晚空下著毛毛細雨,密麻麻的大樓仍然燈火通明,行人道和白天一樣車水馬龍,這座城市就是一台永不停歇的工作機器。寬敞的馬路上,一式一樣的電動車無聲地行駛。自動駕駛的電動車互相協調,每一輛車都能以最有效率的路線行進,因而沒有爭路問題。385Please respect copyright.PENANAqeYGRQdf2E
385Please respect copyright.PENANAMXVPfzMfYk
形似特大型麵包機的電動車之中,其中一輛載著慶壽。他身穿黑色西裝,繞起二郎腿,對窗外的烏藍夜景發呆。鄰座是他的女兒妃童,一樣的金髮藍瞳,正用手指數窗上的雨點。385Please respect copyright.PENANAXqmG4Jw2az
385Please respect copyright.PENANAZtlbVUK6FF
「爸爸玩雨滴賽跑!」妃童大叫。385Please respect copyright.PENANA3X8KMOOQCo
385Please respect copyright.PENANAJxBrn7Sf2Z
「我選這個。」慶壽隨手往窗上一指。
妃童點了另一顆雨滴,對著玻璃興奮的加油打氣。慶壽低頭看手機,輸入道:『我們快到龕場了。』385Please respect copyright.PENANAxcfmRSNF5E
385Please respect copyright.PENANAWnm4wzvmgP
「快點快點!要到終點了!」385Please respect copyright.PENANAn7qOAglsWq
385Please respect copyright.PENANAljsyQVypjo
慶壽冷不防敲打車窗,玻璃滑落大片雨水。385Please respect copyright.PENANAQhWJye8hAN
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnIYcW3OZlD
「是我贏了。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAtfKMbxgrjv
385Please respect copyright.PENANAkOiqQu5ysK
「爸爸耍詐!」385Please respect copyright.PENANALoaBLWk5Cl
385Please respect copyright.PENANANyUVyueiUS
電動車在路邊停下,車頭玻璃上跳出虛擬視窗,提示已到達目的地及車費金額。慶壽舉起手機對準視窗,姆指一撥像把東西彈出去,視窗顯示已收款,妃童旁邊的車門自動滑開,潮熱的空氣立即吹進車廂。385Please respect copyright.PENANAUjAfpxkZE1
385Please respect copyright.PENANAff4P73yh9M
「下雨!」妃童興奮的尖叫。385Please respect copyright.PENANA1rN1rIvOrJ
385Please respect copyright.PENANAxVbnMQQmJc
「我們沒有帶傘。」慶壽說,「快跑!」385Please respect copyright.PENANAaBN1WtBWwh
385Please respect copyright.PENANAL9Gj0Jmh1S
一大一小先後衝出電動車,狼狽的以手擋雨,跑進對面的建築裡。此建築只有兩層,與兩旁的高樓形成一個誇張的『凹』字。紅色的外牆沒有窗戶,四角突出的綠色圓柱雕繪各路神佛,龍飛鳳舞。前門上方掛著牌匾,白色大字『淨靈堂』。385Please respect copyright.PENANA5nRdDWA0MJ
385Please respect copyright.PENANAjC3kl0nhHD
龕場内部裝潢簡潔得多,白色的牆和地板。然而此白又不同於純白,是稍偏黃,帶著老舊的米白。
慶壽前往電子服務台,指尖正要點下去。385Please respect copyright.PENANApsTN065WRz
385Please respect copyright.PENANA2msujFMMNJ
「爸爸,叔叔在B-3。」妃童指著太陽穴說。385Please respect copyright.PENANAY01q7DTIRJ
385Please respect copyright.PENANAWyoAAKSn26
「既視感來得正是時候,我們走吧。」385Please respect copyright.PENANA0uloxTN1wG
385Please respect copyright.PENANAV58zcaE84S
慶壽牽著妃童的手往内部走,他數著牆上的大字,A-1、A-2、A-3﹐直到找到B-3﹐拐過轉角。兩旁的牆由每格三十平方厘米的純白方塊密舖而成。寬闊的走道上聚集了十多男女,所有人統一黑色裝扮,神情凝重,肅立於原地靜候,慘白的燈光讓每張臉都少了幾分血色。
