約略是三年前，正值櫻花爛漫季節，一位蒙紗的少婦帶著一籃藥箱來到這座不起眼的山谷小村裡行醫。以一飯一宿作為求治的代價，倒也令人覺得親切同情。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzqKtFh6r3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI9k1FQ8YB
雖然在這村落沒什麼特殊罕見的疾症，但無論是怎樣難易的病痛卻在她的治療下一一痊癒，即使是不大不小但總無法根除的常疾，也乖順地逐漸消跡。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwik06ogZX
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKrs5aB18T
對村民來說，她定是位偉大的巫女，也只有侍奉神祇的巫女與神官才能趨除病痛。所以儘管沒有人見過她真正的面貌，也沒有人知道她是從何而來為何而來，都視作侍奉神之人而理所當然地接受。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTB3v7baic
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlk6sR1DNo
行醫後不久，少婦拿出了精美珍貴的布料贈與村民，請他們在山上為她搭建居所。連貴族也罕見的布疋與樣式奇特的屋落，儘管惹人驚異卻也視應當然。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehqEEkZdVH
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb7ycWpLuz
村民們敬重地諱稱她一聲『夫人』。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhRZpQrcZ3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZImEIjuKZp
少婦總是罩上一層薄紗遮掩面容，其中原由則是村民們好奇而不敢探究的問題。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGevOs7agwv
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD9LXv8VG2
但就與供奉侍神之人一樣，樸實的村民對這位夫人一直滿懷著敬意與感恩。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MP2o6qAG6
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTg5ikswZv
※※※※※567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSVD8YWSZ2
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQaOv6ER8t
如日常事例，少婦背著藥箱步步走下山谷為村民診病。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvj6EMVlsz
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziVlHblryW
剛開始時，像這樣走在崎嶇的山路小徑，每隔片刻便因體力不足而停佇休息，而隨著路程加長，行進的速度愈加遲緩，在走到山谷時往往需費上半個白天的時間。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbeWOE7qDv
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1tSI5umj9
然而日復一日地走下來，很快地便適應了山路的跛斜，雙腳踩地的踏穩與敏捷也讓自己意識到原本是如何嬌生慣養。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tP4F672uh
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIrcCysiet
經過一時辰的山路，脫出林葉蔭蔽，眼前一片低平。山勢成兩方夾圍出一塊橢形的峽地，一道細小的水流在谷地尾端切出，往山谷外的世界延伸。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q9Jhek4MC
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdIfrv0hWM
谷內盡被闢成田地，十數戶茅頂土屋鬆散地聚落在谷內微高之處，少婦走入由田壟蜿蜒至屋落的土徑，幾名在田中收成的農伕見人立即嚷聲問安，接著轉向其他田埂裡的村人遠喝通知少婦的來到。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtePEdjdwSu
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfgI5pOFgN
走至舍落中央的寬地時，少婦身週已經圍滿了村人，村婦們有的牽著自家的孩子或是手抱嬰兒前來，每個人開口一聲聲『夫人』地嘈嘈雜雜嚷話著。少婦一面聽他們的閒談日常，一面為需要療治的人一一看診。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLZePoxsDL
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR21mozYftW
在這座村裡不太有什麼難以應付的絕症，最多是風寒腹洩皮膚病，一些被宿疾所纏身的老人家，也只要經過一般藥石與飲膳的調養，便就無所礙窒。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRq6e72G3N
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1ngiagw3X
對這些村民來說，已經足夠靈驗。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO4yRw4kfN
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcAKE0eTR0
除了病痛看診外，村民們也會額外與少婦聊一些村內的近況與自家的種種。少婦只是靜靜地聽著，大多時並沒有搭腔，但村民們卻反而說得更是躍躍有勁。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSdlt8vV6O
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaVbmUeEIx
「讓我過去！讓我過去！」一個小女孩費力地推擠開大人們圍成的人牆，然後又再被擠了出去，她不停地高聲尖叫，「讓我過去啦！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq4VJjnwGG
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13JDYPxlZq
少婦認得那個女孩，名字叫小末。她記得很清楚，那個小女孩的母親是在她來到這個村落前難產而死的。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX00Ir1lje
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP3vsApSuz
少婦往小末的方向跨了一步，人群便散了開來，小末一股腦地從人群中撞出，興奮地抓住少婦的衣袖嚷叫：「夫人！妳快來看！妳快來看！我撿到了很棒的東西哦！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HKYZmnEpx
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YOem4aTko
