推開教堂的大門,裡面立著五道身影,像是等候已久,除了君柳及主教外,其餘都是新臉孔。29Please respect copyright.PENANALwNcDhyPD5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAm8ztrO5UER
在陽光照進紅地毯的瞬間,五人同時轉過身來,楓垚感覺到無形的壓力向他逼近,少女則不受影響地走在前。29Please respect copyright.PENANAoj9rz8givG
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIRPvjcYhq7
「來了。」主教厚醇的嗓音響起。29Please respect copyright.PENANAYHD12raQqs
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5l5h39LFlr
嗯。楓垚點了點頭。29Please respect copyright.PENANAAIFZiMHe7o
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIRdpU8Z7NC
「不好意思,這麼突然請你叫過來。」主教微微頷首。29Please respect copyright.PENANA6GEUXksZoD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtTC2YMPTbf
請…沒事,貴教會的作風我也不陌生……楓垚以微笑回應。29Please respect copyright.PENANAbe1n2PN602
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主教接著說:29Please respect copyright.PENANA0Sy4KWT1dV
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「今天會見你的原因是,想知道你是否願意加入教會呢?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAjrbBh5ezYC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAObxFWRkIgL
這個問題倒是出乎楓垚的意料,他一下不知該如何作答。29Please respect copyright.PENANAdvsqJlELQC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHFV7CZYQlW
「加入教會對你沒有壞處哦,至少你的薪金會得到保障。」少女補充了一句。29Please respect copyright.PENANAwjPZTl4SgY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAsKnqCvmswm
對矣,我都沒有想過錢的問題……楓垚如夢初醒,但他仍需釐清些問題,斟酌開口:29Please respect copyright.PENANAWkaHyZBf1x
29Please respect copyright.PENANAB4q7zCT4D5
「加入教會後要需做些什麼呢?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAISJn1omG3V
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwjI2RwKhXF
「只需要執行一些簡單的任務即可。」主教說。29Please respect copyright.PENANA9c7Wi2E76G
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWWJ6PwC6Ga
凡是說簡單的都不會有好事,但誰叫我沒得選呢……楓垚又嘆一口氣,他發現自己最近嘆氣的次數變得頻繁,都快趕上別的老人。29Please respect copyright.PENANAy37D815Pjg
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2iNKZeDg22
「我加入。」楓垚說。29Please respect copyright.PENANAhmHopIcHvw
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzI5BdpVybA
「很好。」主教點頭,「那麼開始見證儀式吧。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAIaOFurWpm7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGOzv0n6Ouk
主教走前幾步,站在人群中央,下巴微仰,敞開雙臂,手掌朝上,他輕聲誦念起經文,29Please respect copyright.PENANAhW5YOOOVMQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9AugDLBFGE
「全知全能的主,29Please respect copyright.PENANAFxUvJiDanl
29Please respect copyright.PENANABDNlEpxc2T
「願祢的靈降臨,願祢與我們同在,願祢作見證29Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5oYyj98Kl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAu49ClxKErO
「他將打開心靈,成為祢的子民。」29Please respect copyright.PENANA3AuAlcSzSl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMJhJIIxJZG
楓垚原本以為這只是象徵式的禱告,哪知在完畢的剎那,他的身心確切地輕微變化,像是靈魂得到了歸宿,有種回到家的樸實幸福感。29Please respect copyright.PENANA44hVt2WFZR
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8cb65xwdUQ
很微妙的感覺……楓垚回味著過去的那瞬間。29Please respect copyright.PENANA2nCbe1sl74
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4JeU1hc3It
「歡迎你,主的新子民。」主教在額頭及胸口點了一下,其餘人也動作劃一。29Please respect copyright.PENANA9zFBIuTxgg
29Please respect copyright.PENANAUnVGdImr8M
我也應該跟著做吧……楓垚模仿著一模一樣的動作。29Please respect copyright.PENANAgbvDoUL85L
