第四章：詛咒的第七夜（上）47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97fOPNf7o5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaJmsRD2i7
祖先昀燁的記憶47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oNO9LCHxz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLxB30pbfE
那是一個小農村，村子世代自耕，日出而作、日落而息。沒有人見過外面的城市，也沒人走出過群山。村裡人都說，山外的世界危險、複雜，還有會把人拐走的「人販子」或「征兵隊」，只有少數幾天，會有商隊經過，帶來物資和外界的消息。村民們過得與世無爭，雖苦，但平靜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Hn87iDhY
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXr3ucLso9
那天陽光很好，太好，熱得有點不尋常。我坐在田邊，手裡握著還沾著泥的鋤頭，背後汗水緩慢地滲透衣服。那時候的我，還相信努力就會有結果，還覺得一個男人只要扛得起家裡的田地，就扛得起整個世界。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCOsak3OkD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf0CMoh2ke
剛從田裡回來，汗水還掛在下巴上，就聽見村口有人喊：「有客人來啦——」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKetRB3UnCk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQZeQmtKyw
那是一個陌生男子，身穿乾淨的白袍，帶著一個黑色的皮袋。他說他是從城裡來的，是個「尋找古物與商機的學者」，路過這裡。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPONz8pwhEq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR25Xkv19e
他的模樣很平凡。說話輕聲細語，態度和善，笑起來時嘴角彎得像一條剛曬好的布條，不惹人厭，甚至讓人有些放鬆。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy02INA7hbs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTcbkqFVcS
我們對「城裡人」總是有種說不清的敬畏。他的出現，讓村裡老少都圍了過來。村長請他進家裡坐，他也不推辭，只說來這是為了分享一個「恩惠」，一種能改善我們貧困的方式。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JJ93B4vqD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NOqT0obSf
「我從大城裡的聖教會帶來了禮物。」他從皮袋裡，取出一個黑盒子。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW239GLI95c
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttSDLt47er
盒子不大，像是某種祭祀用的器皿。表面刻著一圈我們從沒見過的符文，像爬蟲的骨頭交錯纏繞。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0NFPp9NcJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0rgwWJQRf
「這是來自文明之地的奇物，只要虔誠的把你『最珍惜的東西』放進去，神，會讓它繁衍。」他說這句話的時候，語氣就像講一段熟記的經文。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNX3zeCbFU
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKxg2HyQyP
大家竊竊私語，有些孩子開始問能不能放玩具進去。老人則皺眉，像是不敢相信這種「城裡的把戲」會成功。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDbPYZcAf9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaNUsZQVxt
我站在人群之中，靜靜的觀察著他。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtczDxBmCVa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF9UnjvVvm
他眼神清明，看不出一點詭異，語氣也始終親切。要不是我站得夠遠，我大概也會和他們一樣，被這溫和的笑聲給麻痺。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5VEMhRFIn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLw7q4lQ9k
直到他目光掃過我，輕輕點頭致意。那一瞬間，我不知道為什麼，後背發冷，像是有什麼東西正從他的影子裡望出來。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wjmv8b1Yb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33qEMlvqsm
**47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQYU9RK2OW
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeZwnRE96a
「誰想試試呢？」他問，語氣就像在問：「誰要吃糖果？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46JWJCLmuy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5I5YXF3yn
我回頭，看見她——昑偑。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLVrsj4HpO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3YqFxO2WB
她一直站在我身後。那雙眼睛清澈得像一口老井，裡面裝滿了我從小到大的記憶。從小和我一起長大的她，是我唯一相信的人，47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeW7spCKFv
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgECvExVlJ
「要試試嗎？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLidgchFN3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTNYS8leLk
她皺了眉，沒問原因，什麼也沒說，只是點了點頭。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamF78ePy60
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeRjhVvvvU
我們邁開身子走了過去，男子面帶微笑的看著我們，潔白的雙手遞出了盒子47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofQlAchswL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IRNWj86q4
昑楓從脖子上摘下一條銀鏈，那是她母親留給她的唯一遺物。她的手有點顫抖，但還是走到那人面前，把墜子放進盒子裡。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsJDtUg4gA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zl1P8aNVY
男人笑了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchRCEA3zuf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWJ7LOGlZH
他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言，聲音低得像在跟風講話。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty0sdV8MZ4
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQzgGKUKqx
然後，盒子打開。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWsnT0D4Kt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiqc8w39av
兩條一模一樣的銀鏈子靜靜地躺在盒底，像是鏡子裡的映像，也像是……孿生的東西。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA2cQxsdH0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72j5A2OW8s
那一刻，人群安靜了幾秒，隨即爆出驚呼。有人讚嘆，有人懷疑，但更多人——開始相信。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNiRwmzCNk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCJtt8YfCh
「神蹟！這真的是神蹟！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTz3lRf84N
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXsSeTHkcl
「這……這是我們的機會啊！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qE4fYItUM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35E1yyyhxP
空氣中的熱度忽然攀升，那些原本懷疑的目光瞬間轉為火熱。有人開始翻出腰間的布袋，有人轉身就往家裡跑。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqANPGDFjH
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkU0XKD4c5
我卻沒有說話，只是盯著那盒子看。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOqX5SVuZB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ1npEagfL
我不知道是不是陽光的角度問題，還是自己的錯覺——有一瞬間，我覺得那個盒子，好像動了一下。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoE4D9mwwB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw7VlKrvO4
不是移動，是……呼吸。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OQwrboums
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIhdhHh5gp
它像是活著的。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrREzp75UEQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxsZTNYwNd
盒子表面微微脈動著，不再只是刻在盒面上的花紋，而像是一種等待甦醒的皮膚。我甚至錯覺，它正「看」著我，用一種深不見底的方式。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduwZRWkiLr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmonOV4twRk
我眉頭皺緊，心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xDI2lO9XC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3QPfdiPeu
我咬緊牙關，走到人群前方，喝道：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aS83oClsL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJYPIjXn0d
「夠了！！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dme6taoGF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpRFUuGyaF
聲音像石頭砸進水面，炸開全場的喧鬧。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy2wtO7vsj
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9zsT0p57U
「你們都瘋了嗎？剛剛還不敢相信，現在看到一條銀鏈就開始把信仰都丟了？！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz9FrDh4IZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lwIBahRBk
我指著那盒子，目光銳利：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHFPN0Skdp
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hFZXKgli2
「天下沒有不勞而獲的事！你們想靠這東西活下去，那你們的手、你們的田、你們的家人算什麼？！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhh4nSIDJS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaEoiZtmFJ
「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqlMK8kAR4
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjaeFNp7Ia
「你們才該冷靜！這東西從哪來的？這個人又是誰？他說是恩惠，你們就信了？他說是神的東西，你們就不問代價？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkIbcULvIj
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3o7jPzOSE
「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38f1OxWYnD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ707HAYoJZt
「對啊，東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5yJI3kgy2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyRy9NlJvO
我深吸了一口氣，聲音低了下來，卻更沉重：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIkFn6EUkV
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwYnNfjmCY
「你們知道我的人，我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西，不對勁。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiovo645sw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zTldOhzUa
所有人的目光又看向那男人。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG9zjzUp8m
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHMSbJP99l
男人依舊微笑，沒動怒、沒解釋、甚至沒試圖說服。他只是站在那裡，靜靜看著我，像是在等一場注定會發生的風暴。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9Pk0WVIYx
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1pHoZXrzb
我覺得不寒而慄。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLTlCHvY9N
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaNw9ODUzX
然後，他輕輕地，對我笑了一下——那笑容不像剛才的溫和，像是早已看穿一切的、令人發毛的平靜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVGmWVJ5u3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgjeXbbPOS
他低聲說了一句話，語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV42wtkyXR4
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz57pLj03y
「……七天喔。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fa2XMIwCd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk2oTbQESG
沒有留下任何解釋，也沒有繼續推銷，只是轉身，像完成了一項任務似的，輕描淡寫地離開了村口。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLruZGPCOA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyiaFHzyqr
**47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QESq3AWt6
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIHMNp0xlU
一開始，一切都沒變。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelcBWsuxLF
村民們壓抑住了誘惑。沒有人使用盒子，甚至有人提議把它埋進老井底下，永遠不要再提起。但日子還是苦。田地瘦，孩子餓，藥草不夠，獸欄裡的豬瘦得像紙片，晚上還會發出咿咿的哀鳴聲。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkhLvyfrXZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qiuM10kPO
在一天夜裡，發生了一件事。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy99jDdLws
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBaTyr516a
那是村口的老流浪漢，平時靠撿拾農田邊角、幫人挑水討點食物活著。那天晚上，他坐在自家破棚裡，連續咳了半個時辰，咳到臉色發青。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dzz4kpqhl
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjV52hLDPg
他餓得臉色發白，嘴唇開裂，他終於撐不下去了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLfIg7B50r
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMf2YYnqm8
沒人知道他是怎麼偷進村長家，把藏在櫃底的盒子找出來的。他只是顫顫巍巍地捧著一把稻米，把它投進盒子，嘴裡念著幾句不知是真是假的祈禱詞。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlJnlKsSOf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHneDKpFG1v
幾秒後——47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuRYzLOGim
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOunYwVVrO
兩把米，靜靜地躺在盒底，甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6kGjQ6TUG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpFAs4iCjs
那一夜他沒說任何話，只是緊緊抱著那把米，像是在抱自己唯一還能相信的東西。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkB7wU6WvF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1isLUj3rYt
可惜，酒讓嘴不牢。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdedT0SqXC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrxBwhohDt
第二天，他喝醉了，在街邊搖搖晃晃地喊：「哈哈哈！是真的！那盒子是真的！神明真的會給東西啊——！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeir36uE7b8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMTMZLP8ns
他一邊笑一邊哭，整條村街都聽見了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEK5JMzmWl
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFxVtu2cik
**47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd5QziYptK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHvL7bMq4j
試驗開始了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBiueSiRCH
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVPMNsJroF
村裡年輕人率先效仿，把破鞋、乾掉的蘿蔔、還有老母親留下的骨雕飾品一樣樣丟進盒子。每一次，盒子都照單全收，並「回贈」兩份。就像它從不挑剔，只求你「誠意十足」。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVzPjOIulC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxkcnc1TZ7
村民們驚呼、雀躍，甚至開始比賽誰複製得最多，誰投的東西最有價值。從糧食、布匹、牲畜、工具、金銀、首飾，甚至到符咒、經書……盒子通通照做，毫無底線。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwyUUtPxsG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsURaPRQMuS
短短幾天時間，村裡的集會廣場已經排滿人。他們抬著大缸、裝著牲口、拿著傳家寶輪流操作，像是在朝聖。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWanKim6iwK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2fwLjgVeO
我和昑偑站在不遠處，看著那群人。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2LUNrAXF7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVoyub4QgX
他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑，只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMhsFCuBPy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiPrz2myob
「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohFlLRCE7R
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18iiihKBwC
「不，是他給了他們理由去瘋。」昑偑冷靜地回應，咬了一口冷掉的地瓜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZfcKLlYYy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJacTQB9KW
她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FLmqUNMf3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHl2Wx6BCB
**47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gk3K6adtk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRleZAfpnB
我和昑偑，依舊守著自己的小屋。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o1DDz8puM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4YXpdXiSa
我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCCYcLT5sb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcCctFe4F4
起初還有些人勸我們：「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfqdwUTLW7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUzKiNQA2u
後來變成：「是不是放不進去東西啊？還是你們連『珍惜的東西』都沒有？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO0mP4dYMO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEnNCg9vXZ
再後來——他們不說了，只是看著我們譏笑。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbdwWD55YT
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEeZnjtVZw
我們成了全村唯一的異類。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps5H0EPYrE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD6aUBAtvG
那天晚上，我們坐在屋子裡，天花板滴著水，油燈忽明忽滅。外頭廣場熱鬧的像過節，有人在燒烤，有人在唱歌，還有人在討論明天要複製什麼——有個醉漢還說要複製老婆，笑得差點翻進水桶裡。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWejonHSgeG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSklA9yah1g
屋內卻只有我們兩個，一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj56a8ActZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBFNPGAJdQ
昑偑把剝好的一半遞給我，我沒接，只是盯著手上那塊地瓜出神。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LROTXTWU2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn9rVuNX4h
她看了我一眼，咬了自己那半塊一口，過了好一會，才輕聲開口：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGxG4qmra7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7eyH8PPFJ
「你後悔嗎？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBNJWHHg3s
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I6FXQ8Oit
我沒有立刻回答，只是聽見屋外又響起了煙火聲，火光照亮我們窗紙上交疊的影子。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAybgp6nTq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6JMZOspQ2
「……有點吧。」我說。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RmBNOE7ht
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79VmRJ6v5i
她笑了笑，沒再多說，只補了一句：「我不後悔。你說的，我信。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXQp6UrBbo
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UZPIxfBhj
我們繼續吃著地瓜，像什麼事也沒發生過。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvUfXYondr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv17D2BcVL0
可窗外的火光越來越亮，笑聲越來越遠。我卻莫名感覺，那些將幸福建立在盒子上的人們，正一點一點，離開人類的樣子。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcDMqTPatU
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JaBzvZ8LA
而窗邊桌上，那條複製而來的銀鏈，照映著窗外的燈火，透出一絲詭異的光芒。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOyBrGb4Wk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIilESTJTay
