在阿嘉莎和塞繆爾的勸說下，米德魯神父妥協了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLbOmmUccO
提前的火刑改回原本的時間，將在今日中午開始行刑。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWJQACPSXj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAo8O7Lh8g
神父和村長一大早就開始組織村民們準備火刑事宜，村人們在村內四處移動。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYG2iqHKxe
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7yg4TI77B
不知為何，老鼠的數量似乎多了起來，甚至能在街道上看到老鼠四處亂竄，清晨開始，已經有人目擊數次鼠群的移動了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgB2J1z0sW
值得注意的是，昨日回報的信使開始咳嗽，不過他自認為沒事，熱心地加入準備的行列。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNJnsSOORe
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKesf72PWvE
魔女仍被關押在倉庫裡，由於今日就要行刑，看守鬆了很多，門口的衛兵甚至打起瞌睡。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI57qhpKA8X
「杜比斯先生，杜比斯先生？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjKhu2FHdN
阿嘉莎搖了搖衛兵，喚他起床。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlckeyFsxRX
「嗚……呃……阿嘉莎修女？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthgkyPQNFZ
「能讓我進去嗎？我要送最後一餐。」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbEIdzXtEu
睡眼惺忪的衛兵揉了揉眼，隨著視野清晰，他注意到阿嘉莎手上的用布蓋著的籃子。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa9ySLSqig
「嗯，沒問題……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnRAcZcAB2
衛兵杜比斯點著頭替阿嘉莎打開了上鎖的倉庫門。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdMaO1vyJf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTp3WJEdFB
倉庫內，魔女仍靠在牆邊，閱讀她那本沒有封面的舊書。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqKiZoYThd
但與平時不同的是，她今日右手緊緊抓著自己長過臉頰的髮鬢不放，嘴唇也微微抿著。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4DW4AVx2R
「魔女小姐？」阿嘉莎小力地闔上木門。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquwUFlVUVb
「唷，小修女又來啦。」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDrWNSLysu
感覺魔女有些無精打采。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSdwRikDcp
「你怎麼了，魔女小姐？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkH0EDbKzi
「沒什麼，昨日等你們有些緊張……不過看起來你們成功了。」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf1G9ug0TI
「嗯，火刑，會在今天中午開始……」阿嘉莎放下餐籃，背對著魔女：「魔女小姐，你真的有方法不被火刑嗎？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMasFB0OJb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQy3RRhYeN
魔女沒有回答……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinjB32LiO
阿嘉莎好奇地回望。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1uHqkadYr
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITH10gyjNf
只見魔女低著頭，渾身顫抖著。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIKLmiocWH
「魔女小姐？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbekvn3dAEP
阿嘉莎有些擔憂，想靠近關心她。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1BfqLJE2N
但手才剛碰到魔女，她就意識到——這個人在笑……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Pv808DWo
「呵呵呵呵、哈哈呵呵……」魔女拼命捂著嘴，但還是忍不住笑聲：「噗……噗哈哈哈哈！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMhzo0QK73
阿嘉莎愣了一下，但一星期的相處下來，她也大概了解魔女的意思了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QV0Prl1jR
「看來，您很有自信。」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKKOvgwjqn
「對不起……呵呵呵……一想到待會我要做什麼，我就想笑……呵呵呵呵哈啊！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB2Icikeic
阿嘉莎點了點頭，微笑著將食物整理好，放到魔女身前。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUhghRZK9D
「瘟疫要來了，我希望您真的可以幫助我們……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt3DX19UGT
「呵……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoSA3inq0k
聽到那個稱呼，魔女停止了笑聲，看向阿嘉莎。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K3RK8kaqr
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOh6ujWes3
「別擔心，小修女……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz47XtJoIgT
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZPCkGpJbA
又是那別具誘惑力的音調，魔女微微歪頭，長長的睫毛蓋住不知張還閉的眼睛。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHlcHY6KKs
魔女淺淺地笑著：58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C4tzQXE8U
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsM6tWepDL
「畢竟，我是……嘛～」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGldtkEhjDk
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv91WdCvVns
或許是那股音調，或許是這些天發生的事，阿嘉莎的腦內突然思考了許多東西，她沒能聽清魔女說的話……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTDZyn7Aog
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejqU7wa5q2
中午，很快就到了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC5gBQFjR5
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeAeymUTAS
村民們早早聚集到了廣場，將村中央的廣場擠的水洩不通。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2gLKBFkfI
刑台上，火刑架底下堆滿了柴火，劊子手站在一旁，手上拿著尚未點燃的火炬。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFdjGb2Mt5
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew8aqQ6eOb
在刑台前，還放了另一個高臺，上面擺了椅子，米德魯神父、塞繆爾以及幾位從村民中挑出的陪審團坐在上面。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViyVEgyNiz
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cVakl1gBy
塞繆爾緊張的用指甲搔抓手掌。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiCoEWMyIk
「呃……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03MtmVCKQZ
