■■■150Please respect copyright.PENANAPQFCTxgSMZ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAPiuMyTwxSI
天空很藍。150Please respect copyright.PENANA8kTkxbKyiR
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuEFhQ2C9Cn
我坐在青海先生的中古豐田Crown裡,瞇著眼睛隔著車窗望起熟悉的山中景色。150Please respect copyright.PENANARpppFVoYpb
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUxzudoVYZz
小時候總是那麼接近的天空,曾幾何時,在被水泥的叢林所遮蔽後,便不再抬起頭來注意過了呢。150Please respect copyright.PENANApfTA8Z7jSP
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4moBtZsMqu
150Please respect copyright.PENANA98fJR4FoW9
在兩個星期前與身旁的男人相遇之前,我從未想過還會再次回來這個地方。150Please respect copyright.PENANAa1Lls2WWVs
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFvqRc17AxE
路上的車很少,即便今天是連續假日的白天,大概也要隔個七、八分鐘左右,單線道的另一側才會有汽車駛過,除此之外別說是建築物了,連個可供暫時休憩的觀景臺都沒有,放眼望去只有沿著山勢環繞,蜿蜒曲折的柏油路面而已。150Please respect copyright.PENANAzQGPDLOf8x
150Please respect copyright.PENANAb2qmCDK3w8
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4X1KnQwCNM
「結城小姐,要是到了的話要提醒我啊!還真看不出來神命村就在這附近呢!」150Please respect copyright.PENANAms9phTDL3k
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHtkame5iKD
這男人的身體似乎不會覺得累。150Please respect copyright.PENANAYYThyW4EK8
150Please respect copyright.PENANAeHBuZwvGmU
先不論總共開了多少路程,從國道轉入縣道後少說經過了四個多小時,不但看不出他有疲倦的跡象,興致反而更加高昂起來。150Please respect copyright.PENANAwz0DaQhPJh
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJiAEubqqW9
150Please respect copyright.PENANAp9d2FZYFG5
「快了。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAWa7AeOenhH
150Please respect copyright.PENANAEP88qjb3XN
雖然作為指標的公車站牌並不一定還存在,但大致上的位置還能憑我過去的印象辨識。150Please respect copyright.PENANA4TiuKiqJG6
150Please respect copyright.PENANARnu9Uawl4Y
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjA5FWp78t0
「最後我想再強調一遍,青海先生,這趟旅程並不能保證我們的生命安全。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAN98rjK0gnw
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJqy6Z5NUOE
穗香的事情,對我來說是有回去確認的必要,但對外人來說可不是如此。150Please respect copyright.PENANAKg5q7hR0oK
150Please respect copyright.PENANASZeMB1taPB
150Please respect copyright.PENANAloD8lAj8xN
「喂喂喂,可別太小看我啊!別看我這樣子,作為記者的專業還是有的。能獲得第一手神命村的資訊,賭上性命這點小事算什麼啊!」150Please respect copyright.PENANA8xhBCbAiy4
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvu4jiJWGJG
青海先生說到慷慨激昂處奮力地拍打了一下方向盤,車身隨之微微晃動了一下。150Please respect copyright.PENANANTilRargtM
150Please respect copyright.PENANAcpVtW2WNO9
我不禁嘆氣,從以前就很難理解這類人的想法,在我看來,神命村並不值得豁出性命去調查……當然也有可能是為了錢,不過每個人有每個人的想法,他堅持如此我也沒理由反對。150Please respect copyright.PENANAD3OkqeUVZ2
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwIHe19VzMX
150Please respect copyright.PENANAsvgkxjfXmH
「但他們要殺我可沒這麼容易,不瞞妳說,我可是抱著自殺炸彈前來的啊,哈哈。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAGA0iGduEWO
150Please respect copyright.PENANACFENS7gUCu
「原來如此。」150Please respect copyright.PENANA0bSUtkzUx3