「小末，妳又要騙人了！」四週的大人們不以為意地取笑，連一旁的小孩子也跟著起哄叫著：「騙人鬼」。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq7JJCFPrT
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvWBpWaSHb
「我才沒有騙人！才沒有！」小末回頭大聲罵道，手指仍緊抓著少婦的袖襬。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo11y3Cdp9K
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5eBB1Zp9v
少婦微低下半身，柔聲問道：「小末，妳撿到了什麼？」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzYb9zy6ge
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAn8VhfdpX
「妳跟我來看就知道了啦！」小末立即拉著少婦的手，作勢就要衝出前去。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha81tMMqJm
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37OFDn0zJx
「等一下！小末！」大人們抓起小末手臂，嚴聲訓斥，「不可以對夫人沒禮貌，妳自己把東西帶過來！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAp6C4n2RP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVncvshnNA
「不行！不行！」小末大叫，「不能給別人看到！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YwSK0i1rH
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzNdJVR03E
「妳又在說謊了！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT2OlWdNwq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG78PLysbZ
少婦感到一陣頭痛，只得出聲制止，「別說了。」她蹲下與小末齊高，安撫道：「我晚點再看，好嗎？」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa1yn4p45r
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFVHJpRjBj
小末委屈地皺眉抿嘴，片刻後才點頭勉強同意。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqlPWjZGd0
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HY5UcBTO5
於是，小末就站在人群外圍靜靜盯著少婦，不時煩燥地走來走去，然後跑開片刻、再又跑了回來。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMFM3bjsZ9
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ302eHiPLTs
以前小末常常對著她大嚷：『為什麼不早點來救我母親？』567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO24N8n9aLS
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXfTC6smWH
後來大概是被大人責罵的關係吧，小末再也沒有說出那種話，卻開始說起自己看到了母親的亡魂、夢到了母親的亡魂。內容則不外乎是母親預言將降災給哪個會欺負小末的人，要不就是母親得到了神的賜福，會再回到小末身邊云云。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGRFkEDzbI
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncbVikDI7P
像這樣顯而易見的謊言只招來更多的嘲笑，小末卻更為堅信自己看得見母親的亡魂、甚或是其它死者的鬼魂。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd8EEt0s8j
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnwtQtfjQa
後來少婦私底下編了一個故事告訴小末，一個失去父母的小孩向神祈求再見到自己的父母一面，代價是一整年的時間不可開口說話，小孩做到了，因此見到了自己的父母。然而卻因為她太久沒說話的關係，她在現世的親友都遺忘她不認識她了。從那之後，小末就不再說謊，也逐漸不再提起自己母親的事。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6EYZnKYxH
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcCEIpP7Vf
只是，到現在其他人還是會常常拿過去說謊的事來取笑她，小末雖然生氣，卻也未認真掛在心上計較，或許是年紀尚小的關係。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IFta809GX
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KzHP5dfgn
少婦收拾了藥箱，把村民們贈送的一些莊稼打成小包袱，小末已等不及地纏到她身旁，拉著她就跑，還不時回頭把好管閒事的村民或其他小孩給喝跑。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5CpebwfDf
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBoJ3HBSLb
「小末，到底是什麼東西……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7C2Jd0JxJ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrxY9mR3jg
小末以指尖壓唇示意，然後壓低聲音：「不能說不能說，妳看了就知道了！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mlYduHsyU
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClR79SNevZ
結果，小末把她帶到了小溪的磯岸上，一群大小不一的石塊疊出傾陡的矮壁裡，有許多可以藏物的狹縫。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1KtB9iWy3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOSgz9L3aw
小末迅速地爬過幾疊邊緣尖銳的大石塊，回頭拼命向少婦招呼：「這裡這裡！趕快來看！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPibsTcCt3H
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vcb4Uuj7Y
少婦謹慎緩慢地越過石塊來到小末身旁，小末深吸一口氣，手按在遮住洞口的一塊扁長石片上，眼中閃爍著興奮的光芒，「我要打開囉…」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItwSCyPurd
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc87woQsqi
