在阿嘉莎和塞繆爾的勸說下,米德魯神父妥協了。9Please respect copyright.PENANA6IZXDOUQRl
提前的火刑改回原本的時間,將在今日中午開始行刑。9Please respect copyright.PENANAc6hxUOukYZ
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwBu32jzrBj
神父和村長一大早就開始組織村民們準備火刑事宜,村人們在村內四處移動。9Please respect copyright.PENANAI8tKFCOri7
9Please respect copyright.PENANADun3tSv2zv
不知為何,老鼠的數量似乎多了起來,甚至能在街道上看到老鼠四處亂竄,清晨開始,已經有人目擊數次鼠群的移動了。9Please respect copyright.PENANASUyTDk5cgl
值得注意的是,昨日回報的信使開始咳嗽,不過他自認為沒事,熱心地加入準備的行列。9Please respect copyright.PENANAa1BL2M0fng
9Please respect copyright.PENANAlgh59pW6jj
魔女仍被關押在倉庫裡,由於今日就要行刑,看守鬆了很多,門口的衛兵甚至打起瞌睡。9Please respect copyright.PENANACJ07RziJ9n
「杜比斯先生,杜比斯先生?」9Please respect copyright.PENANA4ay6hZ0sq7
阿嘉莎搖了搖衛兵,喚他起床。9Please respect copyright.PENANAHf7i4BaEfr
「嗚……呃……阿嘉莎修女?」9Please respect copyright.PENANA8f4dyMkMu8
「能讓我進去嗎?我要送最後一餐。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA5BHWi9amq2
睡眼惺忪的衛兵揉了揉眼,隨著視野清晰,他注意到阿嘉莎手上的用布蓋著的籃子。9Please respect copyright.PENANA1Mx4pYHjQI
「嗯,沒問題……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAV6CRehny72
衛兵杜比斯點著頭替阿嘉莎打開了上鎖的倉庫門。9Please respect copyright.PENANAo9S8azZerM
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVaVDehdv83
倉庫內,魔女仍靠在牆邊,閱讀她那本沒有封面的舊書。9Please respect copyright.PENANA7Q3bL6Ory4
但與平時不同的是,她今日右手緊緊抓著自己長過臉頰的髮鬢不放,嘴唇也微微抿著。9Please respect copyright.PENANAo82y5Qbem1
「魔女小姐?」阿嘉莎小力地闔上木門。9Please respect copyright.PENANAd66fsEwcBM
「唷,小修女又來啦。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ20VFoiW2o
感覺魔女有些無精打采。9Please respect copyright.PENANA4YLc3kW6Uv
「你怎麼了,魔女小姐?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAYZsEsQqjht
「沒什麼,昨日等你們有些緊張……不過看起來你們成功了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAo6mncCtvvG
「嗯,火刑,會在今天中午開始……」阿嘉莎放下餐籃,背對著魔女:「魔女小姐,你真的有方法不被火刑嗎?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAp2xRCuqzB3
9Please respect copyright.PENANAdhgXvguuBa
魔女沒有回答……9Please respect copyright.PENANAP0KiBARCsD
阿嘉莎好奇地回望。9Please respect copyright.PENANATjYyFew9M2
9Please respect copyright.PENANAZu6v87MJhd
只見魔女低著頭,渾身顫抖著。9Please respect copyright.PENANAukz5zGMGwQ
「魔女小姐?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAGBht6FNOrh
阿嘉莎有些擔憂,想靠近關心她。9Please respect copyright.PENANArf0OvYbuaq
但手才剛碰到魔女,她就意識到——這個人在笑……9Please respect copyright.PENANAtqAZM0i2Vr
「呵呵呵呵、哈哈呵呵……」魔女拼命捂著嘴,但還是忍不住笑聲:「噗……噗哈哈哈哈!」9Please respect copyright.PENANA7aEDN8RhHY
阿嘉莎愣了一下,但一星期的相處下來,她也大概了解魔女的意思了。9Please respect copyright.PENANA9zCyPqCHLZ
「看來,您很有自信。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAwBfFdRJEyZ
「對不起……呵呵呵……一想到待會我要做什麼,我就想笑……呵呵呵呵哈啊!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAQZFJg9xIRn
阿嘉莎點了點頭,微笑著將食物整理好,放到魔女身前。9Please respect copyright.PENANAGQEBSVWa7I
「瘟疫要來了,我希望您真的可以幫助我們……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAJRlypMWh9p
「呵……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAFRudjpdw4v
聽到那個稱呼,魔女停止了笑聲,看向阿嘉莎。9Please respect copyright.PENANAotikB4lPXX
9Please respect copyright.PENANA2X7JV9Lz7w
「別擔心,小修女……」9Please respect copyright.PENANADT8LxvU6AF
9Please respect copyright.PENANArVVYA84orH
