吧?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAd4aMBtisIE
67Please respect copyright.PENANAf3dsGbgB0c
「───」67Please respect copyright.PENANA4mLJY9I8de
67Please respect copyright.PENANATGb0uFi7bl
老實說我感到相當意外,這個皮膚黝黑的男人不但清楚我的舊姓,甚至連我的家庭狀況都相當清楚。67Please respect copyright.PENANAgF8IoHHpCm
67Please respect copyright.PENANAo6Au3Oux8H
這樣一來,肯定不是個能夠隨便打發掉的傢伙,因此我決定接受他的邀約,前往附近的家庭餐館吃飯,反正今天加班的我也還沒有吃晚餐。67Please respect copyright.PENANAr2NfzJTj3x
67Please respect copyright.PENANAggKmImy4Jo
67Please respect copyright.PENANA38wlqsFIPd
「還沒有自我介紹啊,我姓青海,職業是一名自由記者。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAoTqtnjAroe
67Please respect copyright.PENANAf4kyyDT3WS
我接過皺巴巴的名片,上頭的名字寫著青海雄介。67Please respect copyright.PENANA2wIK8iqAOw
67Please respect copyright.PENANAdXD4m3eI7y
我再次打量起眼前的男人,染著一頭金色的刺蝟髮型的他身材相當魁梧,坦克背心外面套著一件顏色鮮艷的花襯衫,若是再加上一副吊兒啷鐺的墨鏡和金項鍊的話,就相當符合我心目中的混混形象了。67Please respect copyright.PENANArh5w1g29Wk
67Please respect copyright.PENANAh6nN8JU66E
從眼角的魚尾紋判斷,年紀的話大概比我大上十歲左右,也就是接近四十歲的年紀,但可能更大也不一定。67Please respect copyright.PENANAUekmpycbF3
67Please respect copyright.PENANAH9MhZyT6k9
67Please respect copyright.PENANAQOYCHesFn2
「哦,對了,我吸菸的話妳不介意吧?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAQwtw3xlvwE
67Please respect copyright.PENANA9TKgWEaHwD
「我介意。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAv2ALySSVtJ
67Please respect copyright.PENANATGhYuCsDzF
「這樣啊,那就得請妳將就一下了。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAF9rQB6GB9m
67Please respect copyright.PENANAS1d8jGFw5a
很好,我對這個男人的第一印象簡直糟透了。67Please respect copyright.PENANAZXYJsOasW7
67Please respect copyright.PENANADwidFIHUtU
偏偏有鑑於他掌握到的情報超乎我想像中的多,我決定多花點時間聽聽他的用意。67Please respect copyright.PENANATlnIMwSMue
67Please respect copyright.PENANAkE8d9VQvIr
67Please respect copyright.PENANAaKI4fNBeYt
「我就單刀直入地說了吧,可以請妳告訴我神命村的一切嗎?」67Please respect copyright.PENANA3vWjWkpAKh
67Please respect copyright.PENANAir17MzFx2j
點起了菸,光是這句話就可以知道這個名叫青海的男人來歷相當不簡單。67Please respect copyright.PENANAQfysMXnbvy
67Please respect copyright.PENANA1urbTFpN2q
這是我自從被神谷阿姨收留以來,第一次從外人口中聽到神命村這三個字。基本上,一般人是絕對不知道的,就算翻閱目前所有市售的地圖,甚至是網路上的空拍圖,都絕不可能得知神命村的存在。67Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ny1PyeJvL
67Please respect copyright.PENANAQbS1pkG2Y4
67Please respect copyright.PENANAE988xsHiZj
「在這之前先由我提問,你和冬笑是什麼關係?」67Please respect copyright.PENANA82TRO74Rey
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPYhigNotVR
我現在唯一想到的可能性,就是十幾年前冬笑在都市所接觸過的人。67Please respect copyright.PENANA35GexXfCdg
67Please respect copyright.PENANAoEJi60rQED
67Please respect copyright.PENANAzstr34PeEd
「這個嘛,該怎麼說呢……資助她的一種關係。嘿,可別誤會,不是援助交際啊,那時候被上面派去做蹺家少女的報導,所以只是花錢跟她買情報而已,會得知神命村和妳們家的關係也是在那時候。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAnlsnMd8aH3
67Please respect copyright.PENANA3v0fGpx991
男人得意地挑了幾下眉,我這邊反而將眉頭皺了起來……總覺得有點不舒服,第一個問題就讓我有點打退堂鼓。67Please respect copyright.PENANA7BB8lqvc2E
67Please respect copyright.PENANAWBC7VI0tGH
67Please respect copyright.PENANAfAjIlkO1x9
「既然提都提到了,我姑且就先確認一下,冬笑她應該已經不在人世了吧?」67Please respect copyright.PENANA9MzN3tpa7r
67Please respect copyright.PENANAxzUjjMmol1
「看來你對村子的規則相當清楚。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAIsBaloKq8c
67Please respect copyright.PENANAnOkQiZEDe1
「這話未免太抬舉我了,我也是費了好大的勁才拿到這極少的情報,對神命村的了解肯定沒有比在裡面生活過的妳還要來得多。」67Please respect copyright.PENANA7wcfnJdEiI
67Please respect copyright.PENANAr1nJ1pkHlA
男人深深地吸了一口菸,接著對著菸灰缸彈了兩下菸灰。67Please respect copyright.PENANAPlRSPFHJ7I
67Please respect copyright.PENANAofUdx1vxKk
67Please respect copyright.PENANAxqwO5Tyf4X
「所以,請妳務必將妳所知的情報提供給我,我想寫一篇專題報導,若是證據充分的話,我打算將其交給國際媒體揭發這個村子。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAgRdWpnPERz
67Please respect copyright.PENANAjNHmZp0nPb
我雖然不喜歡眼前的男人,但仍可從他的眼神中看得出作為記者的專業及熱忱。67Please respect copyright.PENANAvLU4ajYobk
67Please respect copyright.PENANAsReMPx1il9
這時服務生正巧過來詢問點餐,於是我點了一份焗烤義大利麵套餐搭配熱咖啡,而青海先生則是點了份與他外貌大相逕庭的豪華巧克力聖代。67Please respect copyright.PENANAWJIrkwLbiQ
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPwg4Ztc7GH
67Please respect copyright.PENANAV57vBPv7uv
「青海先生,你的想法我能理解。只不過正如你所見,我是被村子『淘汰』而倖存的人,換句話說,我對村子本身並不了解,這點還得請你先將你那邊的情報提供給我。」67Please respect copyright.PENANACAAR2Vp28h
67Please respect copyright.PENANADM78xZr3AS
熱咖啡送上來的速度很快,苦澀的口感讓我稍微提振了上班所耗費掉的精神。67Please respect copyright.PENANAPV8iRTjM7J
67Please respect copyright.PENANAEifD4krG3g
67Please respect copyright.PENANAgnywgSWOZK
「作為交換條件,我會將當初促使我成功逃離的那個事件,鉅細靡遺地提供給你。」67Please respect copyright.PENANADE0vd6MEyS
67Please respect copyright.PENANAaOKwTWc0Qc
說歸這麼說,其實就算他什麼都不知道,我還是會將那個事件完整地告訴他。67Please respect copyright.PENANAa9h3nRwTG7
67Please respect copyright.PENANAOLXyvA5iFd
因為我答應過耕一,要將當時的事情全都公開給外界知道。67Please respect copyright.PENANAg0ve38tOup
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPrWFTYM8hG
其實我很早以前就想說了,只不過神谷阿姨認為會招來危險,因此希望我暫緩公開的時間點,如今我認為現在正是個值得把握的機會。67Please respect copyright.PENANAJaXJBNuyC1
67Please respect copyright.PENANAkfXhlwnOxI
67Please respect copyright.PENANA3GHw9XSCXE
「這麼好的提案怎麼可能不接受呢!」67Please respect copyright.PENANAvDERwttU3s
67Please respect copyright.PENANAve4NF5mx5U
