■■■131Please respect copyright.PENANAdhdVbtzhSM
131Please respect copyright.PENANAm08FEwsPXK
「──冬笑?請等一下!請問妳是結城冬笑小姐嗎!?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAPU1CLDViq5
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfyKIm0MR8j
131Please respect copyright.PENANAHDbG5xuw89
131Please respect copyright.PENANAhRi3PauhcC
下班的時候在路上被來路不明的男人給叫住。131Please respect copyright.PENANAFjMIa64Au5
131Please respect copyright.PENANAz9EK2vgxb8
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAlPnmtUvmaT
131Please respect copyright.PENANAV7pNlD1B3S
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAXk2y7eqHTH
131Please respect copyright.PENANAA1giqABUtL
131Please respect copyright.PENANAjGkVSpTfBk
「抱歉,你認錯人了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA96hQ81vxVY
131Please respect copyright.PENANA7iU73sZdcu
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAtJ0iymKK0K
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyuDgnyP8F0
131Please respect copyright.PENANAF3oyCsqz6f
「哦!那妳肯定就是冬笑的姊姊,結城來夏小姐了吧?」131Please respect copyright.PENANADV0FwFO8Wr
131Please respect copyright.PENANAc33eyEUQGq
「───」131Please respect copyright.PENANAE6YPfSOFsa
131Please respect copyright.PENANApHsGwFyOdm
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAIfh3L212lC
131Please respect copyright.PENANAEqJd6jiagc
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA9Pat30MInq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAOOTz9Ra3cI
131Please respect copyright.PENANAN8kf5rZ4Hk
「還沒有自我介紹啊,我姓青海,職業是一名自由記者。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAsLJtiQAk3I
131Please respect copyright.PENANAQK47M62laz
我接過皺巴巴的名片,上頭的名字寫著青海雄介。131Please respect copyright.PENANAdhXhYDfVFu
131Please respect copyright.PENANALXwkoESTTK
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA1Qvkltf5a2
131Please respect copyright.PENANAFl7G3idAuW
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA4aJG6pUeAs
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyeYNTltGvd
131Please respect copyright.PENANA2Pi46XVlz0
「哦,對了,我吸菸的話妳不介意吧?」131Please respect copyright.PENANA7j5qnapulb
131Please respect copyright.PENANAanDkIDu0Bx
「我介意。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ0p4YIx8G
131Please respect copyright.PENANAUiZWZuz8FN
「這樣啊,那就得請妳將就一下了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANALVFnvwW9Kg
131Please respect copyright.PENANAVPzwwlRLlB
很好,我對這個男人的第一印象簡直糟透了。131Please respect copyright.PENANAIT1BfAyl1p
131Please respect copyright.PENANA0VNOuJ8c0P
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA3SfYI6doD6
131Please respect copyright.PENANASFLRegPDzO
131Please respect copyright.PENANAulBu96RKzy
「我就單刀直入地說了吧,可以請妳告訴我神命村的一切嗎?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAwbcre8kymM
131Please respect copyright.PENANAoN1h0HyxZC
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAi2BPuA9PX3
131Please respect copyright.PENANAiXEOYhHAXC
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOwZUZnbADL
131Please respect copyright.PENANAn9dwTIXldi
131Please respect copyright.PENANAoB3f1MLEzI
「在這之前先由我提問,你和冬笑是什麼關係?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAuXh8mKA5KM
131Please respect copyright.PENANAcEpme65Cek
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA8Sa17phrsk
131Please respect copyright.PENANAZWmaqqmEvn
131Please respect copyright.PENANAcOoPWCYPWi
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA8C5nsbd3W5
131Please respect copyright.PENANA6EulPbqXjZ
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAa0rsLbhVhW
131Please respect copyright.PENANA97YmW0k9nG
131Please respect copyright.PENANAaNV75J9TA4
「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?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAhoASlUCZ8Q
131Please respect copyright.PENANA1Vi4dokW9e
「看來你對村子的規則相當清楚。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAGGF7oosjwn
131Please respect copyright.PENANAmth6N1VndN
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAeqvEsLwNV5
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfYHZ2ACKhh
男人深深地吸了一口菸,接著對著菸灰缸彈了兩下菸灰。131Please respect copyright.PENANARI6QhW4koY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAAWpgCy0ONQ