又是那別具誘惑力的音調,魔女微微歪頭,長長的睫毛蓋住不知張還閉的眼睛。9Please respect copyright.PENANAqq9HwiJuPc
魔女淺淺地笑著:9Please respect copyright.PENANAS9u0AP8vev
9Please respect copyright.PENANAcxvRIpXWFt
「畢竟,我是……嘛~」9Please respect copyright.PENANAthnXh0rFKl
9Please respect copyright.PENANAyoqItJPo6n
或許是那股音調,或許是這些天發生的事,阿嘉莎的腦內突然思考了許多東西,她沒能聽清魔女說的話……9Please respect copyright.PENANA503cpJ1G4H
9Please respect copyright.PENANAklGTOzmitc
中午,很快就到了。9Please respect copyright.PENANAjMwYExIZEi
9Please respect copyright.PENANAxxPqtgvf1t
村民們早早聚集到了廣場,將村中央的廣場擠的水洩不通。9Please respect copyright.PENANAa6zgInRe4u
刑台上,火刑架底下堆滿了柴火,劊子手站在一旁,手上拿著尚未點燃的火炬。9Please respect copyright.PENANAfnR33hX1AS
9Please respect copyright.PENANAhwxzNxGhfI
在刑台前,還放了另一個高臺,上面擺了椅子,米德魯神父、塞繆爾以及幾位從村民中挑出的陪審團坐在上面。9Please respect copyright.PENANA7ok0ZkFUae
9Please respect copyright.PENANAtE6RWUGMwp
塞繆爾緊張的用指甲搔抓手掌。9Please respect copyright.PENANASt8wnCA5ly
「呃……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAmoerV7zr1I
一個沒注意,竟然抓破了皮膚,一點血從中流出。9Please respect copyright.PENANAkwGJFAAFel
「你很緊張嗎,塞繆爾兄弟?」米德魯神父遞來一條手帕。9Please respect copyright.PENANAR7bbAdksRY
「謝謝……」塞繆爾道謝後用手帕按住傷口:「是的,我很緊張……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAjxpg7gzjiq
9Please respect copyright.PENANABRw64BjRlc
因為,他們將對魔女進行最後的審判,進行一場,沒有意義,沒有法治,早已決定好結果的審判。9Please respect copyright.PENANArfT4QiQSD3
說實在,塞繆爾都不知道為什麼要派自己這樣的法官過來……9Please respect copyright.PENANAFp1VSDVF0h
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0y69ryPdDM
沒一會,衛兵杜比斯和另外幾名衛兵壓著一個白髮的女人進入廣場。9Please respect copyright.PENANA9l0igo9IcO
那就是魔女了,長長的睫毛蓋住眼睛,微笑的表情令人看不出情緒。9Please respect copyright.PENANAk98RoSOYJh
儘管被粗繩捆綁,推著進來,但她仍保持著一股優雅的感覺。9Please respect copyright.PENANAj55XHJHpXA
9Please respect copyright.PENANACK6pcGOGG6
本來,村人們吵吵鬧鬧,但一見到魔女,人們紛紛安靜了下來——不知是因為火刑前的緊張,還是因為魔女的外貌……9Please respect copyright.PENANApddoA6nQZ0
9Please respect copyright.PENANACktg4zbJXn
魔女登上刑台,所有人都沉默不語。9Please respect copyright.PENANAfZsOkUdG5r
她站立在台上,正面朝著陪審團們。9Please respect copyright.PENANAVzk6rfwCei
長長的睫毛下,鮮紅的瞳孔掃視著底下的人群,村民們紛紛閃避視線,深怕與魔女對上眼而被詛咒。9Please respect copyright.PENANAwiRMLfahBo
9Please respect copyright.PENANAXkeqMOMQiO
塞繆爾舉著法槌,不知該如何是好,他深深的懷疑這場審判的合法性。9Please respect copyright.PENANAtEzb9tmnIR
沒有證據、沒有依據,犯人憑甚麼站在刑台上接受審判?9Please respect copyright.PENANA5titpWTgjM
如果以神之名可以審判萬物,要法律有何作用?9Please respect copyright.PENANAKDZkeA5xvx
他無法下定決心,敲響法槌。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2ZkFnSCrV
9Please respect copyright.PENANA6jfS7SOzFD
米德魯神父看出塞繆爾的不安,她伸手接過法槌,並用眼神示意塞繆爾放鬆。9Please respect copyright.PENANALU6YuCw0UT
9Please respect copyright.PENANAN7DBAqKNru
嗵嗵嗵!9Please respect copyright.PENANAdk4oNk3jrH
9Please respect copyright.PENANAV0XWnIGXi2
米德魯神父敲響法槌,示意最終審判的開始。9Please respect copyright.PENANA57k753ymqS
「無名的魔女啊,這是你最後的機會,你是否認罪?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAJpMLjcL20Z
「我何罪之有?」魔女沉靜地回應。9Please respect copyright.PENANA4RIFl1R32F
「使用魔法、毀壞自然、苟同惡魔……你的罪名數不勝數。近日的魔女騷動,你肯定就是源頭!」米德魯神父一改平時溫和的態度,兇猛地說道:「無數女孩們身上長滿皮疹,扭曲痛苦地在地上爬行,是不是因為你和惡魔施展魔法,蠱惑人心,向她們展示了什麼淫穢不堪的邪惡畫面!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAvJIbkPHXkt
9Please respect copyright.PENANA3ocMsU0OPn
神父一口氣說了好多話,停下來後整個人都在喘,他接過一旁侍童遞來的水杯,稍微休息一下。9Please respect copyright.PENANAOFqYakYrXr
9Please respect copyright.PENANAUaCsbTaelr
但魔女沉默不語。9Please respect copyright.PENANA7dtr4KqkfS
未否認,可也未認罪。9Please respect copyright.PENANAllKaqXIx1x
9Please respect copyright.PENANAr4qkn8cO44
塞繆爾接過法槌。9Please respect copyright.PENANAksxddCGbBu
9Please respect copyright.PENANADx4TXKxHGC
嗵嗵嗵!9Please respect copyright.PENANAhPbrM5ExDr
輪到他了。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8wGH3cGTnF
「被告,依照現行的法條……我將對你進行最後的測試……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAH4Mw0LlvMx
他看著手上的羊皮紙,上面是他提早準備好的流程。9Please respect copyright.PENANA9imJrz32Iz
昨日晚上,和魔女溝通時,他大概猜出了魔女的目的——拖延時間,不知到原因,但魔女似乎希望拖延到正午。9Please respect copyright.PENANAGId1b9p37Q
既然如此,塞繆爾決定進行項在他看來很沒道理的測試。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ21TfIAysX
9Please respect copyright.PENANAWUxzPNQ2qx
「把蛋糕送上來!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAPBfMaLDACj
隨著塞繆爾的命令,村人推了個小蛋糕出來。9Please respect copyright.PENANApoXnPkaFD0
「這是利用那些受苦女孩們的尿液製成的蛋糕……把狗也牽上來吧!」9Please respect copyright.PENANA7mDQ7Mez22
魔女蛋糕,透過黑麥粉和受害者的尿液製成,據說裡面含有來自魔女的「邪惡粒子」,如果被狗食用,那魔女將感到痛苦,呻吟聲會暴露她。9Please respect copyright.PENANADBjTaxrl3Y
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0alH6YOu21
很快,一條黑狗汪汪叫著被牽了上來。9Please respect copyright.PENANAQCDdkoYF7g
牠看起來餓了很久,一看到蛋糕便撲了上去,撕咬起來。9Please respect copyright.PENANAyLyISagMfg
沒一會蛋糕就被吃完了,所有人都默默注意著魔女的反應……9Please respect copyright.PENANAVsjxVCN907
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVJ5u3RipSG
魔女沉默不語,毫無反應地站在原地,臉上只帶著一開始的笑容。9Please respect copyright.PENANAg2SU8Sygcm
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMcUhAopXdD
米德魯神父皺著眉頭,表情不悅。9Please respect copyright.PENANAUO2F6HRMqO
塞繆爾點了點頭。9Please respect copyright.PENANAaVJq1Ts4b6
「沒有反應,好……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAsOjm8TF10f
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7mksBlcMrn
距離正午還有時間,魔女仍就不語,塞繆爾還需要爭取點時間。9Please respect copyright.PENANA0aKoU3I5em
「我將,朗誦法庭已得的證據……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAaIwIoNW5xI
塞繆爾換了張紙,上面記載了幾個星期以來對魔女進行過的測驗。9Please respect copyright.PENANAVLjIVlECum
「沒有必要吧,塞繆爾兄弟……」米德魯神父將手放在紙上,小聲說道:「我還是不相信她能拯救瘟疫,她才是瘟疫的源頭……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAOhJf3vAOni
9Please respect copyright.PENANA8pPbXDSrBq
塞繆爾推開他的手,搖了搖頭。9Please respect copyright.PENANAyn05hQm2vr
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMgcnoFtOTK
「兩個星期前,進行了第一項觸摸測試,被告與狀況穩定下來的受害者進行觸碰,如若狀況立刻失衡,代表就是魔女……」塞繆爾朗誦了第一項測驗:「結果……受害者毫無變化,推測是因愧疚感……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAlacERpRGZC
9Please respect copyright.PENANACWxwc5E3fv
這什麼荒謬的測驗,成功了就是魔女,失敗了是有愧疚感的魔女……9Please respect copyright.PENANAUVaRJEFWtS
9Please respect copyright.PENANAXh6UhsvHIt
「上個星期,阿嘉莎修女協助進行了乳頭測驗……被告乳頭是粉色的……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAMszZegCegS
9Please respect copyright.PENANASyd3Wcvmth