青海先生想都不想就同意了我的要求。67Please respect copyright.PENANA1OqTgvy7eT
67Please respect copyright.PENANATbFcKdwlTK
接著,他從相機包裡取出一台小型的平板電腦,打開圖片的資料夾。67Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9ftoRrsTy
67Please respect copyright.PENANALIYRy9OH6a
67Please respect copyright.PENANA9c4iXuELKM
「首先,要提到神命村的話,就不得不提到這個男人──」67Please respect copyright.PENANA1k6jef8Q35
67Please respect copyright.PENANACCoMLiuVRw
男人的手指點按,原本小張的個人獨照被放大。67Please respect copyright.PENANAqiAOohxeIr
67Please respect copyright.PENANA3j8o1rODYF
照片裡頭髮灰白的老人,這時期鬍鬚比我印象中還要短上許多,左眼也還沒有變得混濁。67Please respect copyright.PENANAZTMPeaTIQv
67Please respect copyright.PENANA1cGeHSKriv
67Please respect copyright.PENANA6aBBFYHuGk
「──芥川實至郎,也就是神命教的教主,同時也是身兼多間跨國企業的總裁。67Please respect copyright.PENANAdjvYDz22mg
67Please respect copyright.PENANAATSns93hHr
而他也將這份領導能力發揮至極致,其創立的神命教所倡導的回歸自然主義,深受各界的菁英份子所推崇,至於中間興盛的過程如何我就不贅述。總而言之,在各界取之不盡的資源支持下,距今三十年前,以他為首的菁英份子們決定仿照1974年的人民聖殿農業計畫,在某個深山中成立了自給自足的小鎮,也就是妳所認識的神命村。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAfEiXnyF1Sf
67Please respect copyright.PENANAxHagjWwQYg
「請稍等一下,各界的菁英份子?」67Please respect copyright.PENANA5WzpS6UAr5
67Please respect copyright.PENANAnUpxfzdRB0
「是的,包含妳的父親結城正信副教授在內,全部的居民都是經過道德篩選過的高知識份子。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAOkDmyZJND0
67Please respect copyright.PENANAd1mOz5IlbY
我想起曾經在父親背包裡發現的證件,證明這個男人所言不假。67Please respect copyright.PENANAvMJFP6lUfE
67Please respect copyright.PENANATxQFc2xaS6
67Please respect copyright.PENANAz1MeFbZZg7
「再加上有著嚴格遵循教義的教主,神命村與當年釀成悲劇的瓊斯鎮完全不同,如果單看表面的話,確實可以是現代理想鄉的體現。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAYqevBwSytc
67Please respect copyright.PENANAbREaLkPGYu
「那地方才不是什麼理想鄉……」67Please respect copyright.PENANApQs5rjqOud
67Please respect copyright.PENANATe8LaKdcSu
我看著咖啡裡日光燈的倒影,手指不自覺地用力起來。67Please respect copyright.PENANAfFpbIJwjnx
67Please respect copyright.PENANAIEg2IYM3Tr
67Please respect copyright.PENANAdQh4km6aOg
「沒錯,到此為止就是我所理解的全部。輪到妳了,來吧,告訴我妳是怎麼逃離那個村子的?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAC7eQe80fIg
67Please respect copyright.PENANAGyxdZBm2TQ
他將平板電腦切換到錄音模式。67Please respect copyright.PENANAja45Vtlyw0
67Please respect copyright.PENANA0wyM1igbuM
67Please respect copyright.PENANA1povAieoJl
那是個很長的故事。67Please respect copyright.PENANAyavSEQJKbP
67Please respect copyright.PENANAN8Feykk13z
我簡單地做了個深呼吸,試著將那塵封已久的記憶再度打開,當年在教室裡的光景彷彿重現在眼前──67Please respect copyright.PENANArZ3ErC2ymP
67Please respect copyright.PENANACkw5qndMcu
◇67Please respect copyright.PENANAmijyRiyvuw
