約略是三年前，正值櫻花爛漫季節，一位蒙紗的少婦帶著一籃藥箱來到這座不起眼的山谷小村裡行醫。以一飯一宿作為求治的代價，倒也令人覺得親切同情。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd6DtuLtYN
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnf3ynw1Em
雖然在這村落沒什麼特殊罕見的疾症，但無論是怎樣難易的病痛卻在她的治療下一一痊癒，即使是不大不小但總無法根除的常疾，也乖順地逐漸消跡。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTUFIzcqsU
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDabx5jj9p
對村民來說，她定是位偉大的巫女，也只有侍奉神祇的巫女與神官才能趨除病痛。所以儘管沒有人見過她真正的面貌，也沒有人知道她是從何而來為何而來，都視作侍奉神之人而理所當然地接受。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39SnCwTWbV
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE3RrxGVzz
行醫後不久，少婦拿出了精美珍貴的布料贈與村民，請他們在山上為她搭建居所。連貴族也罕見的布疋與樣式奇特的屋落，儘管惹人驚異卻也視應當然。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYPTfVdfgG
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9rmT0FJdA
村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86orfruSRy
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyvEVB8OWK
少婦總是罩上一層薄紗遮掩面容，其中原由則是村民們好奇而不敢探究的問題。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH5Mhsl7ym
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAgSbEdFJN
但就與供奉侍神之人一樣，樸實的村民對這位夫人一直滿懷著敬意與感恩。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEYNLkJZUV
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGzj0qVZOH
※※※※※533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOVSQKRzBf
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8aNe8k4nx
如日常事例，少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCb82JOSgI
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjh4PKSXlP
剛開始時，像這樣走在崎嶇的山路小徑，每隔片刻便因體力不足而停佇休息，而隨著路程加長，行進的速度愈加遲緩，在走到山谷時往往需費上半個白天的時間。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd5SLQ0XUs
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB69ZdoH6T
然而日復一日地走下來，很快地便適應了山路的跛斜，雙腳踩地的踏穩與敏捷也讓自己意識到原本是如何嬌生慣養。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvNYON2khn
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxZUsmQZKI
經過一時辰的山路，脫出林葉蔭蔽，眼前一片低平。山勢成兩方夾圍出一塊橢形的峽地，一道細小的水流在谷地尾端切出，往山谷外的世界延伸。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3gE4StJ0s
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6I8QQe4oA
谷內盡被闢成田地，十數戶茅頂土屋鬆散地聚落在谷內微高之處，少婦走入由田壟蜿蜒至屋落的土徑，幾名在田中收成的農伕見人立即嚷聲問安，接著轉向其他田埂裡的村人遠喝通知少婦的來到。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2eN3L2GZ2
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ1yRHLkFt
走至舍落中央的寬地時，少婦身週已經圍滿了村人，村婦們有的牽著自家的孩子或是手抱嬰兒前來，每個人開口一聲聲『夫人』地嘈嘈雜雜嚷話著。少婦一面聽他們的閒談日常，一面為需要療治的人一一看診。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2nmQWglLW
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ8q6cHl4P
在這座村裡不太有什麼難以應付的絕症，最多是風寒腹洩皮膚病，一些被宿疾所纏身的老人家，也只要經過一般藥石與飲膳的調養，便就無所礙窒。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6G5xXn9JQ
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bizX5NzQs
對這些村民來說，已經足夠靈驗。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nL61xCUwX
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImSofm4NHB
除了病痛看診外，村民們也會額外與少婦聊一些村內的近況與自家的種種。少婦只是靜靜地聽著，大多時並沒有搭腔，但村民們卻反而說得更是躍躍有勁。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc7HsL7fAV
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB1mDmDd65
「讓我過去！讓我過去！」一個小女孩費力地推擠開大人們圍成的人牆，然後又再被擠了出去，她不停地高聲尖叫，「讓我過去啦！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu6hCKky4g
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nzNlW4GjR
少婦認得那個女孩，名字叫小末。她記得很清楚，那個小女孩的母親是在她來到這個村落前難產而死的。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT3eYP6gkH
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbPNxHNLzr
少婦往小末的方向跨了一步，人群便散了開來，小末一股腦地從人群中撞出，興奮地抓住少婦的衣袖嚷叫：「夫人！妳快來看！妳快來看！我撿到了很棒的東西哦！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fgt8qVBg1
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAKam2TvBv
「小末，妳又要騙人了！」四週的大人們不以為意地取笑，連一旁的小孩子也跟著起哄叫著：「騙人鬼」。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHCHboMtyD
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqnRggrOEO
「我才沒有騙人！才沒有！」小末回頭大聲罵道，手指仍緊抓著少婦的袖襬。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVp1V9NFAI
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CnctgDMlL
少婦微低下半身，柔聲問道：「小末，妳撿到了什麼？」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL7Ys9TZPn
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v1wieIMdS
「妳跟我來看就知道了啦！」小末立即拉著少婦的手，作勢就要衝出前去。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky4LVPny4j
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0goIv3TVA5
「等一下！小末！」大人們抓起小末手臂，嚴聲訓斥，「不可以對夫人沒禮貌，妳自己把東西帶過來！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlzztUMVLa
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLOtHGX8of
「不行！不行！」小末大叫，「不能給別人看到！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCh7m4dnIl
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4a8QBo2dq
「妳又在說謊了！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPL0gXLhbY
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQe1wqdR5s
少婦感到一陣頭痛，只得出聲制止，「別說了。」她蹲下與小末齊高，安撫道：「我晚點再看，好嗎？」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSQ4yAA5bL
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuyjh0GrNz
