53Please respect copyright.PENANAWNLgiqqmlU
拄著拐杖,手裡提著燈,照亮腳下仍然被霧氣佔據,因而一片灰慘的地面。53Please respect copyright.PENANAM2sOqWPJG1
53Please respect copyright.PENANAGxvm4cR173
托這些遲緩濃重,宛如幽靈盤旋的霧氣之福,無論是月光、還是燈光,皆無法在這街道上留下半點痕跡。53Please respect copyright.PENANAjahGKOaYDi
53Please respect copyright.PENANAcoYb7MJXOM
被霧籠罩的空間只有靜謐,一切無聲,就像默劇在眼前上演,而你也身處其中似的。53Please respect copyright.PENANAJQR96AupWU
53Please respect copyright.PENANAiibJoyGxtS
船夫走進霧裡。53Please respect copyright.PENANA2Cn6BkAMlg
53Please respect copyright.PENANALaXSUdDaHo
他的腳步聲跟在他身後,餘下的散落在霧裡。53Please respect copyright.PENANAubYaD97lg3
53Please respect copyright.PENANAvxdExTBYtb
船夫跛了一條腿,但他從不提這條腿是怎麼傷的,還有他這麼一大把年紀了,為什麼不找個女人、生個孩子來替他負擔生活重擔。每當有人問起這些事,他總會怒目相視,然後送你一打穢言污語。53Please respect copyright.PENANAmF7WH7b8Pe
53Please respect copyright.PENANAc0UISNDK0Z
他的財產只有那條小船。他每天從霧河的東岸划往西岸,將某些小商家所購買的的貨物從這一頭載到另一頭,抽取微薄的費用,然後載從那一頭載些客人到這一頭回來,這裡得到的船資或許比較豐厚些,但不怎麼穩定。53Please respect copyright.PENANAxRHQnfmAK8
53Please respect copyright.PENANAjNRWGF0psc
總之,不管怎總是能找到賺錢的活兒幹。53Please respect copyright.PENANAsLx6YHc8aO
53Please respect copyright.PENANAZsqnziEgcj
像他這樣的人,得自己找活幹,因為沒有人會給你飯吃。一切都得自力更生。53Please respect copyright.PENANAqzfHzC6Kyy
53Please respect copyright.PENANAlpV5l7cKcA
他走到河岸邊。53Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZKMO7NpYy
53Please respect copyright.PENANA2YUfIythuI
這條切過蘭登城東南邊,與大河交會、直入大海的長河,將這座城市分成兩邊。53Please respect copyright.PENANA6au7X4ofS4
53Please respect copyright.PENANAwW5kI6mA9w
較小的這邊比較貧困,較大的那邊比較富裕,也繁忙得多。53Please respect copyright.PENANAgSSRy5DE8d
53Please respect copyright.PENANAdSfkLAOuQ5
但無論繁榮還是衰敗,都在同一座城市裡。而對船夫而言,一切和他溫飽無關的事情都沒有在意的必要。53Please respect copyright.PENANAXv3RUkyfTb
53Please respect copyright.PENANAjbBBamSRO2
無論人如何改變、天氣是好是壞,這條河永遠都會在,而船夫也只是日復一日地、在霧河上來來去去。53Please respect copyright.PENANAR4JYSQzGdt
53Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hf35d0AHM
他的住所就在河岸邊不遠,一間小小的、以木材和泥磚搭建成的小屋,但因為他沒有錢賄賂河務官讓他在自己家門前設立船樁,所以他只能每天花三分昂的租金在碼頭租船樁,然後在清晨的時候,走過瀰漫著霧的河岸,過去上工。53Please respect copyright.PENANAq1wmPOpQ6J
53Please respect copyright.PENANAudyQFTrpYw
這日,船夫不是最早到的那一個。53Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cpz1QG8j5
53Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mpc4U33f4
在他來到自己的船樁前,四周已經有其他船家正在裝載貨物。而他被分配到運送的貨物已經堆在他租下的船樁旁的岸上,一名穿著髒兮兮襯衫、麻布袋裁製成短褲的男孩正靠著那些貨物打量。53Please respect copyright.PENANATAXiuRjxoz
53Please respect copyright.PENANAztDw2qRcBp
最近幾天,從霧河東岸要運到西岸的東西增加不少,每日往來的人也便多了。有時候,船夫還會接到河務官的要求,要他們幫忙運些東西來到這一邊,政府出錢總是很大方,因此船夫也樂得聽從指示。53Please respect copyright.PENANA0CeS2Oym8j
53Please respect copyright.PENANAT47DAWLLUA
不過這樣一萊,靠他一個人得速度就不夠了。雖然不服氣,但船夫還是得承認他得力氣已不如從前。所以他雇用了一個男孩,用一天半里昂和午餐的代價,來分擔自己搬貨物的勞動工作。船夫覺得這可能是這一年來他做過最明智的決定了。53Please respect copyright.PENANAcVCVpTkdTN