150Please respect copyright.PENANAIi9Etlq857
「稍微感興趣點嘛。我有個朋友,要是我兩天內沒有聯絡他的話,就會將我截至目前為止所撰寫的稿子一次發給全世界各大報社,如何?很棒的保險吧?」150Please respect copyright.PENANAklkYT7QKeZ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuLxO6fRpLY
「嗯,以你而言算是做得不錯。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAfAVj3qtPs6
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnSemolPL8f
不是刻薄的話,我是發自內心這麼覺得。150Please respect copyright.PENANAStXtRXVl5k
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9at36spdOv
大概是我原本就不抱太大的期望,所以能做到這步我認為算是相當不錯的了,我自己也留有好幾份複印的信以防萬一。150Please respect copyright.PENANAIlNbObfRFc
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOEq3KnDs7M
150Please respect copyright.PENANA70X6lcccIq
結果再開了半個小時就看到了公車站牌。150Please respect copyright.PENANApiOQQDEYe2
150Please respect copyright.PENANAN4X6qdFhKK
我先下車,青海先生將車停到勉強容納得下一台汽車的路邊,才走過來與我會合。150Please respect copyright.PENANAomqqYQAmjk
150Please respect copyright.PENANAC4NfN5OkK0
站牌本體雖然變得鏽跡斑斑,但還是看得出來仍有作用,只是班次變得比以前更少就是了。150Please respect copyright.PENANAY8rp9jSSk5
150Please respect copyright.PENANAt7d1j2oZ7L
150Please respect copyright.PENANA6FPfKiiCf8
「神命村居然還有公共汽車可以到啊,居然有這種好事。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAl5MBaRSl0E
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5UU1Jc3TNa
戴起玳瑁色Ray-Ban太陽眼鏡的他,要不是胸前那相機的存在,就真的與路邊的混混無異。150Please respect copyright.PENANACMIVj8LwHk
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXftDDX3bDl
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3uXPhBv4Yf
「不過妳也真是的,早說的話我們坐公車來不就好了嗎?多省事啊,哈哈。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAIUtiZ8cnH3
150Please respect copyright.PENANANMXOcHFYlx
「請不要隨意觸碰我的肩膀。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAiywfZZOFv9
150Please respect copyright.PENANAuRZgAdaeo6
這似乎是他想展現友好的方式,但我並不領情,本來我們之間就只是利害一致的關係,但這個人除了專業的部份以外都很容易惹我不爽。150Please respect copyright.PENANA46jEo7zUEA
150Please respect copyright.PENANAQH1UGnlOBi
150Please respect copyright.PENANAi3zfR6SbLq
「別這樣不近人情啊,這麼不可愛會交不到朋友吧?真是可惜了那樣的臉蛋。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAyDyAgeWnt4
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnieX0ruCWf
「謝謝你的關心。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAzC6t52aU2D
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3x5Fgs4EPU
我並未將男人的話放在心上,自己朝著小徑的方向走去,他在自討沒趣摸摸鼻子後識相地跟了上來。150Please respect copyright.PENANAMLZV1fMxzk
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmDgIRjALlh
但他說的也是事實,自從到了都市以後,大概是個性不善掩飾的關係,普通的朋友是有很多,但並沒有所謂的知心好友。因此,我才會如此重視穗香這個好友的存在。150Please respect copyright.PENANAXAvGr6tcdd
150Please respect copyright.PENANAb1QSer3Rzs
……老實說我很想她。150Please respect copyright.PENANANfyrkg1Ju2
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXqip2S3AwL
尤其是從青海先生這邊得知芥川實至郎──也就是前教主已死去,由她擔任的現在,我認為是個和她見面的最好時機。150Please respect copyright.PENANA9UYcFuyOwO
