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湧泉客棧二樓的走廊盡頭，「潮」字門牌被海風吹得微微晃動，銅製門環上還掛著幾縷乾枯的赤草繩。
掌櫃吳伯佝僂著背，提著一盞油燈，燈芯燃燒時發出細微的「滋滋」聲，偶爾迸出幾點油星。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRFMx2W3uD
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD12lSfmcQF
「兩位，實在抱歉，」吳伯推開雕花木門，屋內陳設簡單，兩張羅漢榻相對而置，中間隔著一張矮几，「近來黑潮市商旅繁多，只剩這間房了。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxeCkPegzQ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsCgjrFC7z
江小由站在門口沒動，手指無意識地摩挲著腰間抓周龜甲的紋路。她皺眉打量著房內：「就兩張榻？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7psmC2MQF
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBp4on2epx
吳伯呵呵一笑，臉上的皺紋擠成一團：「你倆未來要行走江湖，怎可拘這小節？再說了，」他指了指榻間的空隙，「這距離，怕是比小船上的艙位還寬敞些。」江小由聽後面紅如棗。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ1zLvfPv2
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLlZjPDkIN
林戴志站在江小由身後，耳根也微紅。他輕咳一聲：「要不...我去馬廄將就一晚？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTO9huX5fv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz2I7eQNqD
「馬廄？」江小由翻了個白眼，「你是嫌自己身上的味道不夠重嗎？」她大步走進房內，徑直坐到西側的榻上，龜甲在她指尖轉了個圈，「吳伯，這房我們要了。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTB42XUIp3
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyfeofbSsa
吳伯笑眯眯地點頭，將燈放在矮几上：「子時漲潮，熱水會送到。若需要宵夜，樓下有剛撈上來的牡蠣。」他退到門邊，又補充道，「對了，夜裡風大，記得關窗。上月有個商賈沒關緊窗，早上醒來發現枕邊多了隻海鳥。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFCtdQxnzn
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzYFUHyVCk
門關上後，屋內陷入短暫的沉默。江小由盯著地上的青磚發呆，林戴志則呆呆地站在門邊。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ma4GTq5k
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33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptImoPqnxs
海風從窗縫鑽入，吹得燈火搖曳。江小由從包袱裡掏出一包粗鹽，沿著兩張榻之間撒出一條歪歪扭扭的線。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeq03mVE7g
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy0KVey7eG
「這是...？」林戴志疑惑道。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdkrHaPUQb
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsVgEGtcsf
「界線。」江小由頭也不抬，「越界者死。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArYxnQLuwq
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs50hXjThPX
林戴志張了張嘴，最終還是沒說什麼，默默走到東側榻邊坐下。他脫下外袍時，一枚銅錢從口袋滾落，在地板上轉了幾圈，最後停在鹽線邊緣。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcKBq49KIk
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5CY1XVMWT
江小由瞥了一眼：「還不撿？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRJJUukIUK
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHng9okdkYB
「啊，是...」林戴志慌忙去撿，手指不小心碰散了幾粒鹽。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppRXMbvgTf
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo4XMnb5c6
「真是蠢魚。」江小由嘟囔著，從袖中掏出一把新的鹽，仔細補齊了缺口。月光透過窗紙，把她的影子投在牆上。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHUEImq5x4
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWIANRYOMv
林戴志和衣躺下，藤編的榻面發出「吱呀」聲響。他試圖找個舒服的姿勢，卻不小心壓斷了一根藤條。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyqFgfR8iQ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVmep2yDv7
「你能不能安靜點？」江小由猛地坐起身，龜甲被撞跌在地上，發出輕微的碰撞聲。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vMJneX2xt
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU21hmnUwb
「對、對不住...」林戴志僵住不動，連呼吸都放輕了。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6J98NmVSN
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAPdvo7i02
江小由拾起龜甲，盯著他看了半晌，突然嘆了口氣：「算了。」她重新躺下，背對著林戴志，「明天還要去找吳伯問詳細，睡吧。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4luoneIhM
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxWdC97ZID
屋外傳來更夫敲梆子的聲音，潮水拍打岸邊的聲響隱約可聞。林戴志望著房梁，輕聲道：「小由...」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODMSR2PHbe
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV5PCY0JkS
「閉嘴，睡覺。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiKpOs5Ded
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRNxXkhlEt
「我是想說...」林戴志猶豫了一下，「你的龜甲...好像裂了道縫。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0afVSo7lrw
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m7eVR9TdD