他們在人群後與義彌會合,妃童向他招手,義彌亦招手回應。慶壽跨張的張口皺眉,伸手捏著義彌衣服的肩線,「我不敢相信,你居然直接穿制服過來。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAscXozZ54wv
385Please respect copyright.PENANAgltyNhyuzr
「有何不可,反正是黑色的。」義彌聳肩,「回家換衣服太費時間。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAKoJtiMgGe9
385Please respect copyright.PENANA7162t7XmPQ
「我想她不會介意的,因為你是她老公嘛。」第三把聲音插話道。385Please respect copyright.PENANATOshxcjgUh
385Please respect copyright.PENANA7OBnye5aDO
「藍道,一年沒見了。」慶壽向插話的男子伸手。385Please respect copyright.PENANA7mc5thEmOu
385Please respect copyright.PENANA9m1fFeAiYI
被稱作藍道的男子禮貌地與慶壽握手,他有一頭油光的黑髮,臉方下巴厚。他向妃童揮手,妃童躲到父親身後不說話。385Please respect copyright.PENANA4fpBaM1dW3
385Please respect copyright.PENANAbLYsCEWmFd
「時間差不多,缺席的人是不會來的了。」義彌低頭看手機,「今年就只剩我們。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAWdpwfCfsM2
385Please respect copyright.PENANAe3AMx3GmY6
「連救命恩人的忌日也不出席,該說他們忘恩負義還是鐵石心腸更適當。」藍道憤慨的說。385Please respect copyright.PENANAJJlGub6Cjk
385Please respect copyright.PENANAQXJTxI74kA
「前來渡念的人也是一年比一年少。」慶壽說。385Please respect copyright.PENANAsUopjFOrWe
385Please respect copyright.PENANAaXVZcjCGRQ
「我不在意。」義彌把手機放到耳邊,「我是B-3的義彌,現在可以開始了。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAg9wrjYb3BT
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnTFDtyIICQ
掛掉電話的同時,燈光轉暗。牆壁由上到下第三格亮起白光,方格中央顯示一張女性的黑白照,清湯掛麵,大眼,小嘴,瓜子臉,典型的美人胚子。385Please respect copyright.PENANAnLmJndl7WL
385Please respect copyright.PENANA4LwR9DyNXH
『葵薇 20XX年7月13日-20XX年6月3日』385Please respect copyright.PENANAD67mTJLGja
385Please respect copyright.PENANAYJebSnIBoZ
義彌把手機放在嘴前,聲音經揚聲器放大:「各位的時間都很寶貴,我們節省程序,一起鞠躬三次,然後牽花吧。」385Please respect copyright.PENANA7DL1NTzF38
385Please respect copyright.PENANAAg8pNBhK5H
眾人沒有反對,一同向方格連續三次鞠躬,然後滑弄手機,伴隨清脆的提示音,鮮花的圖像於相片旁圍成花圈。接下來是默哀時間,眾人的臉無不神情哀傷,唯有義彌面無表情,不表露任何情緒。385Please respect copyright.PENANAPyE0wxxFx0
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnuC8I4nd9h
相片旁跳出不識趣的倒計時,餘下的時間約有四分鐘。群眾陸續散去,離開前皆與義彌點頭示意。而他還是那副撲克臉,機械式的點頭回應。385Please respect copyright.PENANAApj8npbJy6
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnoeCpHFqnU
「吃過晚飯了嗎?」慶壽低聲說,「待會,一起吃飯?」385Please respect copyright.PENANAUaMGXQ9l3v
385Please respect copyright.PENANAvD1876B2IM
義彌疑惑的抬起半邊眉,「不用回去陪老婆嗎?」385Please respect copyright.PENANAuN7spvvRvv
385Please respect copyright.PENANATjAOZaau8N