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvSO2nH5pCV
150Please respect copyright.PENANAK0JxO3cPhm
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUnbHB8wny0
走在每個曲折都是那麼熟悉的森林小徑。150Please respect copyright.PENANAGOqOvH9ojZ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAFUq3PyWgEg
由於我擺明不想聊天的關係,不知不覺中青海先生已經走到我前面去了。150Please respect copyright.PENANAAFlybAC1Ew
150Please respect copyright.PENANAxaATXA1XY1
不知道是我的體力變差還是怎樣,走過一半的路以後就開始覺得喘不過氣。150Please respect copyright.PENANAlrB0ik225E
150Please respect copyright.PENANA155tTPfxsd
原先認為還算好穿的靴子讓腳趾好痛,自以為能阻擋蚊蟲的內搭褲則是沒發揮半點作用,種種不應該犯的錯居然會發生在我身上,真是豈有此理。150Please respect copyright.PENANALTs0vtskje
150Please respect copyright.PENANAeclP5IjO4T
然而,就在我小聲嘀咕的時候,走在前面的青海先生突然停了下來。150Please respect copyright.PENANAqUzJgtpCUh
150Please respect copyright.PENANAqGCXBveFoB
150Please respect copyright.PENANADGuY0moAXF
原因無他,因為在更前面的地方,一名穿著甚平浴衣的少年正站在那裡。150Please respect copyright.PENANACeRWBnr5Us
150Please respect copyright.PENANARLTvATstKA
150Please respect copyright.PENANAaxLq93Ouch
「午安,想必是結城來夏小姐和青海雄介先生吧,村長已經恭候多時了。」150Please respect copyright.PENANASGaxfpX9W5
150Please respect copyright.PENANADvXLpHSLqG
年僅十六、七歲的少年行了一禮。150Please respect copyright.PENANAnlu1tWhbkW
150Please respect copyright.PENANAzNWHkr772M
他的臉讓我有點眼熟,但實在是想不起名字,畢竟當年我離開村子的時候,他可能還沒就讀小學吧。150Please respect copyright.PENANA6hrOUqpvZ0
150Please respect copyright.PENANAM57pZfTgun
但此時此刻,我實在是沒有心思去想那些,制定的秘密計畫老早就被別人發現,讓我感到苦惱不已。150Please respect copyright.PENANA2DhJtwTwYm
150Please respect copyright.PENANA4lgLMmfLoJ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAD0dhs2PfXW
「無須驚慌,村長特地指派我來為兩位帶路,尤其為初次前來的青海先生導覽村子,請往這邊走。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAnPFBkTKH3I
150Please respect copyright.PENANA462ucxjYwW
少年希望我們能放心跟著他,我想說反正回來的事情也曝露了,索性只能跟在他的後頭。150Please respect copyright.PENANAanIf9egOCy
150Please respect copyright.PENANAbtHjMu7NTm
等到走到能看見村子的位置時,便開始向青海先生介紹起整個神命村的現況。150Please respect copyright.PENANA4FjaNxEVw4
150Please respect copyright.PENANARRuKbpvXcb
我邊走邊聽,目前大概就是村子有意推廣觀光,所以需要與媒體合作而增加曝光率等等,少年如此解釋著。150Please respect copyright.PENANA0OmYOSL3MQ
150Please respect copyright.PENANADxW9vlfUFq
當然,關於那些怪物的情況則是一點都沒提到。150Please respect copyright.PENANAtkaPZ3LZIU
150Please respect copyright.PENANAfFOXB8Q9SC
150Please respect copyright.PENANAzBow2KJoeF
「哎呀,原來我們還蠻受妳的好朋友歡迎的嘛。果然現在時代不同了,由年輕人主導就是不一樣。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAjrpciHxt05
150Please respect copyright.PENANAvpzR01a8XJ
途中,青海先生一面興奮地到處按下快門,一面轉過頭來徵求我的意見,不過我沒有回話。150Please respect copyright.PENANApmHZXfnT5T
150Please respect copyright.PENANAJjxu79Yi5a
150Please respect copyright.PENANA9BUpyl51bs
走出小徑後,我們一路從學校的方向走回村子。150Please respect copyright.PENANAF7Zc6KT20c
150Please respect copyright.PENANACBvpvenikh