石片移開後，少婦低下身看去時，不禁倒抽了一口氣──567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TdJL5xmkb
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTz91LkCVz
那不是人類嗎？567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumFLYHgCMZ
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3TZ3YMBtu
…不，那…是人類嗎？……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8WvBgw1FX
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknBhTIB6dE
型體像是巨大的卵，帶著與常人無異的粉肉色，在頂端則像是生出肉芽一般，長著一張女人的臉孔緊閉雙眼，一頭烏黑的長髮從『頭』頂披曳落在卵的四周。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2H0fb6w25
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWpFkOTMRl
「很漂亮吧！很漂亮吧！」小末高興地對少婦露出欣喜的笑容，「昨天的昨天剛撿到時是蛋，然後長芽，今天長出臉跟頭髮耶！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM4BVBddzR
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5boHaKeUyD
少婦只有瞪大著眼，看著小末雀悅地與她分享著自己的秘密。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo76DMj5OB2
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gpcOPVhEu
「以後一定會長得愈來愈好看！一定會！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OHRwDzSoC
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdrm72xHJf
「小末…」少婦乾澀地喚著她的名字，幾不成聲。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuvqBEbf3h
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa5hOoxCZk
「不過不能告訴我家裡的人喔！也不可以告訴別人！這是…」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFwqQ681OY
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FSjoCDHbo
「小末！」少婦竭力喚道，「小末…等一下…這種東西……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCgm27MqJP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGYrlKftVc
「唔？」小末無辜地眨眨眼，等著少婦說話。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn2Tyx1apK
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosBiSeY5Sm
「這種東西……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7V7LYH9D1
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ukEMbIyV2
該怎麼說出口……她確定這顆卵是超脫她所能理解之物，不，也不是十分地陌生，因為……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8HstEPOGK
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9FBBmE4OS
因為，這應該是已經脫離凡俗的物體……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7ERXIPIXV
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmtEUqrEO4
……過去的記憶像是突發的山洪沖盡意識……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8emfu0yqFB
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKesPrAayU4
為什麼？自己明明不再是過去的那個人了，為什麼還會看到這種東西？567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ohjYvTmoD
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtNTqmNaK6
「夫人！夫人！」小末急切地拉晃著她的袖口，「夫人妳知道這是什麼動物對不對？告訴我告訴我！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lrlMbqvID
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPsWjTrFX3
「這…這個…是……」少婦恍惚地低聲囁嚅，意識無法控制地恍惚飄遊，眼前的小女孩也似是恍惚的景象。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxFj30SSR3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55Jol1gyUK
心口，只剩底下的心臟是確實而嚇人地搏動著。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFIFqGYhCV
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakx0Y3XHj8
她伸吸口氣，強迫自己假造出可以冷靜面對現狀的思緒來，「總之，先讓我確認一下，這種東西…說不定有危險……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfnK3N7u0c
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EKv4LG8Ud
小末不以為意也不放在心上地點頭同意。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo89LaAhviT
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L6ebCCx2q
少婦忍住嫌惡感與恐懼，伸手用掌心覆觸卵的表面，上下輕移……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfa3tqeJwq
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYTee5CPV1
觸感與人肉相彷，體溫不冷不熱，甚至隱約可見流動的細小血筋，至於呼息的起迭與脈動……分不清是不是把自己的吁吸錯認為是那個物體的吁吸，手掌中的起伏與顫動像是自己所引發又不像是，明明早已判斷出，錯覺卻層層不絕地湧起……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5IqKQ90mT
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bVS8XNLq2
指尖移至『她』的鼻尖下想確認氣息時，『她』霍然張明雙眼！567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNH4171Dlh
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFnIa2Iw7f
少婦赫然抽回手，醒過來的『她』正盈盈微笑。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefALXdwkS8
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwNy6rqSsn
小末訝異又驚喜地低歡道：「哇──張開眼睛了！醒過來了！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yYN6A497b
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWuOpz6Y8T
『她』笑得像是石雕一像生硬，少婦卻直覺得『她』的眼神與表情不停地無聲變動著。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G4yvDY3R3
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiBcDjfNDU
『她』的眼神冰冷得幾乎可凍結體內的血液流動，似乎自己才是寄宿在某個肉塊裡的莫名異物……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlvYRZHXRM
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuCEDjMM2v
「我是小末！小末小末小末！」小末很高興地向『她』介紹自己。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtr0L1KaSY
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQocDEKxVCM
少婦不禁脫口說出：「……神……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eVp8pYGm9
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbUnzD0pIf
腥紅的血瞳映照出不斷飛逝的無形非人。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3aQolnz0f
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV10ZFdKKL
尖銳的笑聲從四面八方向少婦滾壓，她被當做是漩渦中心地纏繞著宣洩而下，連靈魂也快被沖刷怠盡似地。然後……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBifmb5nmHP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjfihmHqhE
就在要屈服這些無止境膨脹的笑意之時，透過薄紗，隱約地看到小女孩快樂地捧著巨卵上的頭顱抱出洞外。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kqWr3MrI7
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGClDjhiYcw
臉孔後頭的身體仍留在洞穴內，所以被拉成了柔軟的長條，小末愉快地持續拉著，然後長條的身體兩側對稱地長出無數雙手臂來……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk8tA0gx7C
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTZ3tCStvu
『她』擺動的靈活的長臂，與小末在地上舞躍著、在天空攀爬著。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvRDgQTN28
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJDzPARqTq
『她』臉上的微笑依舊是生硬冰冷，聽不見的笑聲卻極盡尖銳盡宏大地刺擊著少婦……567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnON5dIVoJG
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70N9KjQW3d
當小末幻影似地從眼前離去時，少婦忽然醒了過來，四週景物絲豪未變，除了癱軟在地的自己與傾倒一旁的藥箱。她渾渾顫顫地拾起自己的東西，好不容易才踉蹌地走回村內。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBbs65TLPp
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMzudCUNNL
回到村子，村民們善意地招呼著，「夫人！您還沒走啊！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh3Obu81wY
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJvAF6A6Cd
「小末呢？」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF18qfWGAmr
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RBRFNiZI2
「她啊…」村人露出了怪異的表情，「發瘋一樣叫嘯著跑過去了！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIOFjyf16U
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzwLPCUKek
「那…她…有帶著什麼東西嗎？」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD4if0wsLF
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmv6TnwXyj
「啊？」村人搔搔頭，「就那樣一路跑過去啦……」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxytCLwj7OP
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDxyBCqpYe
少婦不安地快步行至舍落，只見到小末在寬地上舞蹈般地狂跳著，一旁的村人還不斷吼道「別跳了！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrNX2CBP5q
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YJvYcquCR
沒有神。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dEnGX2oVT
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx6nYCQOY0
小末看到少婦，漸漸地停下瘋狂舞跳，喘息笑著。567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWclxq5wnaW
567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSylWFPhe6c
「不可以告訴別人、不可以說喔！」567Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG3Hnf7CwR
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