131Please respect copyright.PENANA3MbXZsA3r4
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA33Wp88Yis9
131Please respect copyright.PENANAXolDSGlFcR
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAYZIHUybdxJ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAbcVlchU6Lw
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAEDTtihLn8K
131Please respect copyright.PENANA7XcEZHB8hq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAT8Mf122Vxb
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAz0eXtRI5bL
131Please respect copyright.PENANA8tvoxJd0jA
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANA0xNd8sofHw
131Please respect copyright.PENANAAYX3np3vNl
131Please respect copyright.PENANA2miG6Vy4DH
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANALFPPxJnjZ7
131Please respect copyright.PENANA4fCbwum8BA
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAWe9X0cqqN8
131Please respect copyright.PENANAvZ2f4PE3DM
因為我答應過耕一,要將當時的事情全都公開給外界知道。131Please respect copyright.PENANAKKeQN1L3nY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAwafhO98zJi
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAAEMK69dnWd
131Please respect copyright.PENANA6Oo8ziQdx1
131Please respect copyright.PENANAW3IfQF02jN
「這麼好的提案怎麼可能不接受呢!」131Please respect copyright.PENANAjA1KVNlLlT
131Please respect copyright.PENANAi4akFFMc7q
青海先生想都不想就同意了我的要求。131Please respect copyright.PENANA35C9FdKx6b
131Please respect copyright.PENANAXPWokPVQJN
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAbMccvIPOqF
131Please respect copyright.PENANAhG7fBw8Rom
131Please respect copyright.PENANAuBCeBJJpsv
「首先,要提到神命村的話,就不得不提到這個男人──」131Please respect copyright.PENANApWPnO1V2LQ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAz1OMxQJemw
男人的手指點按,原本小張的個人獨照被放大。131Please respect copyright.PENANAwpm7kvDxnD
131Please respect copyright.PENANAFvfMwgc7Nt
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAZYOVOZpTNz
131Please respect copyright.PENANACp0DF2IV32
131Please respect copyright.PENANAXBznYSv5yt
「──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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAgE7Z78XKqM
131Please respect copyright.PENANAbiGGYL1EJz
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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAUFTWnzGAvd
131Please respect copyright.PENANA9qBqHUhSdX
「請稍等一下,各界的菁英份子?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAc2Vzv7rfA0
131Please respect copyright.PENANACEQG7Jbv5j
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAJrhLUfyBxn
131Please respect copyright.PENANAdKfSmGD2Lo
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAUmsTZnacmZ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAH0i0PzN7ax
131Please respect copyright.PENANASX0VaNKhHt
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAsZKolct5TQ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAkOsgSXLQpE
「那地方才不是什麼理想鄉……」131Please respect copyright.PENANAp3ivptyrZH
131Please respect copyright.PENANAjXeqdo3Inr
我看著咖啡裡日光燈的倒影,手指不自覺地用力起來。131Please respect copyright.PENANAlNtKoiehTy
131Please respect copyright.PENANAiVpBSK59E1
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfb0SNQvWLe
「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?」131Please respect copyright.PENANAaH8JyaDeua
131Please respect copyright.PENANA8b213MXIRI
他將平板電腦切換到錄音模式。131Please respect copyright.PENANAFSWNxg2hZH
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJsELetGcfr
131Please respect copyright.PENANAZVw7MaigjT
那是個很長的故事。131Please respect copyright.PENANAptK6X91E8R
131Please respect copyright.PENANAlrfsdGcSNA
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──131Please respect copyright.PENANAO83JtURonW
131Please respect copyright.PENANA7fbVAmsuCz
◇131Please respect copyright.PENANAUw8oVmRuhK
131Please respect copyright.PENANA4Lr6UGeFmt
「嗯……想不到經歷了這樣的慘劇啊。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAcKSqZ0WhBY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfLNA4AlUac
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAxT3X3dwhu6
131Please respect copyright.PENANA2478X2GXf0
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAMiRZq5xAwJ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAkvD13Zxxnt