53Please respect copyright.PENANAtA4axY9Y5p
男孩工作起來很勤快,也很識相,除了問東西要搬到哪之外,不會用討厭的噪音和問題打擾他。53Please respect copyright.PENANArtGNMdSXyS
53Please respect copyright.PENANAm0pudTL7Ds
「來吧,小子,上工了。」他走到男孩身邊,用拐杖敲敲他的小腿,惡聲惡氣地喝道。53Please respect copyright.PENANATROKNolUEO
53Please respect copyright.PENANAQabKt66R32
「是,先生。」男孩俐落地爬起來,等船夫清點完東西之後,開始將貨物搬到船上。53Please respect copyright.PENANAsYolpTxIV0
53Please respect copyright.PENANAvy5RzYai4h
男孩動作迅速,但因為他們已經落後了一些,所以當船夫解下船樁上的繫繩,用槳將裝滿貨物的船撐離河岸時,天際已經一片灰藍,由深至淺,河岸那一端,天空漸漸從灰轉亮。53Please respect copyright.PENANAQq8zYxBsgl
53Please respect copyright.PENANAwfVm6Yeys8
而瀰漫在大河上的霧起也開始淡去,只留下一薄薄的一層,順著漣漪晃動,像從水中升起的光般迷濛。53Please respect copyright.PENANACsjqmKODK3
53Please respect copyright.PENANAvSdP2cTJNH
好幾艘船已經離開港口,在河面上四散分開,前往它們的目的地。53Please respect copyright.PENANAKY1GCegVBQ
53Please respect copyright.PENANA6NsH4pYswE
雖然白霧稀疏,旦仍能遮蔽船隻的身影,讓它們在河面上漂流著就像是一些飄忽的影子。53Please respect copyright.PENANAazXLXXHtv6
53Please respect copyright.PENANADJBFxENND7
曾有種說法。53Please respect copyright.PENANA5rJjfgCCxF
53Please respect copyright.PENANA2fQIeYR92Q
霧河。53Please respect copyright.PENANAhpTWdwT1DO
53Please respect copyright.PENANAIApSYibUN1
這條有蘭登城就存在的河流——不管它和這城市當時叫做什麼名字——在這座城市裡不甘死去的所有靈魂,最終都會回到這條河上,徘徊不去,所以每當黃昏,這條和尚就會開始瀰漫白霧,然後漸漸擴散至城市的每一個角落、每一條巷道。53Please respect copyright.PENANA6nmuAboyij
53Please respect copyright.PENANAnDEHwv3Wj3
它是死者之河。53Please respect copyright.PENANAW6eMyKdHI9
53Please respect copyright.PENANAIoTtXvjdR3
但對船夫,以及所有在這條河上討生活的人而言。它只是條河,若說有什麼更深刻的意義,那僅只限於它是他們的衣食父母,也是他們日復一日的挑戰。53Please respect copyright.PENANAbYtfi0eLIY
53Please respect copyright.PENANAVcjwT7IBnP
船夫將滿載貨物的船往上游划去。53Please respect copyright.PENANACpEszehiBB
53Please respect copyright.PENANAiU8ktcpxzw
這船東西都是要送到上游的船塢去的,很少有船會跑這麼一趟,不過如果有需要,這生意通常是由他來跑。53Please respect copyright.PENANA2fr0BV4yqi
53Please respect copyright.PENANA9Bas7WeEcW
船夫在霧河上來來往往十幾年,比這裡大多數跑船人資歷都要老,而且他只跑城市裡這一段,對這裡的水流再了解不過。53Please respect copyright.PENANAcrHNWV8cUX
53Please respect copyright.PENANA6fmAmounQ1
他一路往上,肌肉糾結的手臂穩穩地撐著船槳,規律而穩健地推動著船隻。53Please respect copyright.PENANAFrgfRQn5Zm
53Please respect copyright.PENANA43bd31B15E
他雇用的孩子坐在船頭,雙眼機警地盯著前方,在清晨,霧尚未全部散去的時候,最怕的就是被什麼不知名的浮物絆住船。53Please respect copyright.PENANA7CfTLMdIPw
53Please respect copyright.PENANA8mrRBqgLmA
以前船夫會自己注意,但現在,既然有人分擔,他也樂得輕鬆,只要專心控船就好。53Please respect copyright.PENANA0HXJKp4cBx
53Please respect copyright.PENANA8A8VJdJN7x
不過他還是疏忽了。53Please respect copyright.PENANAE9tkTiyhGy
53Please respect copyright.PENANAStTHQHqnvA
當船槳碰到某個重物的時候,老船夫喝罵一聲。53Please respect copyright.PENANAtLJGHrgsyC
53Please respect copyright.PENANAGNvD4FFpwK
「你這個偷懶的小鬼!」他高聲詛咒,「滾過來,小子,看看你是怎麼幹活的!有東西纏上我的槳!」53Please respect copyright.PENANAAmkfY1QiGJ
53Please respect copyright.PENANAzHSuHKBbT2
