71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqPoqwjnRe
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSDK17P7D7
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5nUM8QvNl
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp4hl6C2tU
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8uNb8qWkS
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qBzdF1jRl
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3xbEDYj6b
船夫走進霧裡。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJZ5YF96qE
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCufvnaM1db
他的腳步聲跟在他身後，餘下的散落在霧裡。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpvA3mMdSm
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEbqLqjdOk
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98I1LFKbuu
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdWw46HWXE
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKD8A1H8dp
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y285LCeJi
總之，不管怎總是能找到賺錢的活兒幹。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9iGuDMc7Y
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTMmtn6j9B
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p0SnWk24k
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDxx6VGmEo
他走到河岸邊。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49p57iz45b
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22FCOMMGzy
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFGQ0aoG5w
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr6NHsjpYh
較小的這邊比較貧困，較大的那邊比較富裕，也繁忙得多。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9THWVwXVm3
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocJ3qhxzCJ
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf07zvRdt9
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBwwlY1OSW
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXASXjxTdu
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMApikmWQQ
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0APFMxxDG
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAxG6cQysH
這日，船夫不是最早到的那一個。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8EdpcxaII
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8LoGUpesD
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1Txim23Xw
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8TevpjoLC
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt0gVeb64q
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI7ryMUkpI
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7cSc6g8Du
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7R32Lhrxw
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyLEQkGaE3
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg3U7RJi40
「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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEpcQsE34R
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp7JRmwdZB
「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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiWtLQec3n
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22r2eXdSsX
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpoiysUnqZ
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3q7Iw1KAR
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArKkvWiGgE
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hNKSgIhqf
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdfDTgcQkO
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tS8k7ILvz
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuyX3By3Hp
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgTAuQUgLw
曾有種說法。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpXA8PDGMI
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIXToxMW3f
霧河。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83w5UoJhcE
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Vjal3ZDv
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6wHEEIQ9y
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnYEQ7e1jm
它是死者之河。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR8MPuhsbN
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhF82QFQaN
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF60kEUQsPD
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPoIGkcH7U
船夫將滿載貨物的船往上游划去。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VVgLf0hkI
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbylu1frKUr
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelnii7lzwp
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSts8dlGX0Q
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtOPafZPgp
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vw2bYoYFQ
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtILHOcX18u
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQwnmCGrTd
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgjSMFcO2g
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6L5ph5iUe
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXt3XZiekj
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYikXcmXrB
不過他還是疏忽了。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Y8PpuZKc
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk1eBeiMgr
當船槳碰到某個重物的時候，老船夫喝罵一聲。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMP6y4e3NA
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlNReTnTk0
「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！」71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSETYGSTZk
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETgFPq3b9l
「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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4UANbS9BI
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ph9YoS3UC
「我沒看到什麼東西，先生。」他瞇眼打量一陣，然後疑惑地抬頭。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM5fuijhJr
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn946fZVRSv
老船夫仍然在使勁想把他的船槳從束縛中扯出來。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDvqCQfONa
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPFqPfjlf2
「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！」71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiQfQsSHSI
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlVjrQs7Fe
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——71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA3R0nfsqx
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QzUYSSbbJ
而他有些收穫，他確實看見了某些......陰影。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsox6dNtBb
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRifdBiAWgL
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......71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4BwkrbonN
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5sFwFnYQU
那層擴散的顏色即便在霧裡依然刺目。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShpwR7LkhX
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBeZxS8hGp
男孩倒吸一口氣，跌坐在船上。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMtjd681B3
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqkcLlLzNW
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！」71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09EnOtnkO4
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifDVHp7qxe
「快看，先生。」71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyMSZHBVyd
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W15O87vx8
但男孩顫抖著指向前方的手很快轉移了他的注意力。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsw4CV0BJJ
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlKbKtiAcf
船夫轉頭看去，同樣不可置信地瞠大了眼。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezglyJcAJn
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgGaW5Y2jZ
「喔，我的老天......上帝保佑......」71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ783Lqvkqsf
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKzQMN025a
在河面上擴散開的，是妖豔的鮮紅。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ml3BJRrn2
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTeNppsx3t
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQWjx0RWkX
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I98UyhexW
然而詛咒還沒結束。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvpTLwx3ef
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPepGBQ65K
隨著下沉的船槳，解放了它的束縛的東西浮上，在船側現身。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI50HHcqHo
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblPFApsg3g
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrJufYt4K0
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDcBjjBTof
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqPSK7bY6E
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSvlanT0iV
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。71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYx3Y2zidR
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpULMGV9fo
——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......71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBldSVTHYs9
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIfRNqlv7T
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGKkvAFjIp
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