廣闊的梯田裡面的稻草人仍舊佇立在麥田間,只不過衣著變得更加千奇百怪,據說要作為觀光的重點特色發展。我遠遠地看到幾個在田裡面灑著肥料的村民,不過我不確定是不是我所認識的人,因為視力沒有以前那麼好了,而且我一項都不喜歡有異物在臉上的感覺,更不要說是放在眼球上面。150Please respect copyright.PENANAhC8ySOooRV
150Please respect copyright.PENANAaWhtTG13K2
沿著碎石子的小路,我們經過一間又一間結構相同的木造建築。小時候不覺得有異,但現在看起來就像是建商販售的社區住宅一樣。至於經過我家前面,看到那寫著「結城」的熟悉門牌已經被替換上別的姓氏,心裡面還是感到一股莫名的惆悵。150Please respect copyright.PENANAsUiQb93fRf
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwccXkSm2To
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOrejvKZr54
「這裡就是村長的住所,那麼我就為兩位導覽至此,請容我暫且告辭了。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAdsAqxNoJE8
150Please respect copyright.PENANA5uywcDkuqy
在莊嚴的和風木製大門前,少年將我們交付給年紀約五十好幾的婦人後便先行離去。150Please respect copyright.PENANAleUiRVzGlN
150Please respect copyright.PENANAIv2A2JZKne
面容雖然比印象中老了一些,但這位名叫前田的阿姨我是認識的。150Please respect copyright.PENANAwcw5kaMSum
150Please respect copyright.PENANAmKSr3j9ICa
打從我有記憶開始,就聽父親提過她在村長家中侍奉,想不到至今仍然維持著原狀。可是她似乎沒有認出我來,說了句「這邊請」後,便引領我們前往會客室的方向。150Please respect copyright.PENANAxga1GSdasx
150Please respect copyright.PENANAAdL7AWYDnw
150Please respect copyright.PENANAXnYpjMXT77
「哦,好氣派的房子啊!」150Please respect copyright.PENANADhC8FDKGmD
150Please respect copyright.PENANAdhpVFkikIu
比起有閒情逸致對著枯山水造景拍照的青海先生,我這邊則是與之相反的沈重心情。150Please respect copyright.PENANArAtj8ooTZH
150Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ4zGFJnN4
150Please respect copyright.PENANA7WyQxYmkLE
……老實說再次來到這裡讓我覺得很恐怖。150Please respect copyright.PENANALLJZQlylTM
150Please respect copyright.PENANAi4dMw9VhN2
以前是因為大家都畏懼村長而感到害怕,但如今讓我感到畏懼的是村子完全沒變的事實。時間這個概念彷彿在神命村中不存在似地,幾乎所有的一切都與過去相同,我從這裡離開簡直就像昨天的事情一樣。150Please respect copyright.PENANAgOzFj9jRiX
150Please respect copyright.PENANAGo1PyR12cu
150Please respect copyright.PENANABiuqjIEKOM
在進入會客室前會經過一段鶯啼走廊,光是腳踏在上面就會發出刺耳的軋扎聲響。150Please respect copyright.PENANAyd7PXgkSOx
150Please respect copyright.PENANAEm2jLDaPvm
我在小時候聽父親提到過,這是種防盜的設計,年幼的我不管再怎麼放慢動作,結果都還是難以避免木頭發出高分貝的音量。150Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9JYbCboFt
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgjNwWqsaG4
150Please respect copyright.PENANA1baqqE6SiV
「結城大人、青海先生,請在此稍後片刻,我這就去請村長前來。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAjoS3C7SFTk
150Please respect copyright.PENANAUeSIgPaMup
必恭必敬地行禮後,前田阿姨伴隨著地板的響聲逐漸遠去,不過……她剛剛說大人?150Please respect copyright.PENANAF9FKBQJVKF
150Please respect copyright.PENANAVRGxPqPs0C
150Please respect copyright.PENANABfdAhideRK
「嘿,結城小姐,妳認為他們把那些樹人藏在哪裡?」150Please respect copyright.PENANAF9s6NiFacd
150Please respect copyright.PENANANYGxEce6aW
別人前腳才剛走,這傢伙立刻就在榻榻米墊上鬆懈姿勢開始大聲嚷嚷起來,就算沒神經也該有個限度。150Please respect copyright.PENANAoRgS7ScW9O
150Please respect copyright.PENANAieobMjs8Zv
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgxgygh4TQq
「我不知道。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAkVGVJ5cXCl
150Please respect copyright.PENANA1fZAOk5GW5