「就來,先生。」男孩從他的座位上起身,以輕盈的步伐來到船邊,往槳的方向望去。53Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3qpJfaaSs
53Please respect copyright.PENANAcMsUSmzIvl
「我沒看到什麼東西,先生。」他瞇眼打量一陣,然後疑惑地抬頭。53Please respect copyright.PENANApiUTE1nV9j
53Please respect copyright.PENANAMKUnEW1vkl
老船夫仍然在使勁想把他的船槳從束縛中扯出來。53Please respect copyright.PENANASYYF2o0IQU
53Please respect copyright.PENANA1AYJ7HmynQ
「那麼是哪個該死東西纏住了我的槳!如果你什麼都沒看到的話,你的眼睛是生來作什麼用的!」53Please respect copyright.PENANApalllrVXfy
53Please respect copyright.PENANAc2f7upLStK
男孩聳聳肩,並未把船夫的咒罵放在心上,他往河面再探出些身子,試圖透過霧氣看清在河面下的東西——53Please respect copyright.PENANAr5ERmmXnb9
53Please respect copyright.PENANAi9yPIao2hW
而他有些收穫,他確實看見了某些......陰影。53Please respect copyright.PENANAq4cUMnkxaj
53Please respect copyright.PENANA3PPT1IUURU
但它們不像那些經常出現在合理的障礙物,它們沒有固定形狀,就像一片影子、不斷變化著外型,從底處擴散、上浮,直至表面......53Please respect copyright.PENANAsaqOOSWnD8
53Please respect copyright.PENANAhNZqk6jIdB
那層擴散的顏色即便在霧裡依然刺目。53Please respect copyright.PENANApwc7rcGqfB
53Please respect copyright.PENANAGNcsEXkv1I
男孩倒吸一口氣,跌坐在船上。53Please respect copyright.PENANAMt3tkDe8Pe
53Please respect copyright.PENANAUXfk4YMhMi
他的動作讓小船一陣晃動,船夫腳一滑,手沒握穩丟了槳,這讓他怒氣驟升,「你這小子!看你幹的好事!」53Please respect copyright.PENANA0wTcwPlqai
53Please respect copyright.PENANA4LgrlennzT
「快看,先生。」53Please respect copyright.PENANAQd0j6XAO0l
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但男孩顫抖著指向前方的手很快轉移了他的注意力。53Please respect copyright.PENANARbhk7hjwCa
53Please respect copyright.PENANA85RCVicU7r
船夫轉頭看去,同樣不可置信地瞠大了眼。53Please respect copyright.PENANAaT3TPYNpvp
53Please respect copyright.PENANAVxAP15VoWa
「喔,我的老天......上帝保佑......」53Please respect copyright.PENANAlqAaQUaA5t
53Please respect copyright.PENANAu9FNrsEwl2
在河面上擴散開的,是妖豔的鮮紅。53Please respect copyright.PENANAHe9E22ot2R
53Please respect copyright.PENANA65Q6jqcQcH
只會綻放在陸地上的顏色,在河面上,以不祥的速度迅速擴散,以船為中心,像感染似地朝四面八方蔓延,擴張著這顏色的領域。53Please respect copyright.PENANAt76UQ23nZM
53Please respect copyright.PENANAqOKT6yZKjW
然而詛咒還沒結束。53Please respect copyright.PENANAIxSBHD7e7N
53Please respect copyright.PENANAnTJHcImS6D
隨著下沉的船槳,解放了它的束縛的東西浮上,在船側現身。53Please respect copyright.PENANAAqo9dDOVwE
53Please respect copyright.PENANASMycox9xtm
一開始是蒼白的皮膚,然後是黑沉地有如絕望的髮絲在一片血紅裡飄搖。53Please respect copyright.PENANA0NqgrQbU36
53Please respect copyright.PENANAqTVTnYv4qa
失去了上下眼皮而裸露在外的眼珠朝著天,猙獰控訴它所遭遇到的命運。53Please respect copyright.PENANAo7ctcqPYbo
53Please respect copyright.PENANAHOkhDxfKxm
浮腫而雪白的血肉幾乎和那些被啃咬、露出的骨頭同樣淒慘。53Please respect copyright.PENANANniYNoOTC7
53Please respect copyright.PENANAhErSTXKEwv
——河底浮上兩具浮腫殘破的死屍,連同足以染紅整條霧河的血液......53Please respect copyright.PENANA0TDl9nGe4D
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53Please respect copyright.PENANA5hViTTKgI3
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