一個沒注意，竟然抓破了皮膚，一點血從中流出。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnZvZaDKv8
「你很緊張嗎，塞繆爾兄弟？」米德魯神父遞來一條手帕。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEor0VRU4z
「謝謝……」塞繆爾道謝後用手帕按住傷口：「是的，我很緊張……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSPtppc8kJ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoQmUsF0R6
因為，他們將對魔女進行最後的審判，進行一場，沒有意義，沒有法治，早已決定好結果的審判。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgugLFPTvr
說實在，塞繆爾都不知道為什麼要派自己這樣的法官過來……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5kRXJqDAa
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARL2qg6MxG
沒一會，衛兵杜比斯和另外幾名衛兵壓著一個白髮的女人進入廣場。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoaKA3J2vD
那就是魔女了，長長的睫毛蓋住眼睛，微笑的表情令人看不出情緒。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZWUyKiWDR
儘管被粗繩捆綁，推著進來，但她仍保持著一股優雅的感覺。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJP2atdIq2
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMIBg3aMCe
本來，村人們吵吵鬧鬧，但一見到魔女，人們紛紛安靜了下來——不知是因為火刑前的緊張，還是因為魔女的外貌……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsozdQ19DSM
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVjZjy7FoY
魔女登上刑台，所有人都沉默不語。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSFWeAb7dV
她站立在台上，正面朝著陪審團們。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6Dub2vHPt
長長的睫毛下，鮮紅的瞳孔掃視著底下的人群，村民們紛紛閃避視線，深怕與魔女對上眼而被詛咒。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcesBgV3Sc7
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7QmS8bEuH
塞繆爾舉著法槌，不知該如何是好，他深深的懷疑這場審判的合法性。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC4q118oAT
沒有證據、沒有依據，犯人憑甚麼站在刑台上接受審判？58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQA6yslx87
如果以神之名可以審判萬物，要法律有何作用？58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceWHzlKOM7
他無法下定決心，敲響法槌。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItBwyew7hb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZATiRv5F42
米德魯神父看出塞繆爾的不安，她伸手接過法槌，並用眼神示意塞繆爾放鬆。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhRhQvGvwO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkIaDzwLfR
嗵嗵嗵！58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnipuc5r1t
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mPUT6jXpT
米德魯神父敲響法槌，示意最終審判的開始。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQQIrOdfCy
「無名的魔女啊，這是你最後的機會，你是否認罪？」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE2sceuGH8
「我何罪之有？」魔女沉靜地回應。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIdmXUYzKJ
「使用魔法、毀壞自然、苟同惡魔……你的罪名數不勝數。近日的魔女騷動，你肯定就是源頭！」米德魯神父一改平時溫和的態度，兇猛地說道：「無數女孩們身上長滿皮疹，扭曲痛苦地在地上爬行，是不是因為你和惡魔施展魔法，蠱惑人心，向她們展示了什麼淫穢不堪的邪惡畫面！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPLrnUUe9Q
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V7K2pFuCs
神父一口氣說了好多話，停下來後整個人都在喘，他接過一旁侍童遞來的水杯，稍微休息一下。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduvHFi2thY
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUnZllhX1c
但魔女沉默不語。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIddwx9dSn
未否認，可也未認罪。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltm4IjX3Ab
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREr3ewJsD5
塞繆爾接過法槌。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TOdAs2IMZ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Dtc6DFwso
嗵嗵嗵！58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m8FIpqu6h
輪到他了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt2sUfWJMG
「被告，依照現行的法條……我將對你進行最後的測試……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK9J2wP5gW
他看著手上的羊皮紙，上面是他提早準備好的流程。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mjm6mApyp
昨日晚上，和魔女溝通時，他大概猜出了魔女的目的——拖延時間，不知到原因，但魔女似乎希望拖延到正午。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS7iIsvEeD
既然如此，塞繆爾決定進行項在他看來很沒道理的測試。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUyJJgyp6Z
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx40g7HDzy
「把蛋糕送上來！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eE5NXUdAI
隨著塞繆爾的命令，村人推了個小蛋糕出來。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKUQxxxbrU
「這是利用那些受苦女孩們的尿液製成的蛋糕……把狗也牽上來吧！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PITbZi04z
魔女蛋糕，透過黑麥粉和受害者的尿液製成，據說裡面含有來自魔女的「邪惡粒子」，如果被狗食用，那魔女將感到痛苦，呻吟聲會暴露她。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wJ9I9sDkr
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVoG360Da5
很快，一條黑狗汪汪叫著被牽了上來。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCnekTKKAP
牠看起來餓了很久，一看到蛋糕便撲了上去，撕咬起來。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvvbv5HFuN
沒一會蛋糕就被吃完了，所有人都默默注意著魔女的反應……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ibYtGVBb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseRWrLFtDS
魔女沉默不語，毫無反應地站在原地，臉上只帶著一開始的笑容。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiJJ0X057C
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi7bs63H4y
米德魯神父皺著眉頭，表情不悅。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXlZOCMIG6
塞繆爾點了點頭。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD8UQFc5gK
「沒有反應，好……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8YsI5j6sU
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBRHEHvoZK
距離正午還有時間，魔女仍就不語，塞繆爾還需要爭取點時間。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha0L4RIpRs
「我將，朗誦法庭已得的證據……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcvnK9bUJH
塞繆爾換了張紙，上面記載了幾個星期以來對魔女進行過的測驗。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hsf4Ptpg6
「沒有必要吧，塞繆爾兄弟……」米德魯神父將手放在紙上，小聲說道：「我還是不相信她能拯救瘟疫，她才是瘟疫的源頭……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S1cQnzhdK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM0RWv5okL
塞繆爾推開他的手，搖了搖頭。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzfRXqVxTS
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1COaciAbAv
「兩個星期前，進行了第一項觸摸測試，被告與狀況穩定下來的受害者進行觸碰，如若狀況立刻失衡，代表就是魔女……」塞繆爾朗誦了第一項測驗：「結果……受害者毫無變化，推測是因愧疚感……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKwv1vpIF6
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9RyC6QCFI
這什麼荒謬的測驗，成功了就是魔女，失敗了是有愧疚感的魔女……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQQMBI1h2C
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMJP4u5fFJ
「上個星期，阿嘉莎修女協助進行了乳頭測驗……被告乳頭是粉色的……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNoHVvo41q
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNGP0bH2D3
什麼東西，塞繆爾越來越搞不明白了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBiHtcYloq
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjfhMVmDQH
「顏色、型態皆正常，但用針戳刺後毫無反應……足以做為魔女的證據。」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEnkYr6lyb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs1C18PSBB
塞繆爾嘆了口氣，又繼續念下去。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzmalvOX65
好不容易，距離正午只差幾分鐘了，他趕著懷錶，可手上已經沒有證據可以朗誦了。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFiA94uEQx
「塞繆爾兄弟，足夠了，宣判吧！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2gwtvv5cN
「還不行……要……呃……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI7JXWimYK
見塞繆爾遲遲不宣判，米德魯神父伸手想搶法槌。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekFQKikeWE
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1GxCxgl0D
「證據確鑿，準備行刑！點燃火炬！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTokPH0ugu
隨著米德魯的大喊，魔女被綁上火刑架，劊子手立刻點燃點燃了火炬。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6j7GMkKbW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccDuoHePo6
「住手！米德魯兄弟，你不能這樣！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5rzd4fKJe
「你才是，不要再拖延了！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sHfKEilk5
爭奪法槌的過程中，塞繆爾注意到魔女的表情，她對著塞繆爾點了點頭，彷彿在說：58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZxBBWkYOn
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RE20tBnl
『可以了。』58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOfyoELb52
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuYTAdEbrp
塞繆爾鬆開手，米德魯搶過法槌。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUErTJiDulS
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBqS23fJV4
嗵嗵嗵！58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIRBRBC97a
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OVex5BYMI
「行刑！」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz00EoS6kW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77U8CONhVu
但當劊子手正要點燃柴堆時。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4Fjg5F26T
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2SSay3yzA
「我呀……」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1ls1J1kIg
魔女突然開口：58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI4Rv2YBVU
「是天使唷～」58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu4rYR40TK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh3pzhBDUy
嘩啦啦——58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbebdi9w1F
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7Ahxy3zEy
說話的同時，天空突然下起大雨。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKietCDA69K
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm4FBc0RSf
民眾們急忙用手遮擋雨勢，米德魯抬起頭，看著艷陽高照的天空。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J2Jth8sz6
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YyynGymYj
滴……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gIwgPbIBx
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DmKPwbzj5
雨水不斷滴在他臉上，他即使瞪大眼睛，也不得不相信眼前發生的事情——下雨了，行刑的前一刻下雨了。下雨了，在太陽高掛的時候下雨了……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1dxuMuBrF
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCs9iMsGo7
雨水淋溼了塞繆爾手上的羊皮紙，淋溼了米德魯神父的臉，淋溼了阿嘉莎的修女袍。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b2qmv5gqz
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMukEkfmjjF
也淋溼了劊子手的火炬和柴堆。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpLNlluWN5
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyEGBmQVSV
而魔女，仍在微笑，在火刑架上，露出溫和的微笑——宛如天使。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQWJlKtsPT
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPd6SL2x4A
這場雨下了足足三天，魔女被暫時關回倉庫內。58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ399j6pEN0d
她留下的那句話和最後的笑容深深刻在所有人心中……58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi6ypbJNTc
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea9yW1gAAS