「加班。」慶壽舉手往空中比了比,他把手搭在妃童肩上,把她從身後拉出來,「一起來嘛,妃童也會高興的。」妃童抗議的拍打慶壽大腿。385Please respect copyright.PENANAiFHQZKM2cx
385Please respect copyright.PENANATHFPqu3c7R
「好。」義彌微笑說。385Please respect copyright.PENANAVc7ebqdJPZ
385Please respect copyright.PENANAAPgbxsRdSd
慶壽的笑容從義彌眼中消散,取而代之是一連串映像快轉掠過腦海。385Please respect copyright.PENANAKuH3fxjdw8
385Please respect copyright.PENANAnbEeAV2RWq
「看到了嗎?」義彌低聲嘀咕。385Please respect copyright.PENANAOy9iCR9Z2m
385Please respect copyright.PENANAezwYQaCkBw
「看到了。」385Please respect copyright.PENANA2QWzMCo4ru
385Please respect copyright.PENANAXDtoH7DZDu
藍道輕聲呼叫義彌。兩人一同轉身,藍道板直了腰,表情嚴肅的點頭。385Please respect copyright.PENANA2PsI7cxJPL
385Please respect copyright.PENANAYowuvdJsVJ
「對於你太太被選為指定犧牲者一事,我依然耿耿於懷。相隔五年至今,每當我想起自己還能活著,都拜葵薇女士無私的奉獻,我只感到無上的感恩。」藍道的雙瞳閃過淚光,鼻頭赤紅,「葵薇女士跟隨既視感的指示搶先搭乘墜樓的升降機,拯救了包括我在内九人的生命,其勇氣是世人不應忘記的。」385Please respect copyright.PENANA1fUH6exFy5
385Please respect copyright.PENANATYJuoj2E2N
義彌別開視線,臉頰不自然的顫動。藍道深吸紅鼻子,繼續說:「葵薇女士是我們的英雄,然而她英勇的事蹟正被世人淡忘。」藍道雙手遞上卡片,是某電影公司導演的名片。「這位導演聽聞葵薇女士的故事後大受感動,他想將事件拍成電影,將她的故事宣揚,給予社會上其他迷惘的人勇氣。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAMiTTR1a0Su
385Please respect copyright.PENANAAmeARmwcvy
慶壽雙手抱胸,鼻抬得比頭還高,冷漠的用鼻孔看他。385Please respect copyright.PENANANJ3u5M7MJk
385Please respect copyright.PENANASbGK81WjbH
藍道搭上義彌的肩,像對知心好友般說:「並不會對你做成滋擾,只需要進行一場訪問,之後會付給你一筆可觀的酬金。」藍道靠得很近,義彌能感受到他的鼻息。「請問你意下如何?」385Please respect copyright.PENANAIvq81oZQdD
385Please respect copyright.PENANAyf92fHRajA
義彌直視藍道紅熱的眼眶,情緒抑壓到頂,不禁啞然失笑。藍道收回搭肩的手,表情顯得不知所措。385Please respect copyright.PENANAMM0NKlgWu2
385Please respect copyright.PENANAkc8SsvNKVO
「你的悲傷過於有戲,反倒顯得可笑。」義彌說,「葵薇不是甚麼英雄,『英勇』一詞亦與她無關。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAqmgwmYoP5n
385Please respect copyright.PENANAeFdeGuCE9q
牆上的倒計時剛好數到零,格子回歸一片空白,走道重新亮燈。385Please respect copyright.PENANA4Gvrra74o8
385Please respect copyright.PENANANQj8lK5YMM
「下年再見。」義彌大動作的揮手道別,大步離開。385Please respect copyright.PENANAiPbTuqJnDa
385Please respect copyright.PENANAuAEUGXB1jA
藍道死心不息還想追上去糾纏。慶壽上前擋住去路,在他的紅鼻子面前豎起食指警告。385Please respect copyright.PENANAsSBWmRokD4
385Please respect copyright.PENANAsjPwB61lfN
「知難而退。」385Please respect copyright.PENANAToSFrDVg0X
385Please respect copyright.PENANAi6gpeF5QFY
說罷便抱起妃童,跟上義彌離開。385Please respect copyright.PENANAHGJqOnUnD9