「真可惜啊,不過倒是拍到了許多好照片就是了,這趟收穫可真不少!」150Please respect copyright.PENANAA18WtUQXVU
150Please respect copyright.PENANAL8PekGNj0K
「那但願你能寫出與其相稱的報導。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAy5L7JnOtm1
150Please respect copyright.PENANAcsX3Nr1Bkb
「所以要是能掌握些黑幕就好啦,聳動的標題最能吸引觀眾了。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAZpSguNeUxm
150Please respect copyright.PENANA65yNYgbUkG
說穿了這傢伙就是為了錢吧,反正與我無關。150Please respect copyright.PENANAWAbU5IFDD2
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgNF1BvdLdf
150Please respect copyright.PENANAOru2jsr1Lg
「喔,對了,妳那好朋友漂不漂亮啊?」150Please respect copyright.PENANAyDiOapk9HO
150Please respect copyright.PENANAW9rWbZJXzZ
「……」150Please respect copyright.PENANA97tUIwvB8r
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3tL9Dc6acp
我因為懶得理這個討厭的男人而別開了臉。150Please respect copyright.PENANAisTj5XHIgr
150Please respect copyright.PENANADXAZ4P1kTa
然而,就因為這動作讓我突然驚覺,前方不知道什麼時候正坐著一位身穿加賀友禪的美女。首先注意到的是她那雪白的長髮,脫俗的清瘦臉龐,雖然不明原由地閉著眼睛,但眼前的美人確實是──150Please respect copyright.PENANAT58vTKIYg5
150Please respect copyright.PENANAMlGI2z2cXC
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlNCRLgaXvJ
「感謝兩位遠道而來,我是神命村的村長──桃井穗香,請多多指教。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAvxrAwvIwEJ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5dWsjg547
多年未見而外貌丕變的好友深深行了一禮。150Please respect copyright.PENANATJRFy51Sre
150Please respect copyright.PENANAtpzkUaH82y
150Please respect copyright.PENANARd8pJqt0id
「好久不見。」150Please respect copyright.PENANA4VfbnYRk6g
150Please respect copyright.PENANAwFQhv2k0jS
「啊……妳好妳好,抱歉讓妳見笑了。」150Please respect copyright.PENANAr3oAsJFz71
150Please respect copyright.PENANAgb4mmDewOE
我趕緊回禮,而身旁的男人也跟著在一陣手忙腳亂之中坐正回禮,接著用他自以為小聲的音量接連對我說「真是個美人呢」、「不過眼睛好像看不見啊」。150Please respect copyright.PENANAn5Xm0Nuj7f
150Please respect copyright.PENANAlsAJWDrhmx
150Please respect copyright.PENANAB4bXkPGSTc
「───」150Please respect copyright.PENANAjgOoDGf39G
150Please respect copyright.PENANAu2nMPYdXOZ
我沒空理他,先是觀察外面的走廊,出入口只有一個,也就是說,穗香走進來沒道理我會沒注意到才對。150Please respect copyright.PENANAyVCXnCdt8e
150Please respect copyright.PENANABd61Cr3rUN
這時候走廊那邊傳來有人走動的聲音,驗證了我的想法,隨後進來的前田阿姨奉上熱茶,收起托盤後再度踏著鶯鳴的音律離去。150Please respect copyright.PENANAUxiRyED8KQ
150Please respect copyright.PENANAv5vKu29jiQ
150Please respect copyright.PENANA3Eyl1VF0zN
「請先用茶。」150Please respect copyright.PENANA7eFDUBKXb6
150Please respect copyright.PENANAEqIHC08PiR
「正好口渴了呢,那我就不客氣啦!」150Please respect copyright.PENANAU8al8CWpp1
150Please respect copyright.PENANAt3Q1N2F6Wa
不知道是真的口渴,還是想在美女面前展現自己海派的個性,他將陶杯裡的茶水一口飲盡。150Please respect copyright.PENANAJCnxCkCzu3
150Please respect copyright.PENANAe9xmJWWasf
我在心裡面暗自想著這行為大概不妥,果不其然,才過沒多久,他的呼吸變得急促,那壯碩的身軀開始劇烈地抽搐,整個過程才不到兩分鐘就已經斷氣。150Please respect copyright.PENANAYajATn7evN
150Please respect copyright.PENANAHjtEqqxkl3
150Please respect copyright.PENANAnAEe4YiLut