67Please respect copyright.PENANArPge9XT56J
「嗯……想不到經歷了這樣的慘劇啊。」67Please respect copyright.PENANA2PkH02JAtF
67Please respect copyright.PENANANHpjatUO7i
我說完以後,青海雄介這個男人明顯對我的故事內容感到震驚。67Please respect copyright.PENANA1dzEqO3Fyt
67Please respect copyright.PENANA5u8BLoE19n
他在不斷地用湯匙點著見底玻璃杯好一陣子後,才說出讓我差點暈厥的結論。67Please respect copyright.PENANArl1xiUkplm
67Please respect copyright.PENANANBhoiQPlkF
67Please respect copyright.PENANAIOjAJdc651
「那麼,要不要試著回去看看?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAY9kSZUKvQY
67Please respect copyright.PENANAGy60XjCK9U
「青海先生,請問你是在跟我開玩笑嗎?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAuLZukfNd6Y
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPnfBXXuquP
雖然早就有預感眼前的這個男人會提出諸如此類的要求,但我還是按捺不住不滿的情緒。67Please respect copyright.PENANAbvS967Ygsl
67Please respect copyright.PENANAmVacqRJb5a
67Please respect copyright.PENANAfwRMLv0HqG
「喂喂,別這麼嚴肅嘛,我這不是懷疑妳的意思,因為妳看已經過去這麼多年了,也沒見到妳所提到的那些怪物,如果真如那位……嗯,耕一同學所推測的,是為了繁衍,那麼早該入侵我們人類社會,我們也就不能像現在這樣悠閒地坐在這喝咖啡……我說到這妳應該懂我的想法了吧,結城小姐。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAy4Oyf6rXNU
67Please respect copyright.PENANAdd7Ti1kzeP
「請說重點。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAkZCKk75Tev
67Please respect copyright.PENANAMqWwLoSymw
「嘛,我的意思是,我認為現在神命村內部已經是相當穩定的狀態。」67Please respect copyright.PENANA5BO7QA3Tal
67Please respect copyright.PENANADX7KiVINt4
男人收起一派輕鬆的坐姿,以相當認真的眼神直視著我。67Please respect copyright.PENANAoGwAoaqKQK
67Please respect copyright.PENANA6xzGaIEI94
67Please respect copyright.PENANAu2klfkd1En
「最糟的情況,先假設那怪物仍具有攻擊人類的習性好了,我認為妳的村子有可能已經找到抑制或是與怪物共存的方法,詳情我不知道,但至少我能擔保在村子肯定是沒有危險性的。」「那是你一廂情願的幻想,更何況我沒有理由相信如今村子依然存在。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAJtwQ3INMqy
67Please respect copyright.PENANAfLccv87QMI
「是嗎?這樣吧,不如妳先看看這個吧。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAjfDuVoEvM6
67Please respect copyright.PENANArkvBWxxB8r
男人用湯匙挖了一點杯底殘留的巧克力醬含著,接著開啟了幾張拍得有些模糊的相片。67Please respect copyright.PENANAw5C4fHci8r
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPCHhiDT7O9
67Please respect copyright.PENANAIEYC00XGWc
「事實上,截至今年為止,神命村的農作物持續有在供應給固定的店家,也就是說,妳的村子仍然存在這點是毋庸置疑的。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAps71bqCovT
67Please respect copyright.PENANAPhKRuqArrX
「───」67Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mu5w1kgkV
67Please respect copyright.PENANA2V5I3HiZhw
相片上所拍到的讓人相當懷念的畫面。67Please respect copyright.PENANA18qaFRJIfY
67Please respect copyright.PENANAUDUryVQlJs
我冷冷地看著相片上白色的小貨車,上面毫無疑問地印著神命村的徽章。67Please respect copyright.PENANA2YCxQ3GYLE