131Please respect copyright.PENANAPiwbzkWiNA
「那麼,要不要試著回去看看?」131Please respect copyright.PENANACfSXZpbDQG
131Please respect copyright.PENANA9Lj5axDfh5
「青海先生,請問你是在跟我開玩笑嗎?」131Please respect copyright.PENANA1X52RVA6WO
131Please respect copyright.PENANADPgRiifMcd
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAod9LZZ92uN
131Please respect copyright.PENANAiDjGbTAzL2
131Please respect copyright.PENANAq10s4vqVw4
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAUgCYDlge1b
131Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ8GnH44Ow
「請說重點。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAqAgrgyh3H9
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfkx9w8eT1P
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAbMzuuT5i3g
131Please respect copyright.PENANAK9vSA1aRpc
男人收起一派輕鬆的坐姿,以相當認真的眼神直視著我。131Please respect copyright.PENANAFdFFD1HzAv
131Please respect copyright.PENANAhRWnHGZwyc
131Please respect copyright.PENANAyNd2taiDkz
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAgTLbfb8Tsa
131Please respect copyright.PENANA8CmB6dlJOl
「是嗎?這樣吧,不如妳先看看這個吧。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA6LQC23ittk
131Please respect copyright.PENANAg2UbyzBKPL
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAfabQ9aLBEo
131Please respect copyright.PENANA5XbNXL9iD4
131Please respect copyright.PENANAhK1VgZRkTH
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAlT2ZzmB4De
131Please respect copyright.PENANAJtxfAguHwS
「───」131Please respect copyright.PENANAI8H4r1omtH
131Please respect copyright.PENANAU86RaDLiNa
相片上所拍到的讓人相當懷念的畫面。131Please respect copyright.PENANAw49b4h2Om3
131Please respect copyright.PENANAflIhx9YTNM
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAEky1eBwF2N
131Please respect copyright.PENANANOsHQy76DY
131Please respect copyright.PENANAaOn6ppxpl6
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAEg7GkQlByi
131Please respect copyright.PENANAtuKN7ZIwkG
「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。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAoltxeHQDzD
131Please respect copyright.PENANA5DTBPjBliM
「……」131Please respect copyright.PENANAfibqoF2sCG
131Please respect copyright.PENANAbvvAeqSnTI
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAAr2n5Z9iWS
131Please respect copyright.PENANA3X6p0uc74B
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAykl0u98fDR
131Please respect copyright.PENANAc7Z0OATzN1
131Please respect copyright.PENANACXcJNqHUJs
「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?」131Please respect copyright.PENANA8ij3dGdKMt
131Please respect copyright.PENANAfhbZWXVBub
「……」131Please respect copyright.PENANAjPoAK2FoRH
131Please respect copyright.PENANAA0NCSFpEB1
男人的話並沒有讓我多想,低頭喝了一口已經冷掉的咖啡。131Please respect copyright.PENANAFgE9pXwiVl
131Please respect copyright.PENANAGx8hTWj1nU
131Please respect copyright.PENANAeAoGCzGsOt
「就算真的有好了,但我留戀的人已經全都不在了。」131Please respect copyright.PENANAbdOPqFFLOP
131Please respect copyright.PENANAWzvIrFPcTT
「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?」131Please respect copyright.PENANABKa794mKOE
131Please respect copyright.PENANAuSffyZ974R
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAOmle2zyCmZ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAAwVPIRAJdQ
131Please respect copyright.PENANAw2KRSCCPBE
「……穗香。」131Please respect copyright.PENANA4GUjTZoDAF
131Please respect copyright.PENANATZIXhGyiDT
小聲唸出口的名字聽起來就像是生字一樣生澀。131Please respect copyright.PENANAX2a5tbm9iM
131Please respect copyright.PENANAFPJlLsSDsW
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANALLvFm345mq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1j9TWxxiY
131Please respect copyright.PENANATjVeUlrGU0
「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!」131Please respect copyright.PENANASXpgtX8tyq
131Please respect copyright.PENANAXWU7gLWuv6
「現任的──教主?」131Please respect copyright.PENANASRuu1H059R
131Please respect copyright.PENANAlRUy3AHEcb
這是我第一次對他的話感到震驚。131Please respect copyright.PENANAhdkJhvpvxk
131Please respect copyright.PENANAwRVfr3ZacT
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。131Please respect copyright.PENANAaQdHGuuaRE
131Please respect copyright.PENANAOPWxdIBtH6