江小由立刻摸向腰間，仔細檢查後發現只是光影造成的錯覺。她鬆了口氣，隨即惱怒地抓起藤枕砸向對面：「胡說八道！」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvPMJXdSaa
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIGfa5DNUq
藤枕準確命中林戴志的臉，揚起一陣細小的灰塵。
黑暗中，兩人都沒看見對方微微揚起的嘴角。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHD3Awt2Ef
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33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ8KtBqeTe
翌日清晨，湧泉客棧的天井裡積著昨夜的雨水，門前的青石板縫隙間鑽出幾叢野蕨。
一個筋肉虯結、黝黑如礁的老漢蹲在灶台前撥弄炭火，鐵架上烤鰻魚的油脂滴落時，激起一陣帶著焦香的青煙。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UVn2j3JZh
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX0r8pE6C8
他將烤得酥脆金黃的鰻魚擱上木臺後便離開，而臺面的茶湯卻映出三張神色各異的臉。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TQXNejOQk
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAlM2UU25A
「貢珠樓頂層供著一塊紅玉天后碧，」老吳用筷子在桌面劃出樓閣輪廓，「半個巴掌大的血髓玉，夜裡能照出三丈內的人影。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRA1gGPtWl
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFP3SvUPXd
江小由舀起一勺黍米粥：「不就是塊值錢的石頭？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEykGcM1AJW
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uw8rXbnaG
「就是塊值錢的石頭，」他咧嘴一笑，露出參差不齊的黃牙：「值的錢可連整條南港村的人頭也買下。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxtKFD2pfv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jPBXczzge
茶湯中忽然晃過林戴志慘白的臉，他想起那夜巨鯊幫火把下，東灘一個個赤紅的人頭。他握著瓷勺的手一顫，魚粥在桌面洇出個不規則的圓。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9MNiHhMA7
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Weyk5WWhw
「怕啥？」江小由的龜甲在指間轉了個圈，「當初捅洪浪的膽子呢？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4PG2hINUB
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e9DtIrwzF
吳伯突然起身推開窗欞。晨霧中，遠處貢珠樓的鎏金尖頂刺破雲層，檐角銅鈴隨風搖出細碎金光。樓下市集的早點攤正支起油布棚，裹著頭巾的婦人將成串的臘魚掛上竹竿，空氣裡瀰漫著豆漿與醃菜的氣味。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOuDMz2dNa
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6PZxk77op
「據聞此石頭上月被怒濤眾南海分舵主趙山紅所奪。正好兩天前趙山紅帶著精銳去紅螺嶕收月錢，一來一往，也要三、四天。」他在窗框某處一按，暗格彈出兩套粗布短打，「這是貢珠樓雜役的工服，腰牌是老夫用鯊魚骨仿的。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvukVRFt5d
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJi2I1euSa
林戴志摩挲著衣物上陳年的醬漬：「我們扮成洗玉匠去偷？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCO5Vc65Md
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2nTBHnNeo
「差不多，是搬運工。」吳伯又咧嘴露出黃黑的牙，「趙山紅吞了巨鯊幫的地盤，正招壯丁蓋新賭坊。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOBm3rGUXp
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zxQapp1eQ
江小由突然將手拍在桌上。「老鬼，這不是要我們去賣命？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUNiUYzVpX
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMnnW8ZlWd
「小由此話差了，」吳伯慢悠悠斟茶，「老夫是生意人，咱們做的是交易。」他從袖中抖出張泛黃的路引，「只要取回紅玉，往杭州的官船，觀月社的門路，老夫全包。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYUlzXZxBi
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo04LBOmb8t
林戴志與江小由同時抬頭，兩人獨自前往西湖實在並非易事。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsxWNd3xik
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Sk1qfxq3O
「如何？」吳伯將路引湊近炭盆，「當然你們也可以自己去。不過聽說西湖邊的醉仙樓，一道醋魚已能賣出南海明珠的價...」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZCQs0YL5I
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAXk6WBTmd
江小由怔怔盯著路引上「臨安府」三個硃砂戳印，灶膛裡半焦的木炭「嗶啵」爆開，濺起的星火險些燎著裙角。林戴志悶聲套上粗麻短褐，布料摩擦背脊舊疤的窸窣聲，與那夜焚燒的漁網聲重疊。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5smzTwMtSa
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOPZAg0zII
「午時二刻，」吳伯將鯊齒令牌塞進他領口，枯指在城防圖上叩出油漬，「憑腰牌可經西門入寨，守衛換哨有半盞茶光景。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1ASVMAOHz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINeZQL6MNW
「老猢猻，」江小由一腳踢散灶灰，「你就對我們這麼有信心？你若敢耍花樣…」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrHGKt0DFk
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffwPtGwq68
吳伯渾濁的眼珠映著炭火：「丫頭，老夫做生意，算盤上的珠子，可不是誰都撥得動的。」頓了頓又道：「若失手，就說是巨鯊幫來報仇的。別連累老夫，否則…」他意味深長地看了眼窗外，「南港村也別想好過。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftCpx3aKDX
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqzWL2HyBX
一旁的林戴志正反覆擦拭短刀。刃面映出他緊抿的唇線，舊傷在麻布下隱隱抽痛，而那夜巨鯊幫的火光，彷彿正在鐵刃上重燃。