67Please respect copyright.PENANAmy6ojdbMPN
67Please respect copyright.PENANAHSFkzlISmn
「既然都有情報了,那要找到神命村應該不是難事,我想並沒有需要我幫忙的地方。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAd4d6y0SO1x
67Please respect copyright.PENANAWBikOvipsV
「哎,這只是有幾個熟識的同好朋友剛好目擊到,時間地點的差異都非常地大。畢竟不能光明正大地調查,所以我到現在連神命村大致上的地理位置都難已知曉。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAkBrSan726J
67Please respect copyright.PENANA6XAnyp3hDc
「……」67Please respect copyright.PENANArobAAxbjfb
67Please respect copyright.PENANAcONZqP6Cwa
我雖然裝作在聽的樣子,但其實並沒有打算這麼快告訴他的意思。67Please respect copyright.PENANAmAwfWtBxHA
67Please respect copyright.PENANAO1Lfl34WVr
因為我可不希望好不容易才提供資訊的記者,什麼都還沒報導就這麼一去不返。以這傢伙滿身的肌肉來看,他絕對是屬於行動派的那類型。67Please respect copyright.PENANA6AVcoIom4p
67Please respect copyright.PENANABLCxg13lIc
67Please respect copyright.PENANAwlvI84bojF
「結城小姐,我並不想勉強妳,但妳對自己成長的故鄉一點留戀都沒有嗎?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAGsP6F5SiYA
67Please respect copyright.PENANA5s7zE43RLw
「……」67Please respect copyright.PENANA1qC0uPOwEF
67Please respect copyright.PENANA20b0PQQDbp
男人的話並沒有讓我多想,低頭喝了一口已經冷掉的咖啡。67Please respect copyright.PENANAkDpfWFHEHJ
67Please respect copyright.PENANAKIvgcPAMhb
67Please respect copyright.PENANAsSlxwCzRdq
「就算真的有好了,但我留戀的人已經全都不在了。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAFtfygrK1T8
67Please respect copyright.PENANAhE8z9FFUNc
「這話很有意思,妳是如何斷定所有人都不在了呢?根據妳剛才所說的,能確定死亡的只有耕一同學對吧,其餘的同學們可是生死未卜的喔?」67Please respect copyright.PENANACIiaGzrAUB
67Please respect copyright.PENANAI4hNG1HZQO
他積極地勸說著我,但還真給他起到了些作用,因為我確實有掛念的人在。67Please respect copyright.PENANAAwlcbyLzPw
67Please respect copyright.PENANAs2YdsS9LyN
67Please respect copyright.PENANAhGfY69ce36
「……穗香。」67Please respect copyright.PENANAvKHxWB410B
67Please respect copyright.PENANAzYxJHzxE5B
小聲唸出口的名字聽起來就像是生字一樣生澀。67Please respect copyright.PENANAXZe4hCxaUV
67Please respect copyright.PENANA2DOkHE6c9d
然而,對面的男人反而激動地拍了桌面,不顧桌上的餐點直接將身體伸了過來。67Please respect copyright.PENANAJiTDaT8raK
67Please respect copyright.PENANAfiOfkdrK1O
67Please respect copyright.PENANArfYPQqCtAz
「等等!妳提到的人該不會是桃井穗香吧!?太有意思了,那可是現任的教主啊!」67Please respect copyright.PENANA85dJ2TigEm
67Please respect copyright.PENANAYLVkjSR4Nd
「現任的──教主?」67Please respect copyright.PENANAu9ZG1zJDlL
67Please respect copyright.PENANAAsnlRLAI3W
這是我第一次對他的話感到震驚。67Please respect copyright.PENANAeo8zoYmgwB
67Please respect copyright.PENANA1f8SFs5xBI
考量到穗香單純善良的性格,那機率幾近於不可能,實在難以與教主的形象重疊在一起。67Please respect copyright.PENANAnBeT9srUSV
67Please respect copyright.PENANARbz0ULuEJs