小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴，片刻後才點頭勉強同意。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDA1p2j9GA
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgQlM4ZSXR
於是，小末就站在人群外圍靜靜盯著少婦，不時煩燥地走來走去，然後跑開片刻、再又跑了回來。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6votYXMG0
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZY0mf672P
以前小末常常對著她大嚷：『為什麼不早點來救我母親？』533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkActAFQ8G
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KdbthpwQk
後來大概是被大人責罵的關係吧，小末再也沒有說出那種話，卻開始說起自己看到了母親的亡魂、夢到了母親的亡魂。內容則不外乎是母親預言將降災給哪個會欺負小末的人，要不就是母親得到了神的賜福，會再回到小末身邊云云。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OMcq75gAP
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3b70s3mN4
像這樣顯而易見的謊言只招來更多的嘲笑，小末卻更為堅信自己看得見母親的亡魂、甚或是其它死者的鬼魂。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd23GslKvxT
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35KUT7okKb
後來少婦私底下編了一個故事告訴小末，一個失去父母的小孩向神祈求再見到自己的父母一面，代價是一整年的時間不可開口說話，小孩做到了，因此見到了自己的父母。然而卻因為她太久沒說話的關係，她在現世的親友都遺忘她不認識她了。從那之後，小末就不再說謊，也逐漸不再提起自己母親的事。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScETR40vip
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43u1PbpoWb
只是，到現在其他人還是會常常拿過去說謊的事來取笑她，小末雖然生氣，卻也未認真掛在心上計較，或許是年紀尚小的關係。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalc8lYtBvY
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgov9la5NFg
少婦收拾了藥箱，把村民們贈送的一些莊稼打成小包袱，小末已等不及地纏到她身旁，拉著她就跑，還不時回頭把好管閒事的村民或其他小孩給喝跑。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMan0ZVQhY
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmot0VEyAD
「小末，到底是什麼東西……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1dTBWwnN1
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj93z3ruVB
小末以指尖壓唇示意，然後壓低聲音：「不能說不能說，妳看了就知道了！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIpOqJxguk
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw1HbLdt6Q
結果，小末把她帶到了小溪的磯岸上，一群大小不一的石塊疊出傾陡的矮壁裡，有許多可以藏物的狹縫。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlB3r5PRdt
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLDOFpP1gK
小末迅速地爬過幾疊邊緣尖銳的大石塊，回頭拼命向少婦招呼：「這裡這裡！趕快來看！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhntgkwk4bE
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMV1k6DPgH
少婦謹慎緩慢地越過石塊來到小末身旁，小末深吸一口氣，手按在遮住洞口的一塊扁長石片上，眼中閃爍著興奮的光芒，「我要打開囉…」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXcmeS8q54
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzlaqC3sbm
石片移開後，少婦低下身看去時，不禁倒抽了一口氣──533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qBANphIze
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTI17BRo77
那不是人類嗎？533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchbbtjI7DN
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvprd51Up6m
…不，那…是人類嗎？……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5UbYjDd0N
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEp4ZpSG1O
型體像是巨大的卵，帶著與常人無異的粉肉色，在頂端則像是生出肉芽一般，長著一張女人的臉孔緊閉雙眼，一頭烏黑的長髮從『頭』頂披曳落在卵的四周。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6nsv2jkMa
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNalMtYS7b
「很漂亮吧！很漂亮吧！」小末高興地對少婦露出欣喜的笑容，「昨天的昨天剛撿到時是蛋，然後長芽，今天長出臉跟頭髮耶！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp0MLHDov9
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmMI4RC50Q
少婦只有瞪大著眼，看著小末雀悅地與她分享著自己的秘密。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPWoRCMKgB
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwbtXectdl
「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看！一定會！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75Fdg99rby
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej6cUt04i1
「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字，幾不成聲。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAYt58PWPq
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b0XdwzChw
「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔！也不可以告訴別人！這是…」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLOaIM2Iyp
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhchwjrI89
「小末！」少婦竭力喚道，「小末…等一下…這種東西……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVfsiVYPJ5
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkaz9Kv3Cp
「唔？」小末無辜地眨眨眼，等著少婦說話。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeKkU6kwgE
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnlsTJJ5E0
「這種東西……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rkbawq29h
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6F4zEDvHn
該怎麼說出口……她確定這顆卵是超脫她所能理解之物，不，也不是十分地陌生，因為……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLYyOc0N81
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4Qon3Sey2
因為，這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmEMvuIxnj
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHivGrj5WX7
……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tIGLfYotK
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2ZoqI0yUi
為什麼？自己明明不再是過去的那個人了，為什麼還會看到這種東西？533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrLIXeEMyX
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmOckbnyTo
「夫人！夫人！」小末急切地拉晃著她的袖口，「夫人妳知道這是什麼動物對不對？告訴我告訴我！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7dwrTyCKz
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGVofQefvF
「這…這個…是……」少婦恍惚地低聲囁嚅，意識無法控制地恍惚飄遊，眼前的小女孩也似是恍惚的景象。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9RECoKPl2
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSCIsvpnHO
心口，只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt6AW0s0AM
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRhjPyNQ4D
她伸吸口氣，強迫自己假造出可以冷靜面對現狀的思緒來，「總之，先讓我確認一下，這種東西…說不定有危險……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJuv6enSIc
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4M96VUBEY
小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcaqulIOfg
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zlddH7w21
少婦忍住嫌惡感與恐懼，伸手用掌心覆觸卵的表面，上下輕移……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyfj02HR1C
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hNKIHAQZ2
觸感與人肉相彷，體溫不冷不熱，甚至隱約可見流動的細小血筋，至於呼息的起迭與脈動……分不清是不是把自己的吁吸錯認為是那個物體的吁吸，手掌中的起伏與顫動像是自己所引發又不像是，明明早已判斷出，錯覺卻層層不絕地湧起……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcRmJQEfVi
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKv6BpRYor
指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時，『她』霍然張明雙眼！533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoGVMy6FRB
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW0sTW7sqD
少婦赫然抽回手，醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfOK30gPbG
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdSRCZjEcm
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道：「哇──張開眼睛了！醒過來了！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqCnEDPvb4
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau4RstqXDN
『她』笑得像是石雕一像生硬，少婦卻直覺得『她』的眼神與表情不停地無聲變動著。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7XWh0iEss
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ163yICkdoo
『她』的眼神冰冷得幾乎可凍結體內的血液流動，似乎自己才是寄宿在某個肉塊裡的莫名異物……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxHOoazkoP
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0VM62h4fr
「我是小末！小末小末小末！」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjDfs2thFt
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6d8ddIei5
少婦不禁脫口說出：「……神……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxsHRaoLPb
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6zrQWo2dj
腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn71H6Lf6mu
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ55AUxp5Z8
尖銳的笑聲從四面八方向少婦滾壓，她被當做是漩渦中心地纏繞著宣洩而下，連靈魂也快被沖刷怠盡似地。然後……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYh7Ant3L1
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh9Z1zVjhk
就在要屈服這些無止境膨脹的笑意之時，透過薄紗，隱約地看到小女孩快樂地捧著巨卵上的頭顱抱出洞外。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8ujEjdiN3
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZARV8x3m23
臉孔後頭的身體仍留在洞穴內，所以被拉成了柔軟的長條，小末愉快地持續拉著，然後長條的身體兩側對稱地長出無數雙手臂來……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jh9dPeyuA
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpF01niDdd
『她』擺動的靈活的長臂，與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xjYzY2pxo
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJemxjlpFg
『她』臉上的微笑依舊是生硬冰冷，聽不見的笑聲卻極盡尖銳盡宏大地刺擊著少婦……533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo225nOyxn
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywhxWNjq4m
當小末幻影似地從眼前離去時，少婦忽然醒了過來，四週景物絲豪未變，除了癱軟在地的自己與傾倒一旁的藥箱。她渾渾顫顫地拾起自己的東西，好不容易才踉蹌地走回村內。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnOM8YKPYW
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiTidCB9mB
回到村子，村民們善意地招呼著，「夫人！您還沒走啊！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa10kGa4kd
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB4lU619gC
「小末呢？」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPszNQuVuEA
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwO8irrLlo
「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情，「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNpLtW3tv2
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BqnsPHjkn
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎？」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrBEpgJThn
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl527V20gW
「啊？」村人搔搔頭，「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRRZ1XsxDy
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4wjxYrG7H
少婦不安地快步行至舍落，只見到小末在寬地上舞蹈般地狂跳著，一旁的村人還不斷吼道「別跳了！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK7gbjdwIX
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGCHa9WPS8
沒有神。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum7vmu5CUf
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoQbXTv3sw
小末看到少婦，漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳，喘息笑著。533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPGBnmp6B6
533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6G4ezv91z
「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔！」533Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiLuEesiK1
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