什麼東西,塞繆爾越來越搞不明白了。9Please respect copyright.PENANAkHCQwnNpZr
9Please respect copyright.PENANAQPxPSXwVn7
「顏色、型態皆正常,但用針戳刺後毫無反應……足以做為魔女的證據。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAWPF0Bw2616
9Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ4gjE6mrG
塞繆爾嘆了口氣,又繼續念下去。9Please respect copyright.PENANAyBbsjbFAC4
好不容易,距離正午只差幾分鐘了,他趕著懷錶,可手上已經沒有證據可以朗誦了。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7xiT21FyE
「塞繆爾兄弟,足夠了,宣判吧!」9Please respect copyright.PENANA0Wkb4uXMUE
「還不行……要……呃……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAycbUmePDWi
見塞繆爾遲遲不宣判,米德魯神父伸手想搶法槌。9Please respect copyright.PENANAoDlztXmppi
9Please respect copyright.PENANAd24oFqHPnr
「證據確鑿,準備行刑!點燃火炬!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAwl6shj0vsW
隨著米德魯的大喊,魔女被綁上火刑架,劊子手立刻點燃點燃了火炬。9Please respect copyright.PENANAA1tezRLKNj
9Please respect copyright.PENANAGi3DbqsjlA
「住手!米德魯兄弟,你不能這樣!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAo5mm5q3wu9
「你才是,不要再拖延了!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAS4eSoQQlxO
爭奪法槌的過程中,塞繆爾注意到魔女的表情,她對著塞繆爾點了點頭,彷彿在說:9Please respect copyright.PENANABUUgHY0cJs
9Please respect copyright.PENANAlI1wM7TSH7
『可以了。』9Please respect copyright.PENANAQRmUoO1PkZ
9Please respect copyright.PENANAzbI504w1JI
塞繆爾鬆開手,米德魯搶過法槌。9Please respect copyright.PENANAETNj2wuqQp
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7GRWhV56MJ
嗵嗵嗵!9Please respect copyright.PENANAtWfLoY7v6s
9Please respect copyright.PENANAZw4zwmuQxf
「行刑!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAXgTkiHHN7l
9Please respect copyright.PENANAkkr9t5g0pk
但當劊子手正要點燃柴堆時。9Please respect copyright.PENANAkZbmxZUlTe
9Please respect copyright.PENANAp2MeIt8Qar
「我呀……」9Please respect copyright.PENANABQ42kN2ghp
魔女突然開口:9Please respect copyright.PENANAdvsr7XVUAh
「是天使唷~」9Please respect copyright.PENANA4SJUuEM2np
9Please respect copyright.PENANAfN1ZJAowWe
嘩啦啦——9Please respect copyright.PENANAXn0DOZs8ka
9Please respect copyright.PENANAstlTUYK57W
說話的同時,天空突然下起大雨。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8BL3poauTh
9Please respect copyright.PENANAghC23bQgrJ
民眾們急忙用手遮擋雨勢,米德魯抬起頭,看著艷陽高照的天空。9Please respect copyright.PENANAoQrNph6c6q
9Please respect copyright.PENANA3RxfMOYziG
滴……9Please respect copyright.PENANA4fpssYwxJl
9Please respect copyright.PENANA95ged2wIpw
雨水不斷滴在他臉上,他即使瞪大眼睛,也不得不相信眼前發生的事情——下雨了,行刑的前一刻下雨了。下雨了,在太陽高掛的時候下雨了……9Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ9MzVbtcu
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMh7xE4Itt5
雨水淋溼了塞繆爾手上的羊皮紙,淋溼了米德魯神父的臉,淋溼了阿嘉莎的修女袍。9Please respect copyright.PENANAd8TMnNLQls
9Please respect copyright.PENANALkp4Cny73U
也淋溼了劊子手的火炬和柴堆。9Please respect copyright.PENANAH0Ef9p2WEA
9Please respect copyright.PENANALrzJ1lJlM0
而魔女,仍在微笑,在火刑架上,露出溫和的微笑——宛如天使。9Please respect copyright.PENANA0PCuL2ovvt
9Please respect copyright.PENANAeOzYZjhkJ8
這場雨下了足足三天,魔女被暫時關回倉庫內。9Please respect copyright.PENANARVgiPpjtqL
她留下的那句話和最後的笑容深深刻在所有人心中……9Please respect copyright.PENANAJrTFDX74hc
9Please respect copyright.PENANAylVNu9V51F