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqphgLWG5D4
「接下來會由君柳及靈芝領著你處理教會的事務,有什麼問題請教他們即可。」主教說。「很抱歉,我得失陪了。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAS1m7kzt6ah
29Please respect copyright.PENANAflf9THxibW
話落,其中一位陌生的身影忽然走了上前,他身穿藍金長袍,額頭圍繞一圈墨藍絲巾。他緊閉雙眼,一隻手搭在背後,一隻手在身後比劃,憑空描畫出一個透明橢圓。29Please respect copyright.PENANAkhv5LSKX7s
29Please respect copyright.PENANARa8vd5qnw3
幾息過後,那橢圓的邊界閃爍著游離的電絲,宛如即將噴發的雷雲。29Please respect copyright.PENANAKAIdsfJfav
29Please respect copyright.PENANAgnx4XDcDNB
滋啪。29Please respect copyright.PENANAcAhDv2hqfp
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電絲漸漸粗壯,由邊界向內部聚合,橢圓慢慢被白茫填滿,變得有形可見。29Please respect copyright.PENANAvKOtYoLqTl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAercldYpVtJ
滋滋。29Please respect copyright.PENANAEkHpnynOPJ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqHs9RzYtVd
難得的尖銳聲自橢圓傳出,像修長的指甲刮在玻璃上,有根豎立的黑線在白茫中央浮現,然後往外擴張,壓縮著白色的空間。29Please respect copyright.PENANA53iH7drZNI
29Please respect copyright.PENANArtFzG088XY
更讓楓垚驚奇的是,那被撐開的白色後面並非教堂內部的景象,而是全新的未知的光景,那顯然是一道連接大陸某處的「門」。29Please respect copyright.PENANARq17VsFfKF
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFExC3I7rZU
「我會期待下次的見面,楓垚。」主教說完便回頭鑽進那被撐開的「門」,陌生的身影跟隨其後,待他們都進去以後,「門」像沙粒被風吹散般,被無痕抹去。29Please respect copyright.PENANAPH2Oo21P5Q
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8NdnE15FB
「你帶著他吧,我去睡個覺。」少女打了個呵欠,走到樓上,消失在兩樓陰影盡頭。29Please respect copyright.PENANAHQftjCCh0F
29Please respect copyright.PENANATVIsM63uxV
她好像叫作靈芝?楓垚轉頭望向君柳,29Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ2Omodbdj
29Please respect copyright.PENANArNDUp5e9rx
「剛才那些人是?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAXFXkifWvfE
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmIYAPWyLxl
「一位司鐸及兩位執事,他們是前來護送主教的。」君柳答。29Please respect copyright.PENANADnbooDHFEQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAOgkCXwkD65
「司鐸?執事?咦,你好像也是執事矣。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAbHfQYJ6B9A
29Please respect copyright.PENANA61R79JUnzl
「都是教會的職位,在教會核心的階級裡,主教在頂端,其次是七司鐸,然後是十六執事。」29Please respect copyright.PENANACBXWk3MKW5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwcQt6hGANp
「那位白髮少女呢?她也是執事嗎?」楓垚拋出疑惑。29Please respect copyright.PENANA9T3i4R6tyx
29Please respect copyright.PENANArNQAgkBQxE
「你說靈芝?她是七司鐸之一,『夢魘』」君柳淡淡解釋。29Please respect copyright.PENANAKlwpqbfsI9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAuBAM2XAOV8
居然是七司鐸…那豆丁看起來還沒成年吧……楓垚心底吐嘈了句,表情卻表露得清清楚楚。29Please respect copyright.PENANAl9WMnDafP0
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkbUBOio6Po
君柳見此嘴角一彎,29Please respect copyright.PENANAsSMzC0WMoh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtw0DjKMWfs
「別小看她,你可要知道教會只有派遣一位司鐸及兩位執事前來吞龍城,而其他的大城至少有三位執事駐留。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAOQWfMWjDtf
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5pFamVGhYy
「什麼意思?」楓垚不解道。29Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mw6k1Wcfq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbREkwVAh7D
君柳不自覺昂首,「說明我們不需要那麼多人。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAyap1Vpvpcl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAdWHHvIzZQE
楓垚點了點頭,他認為當中的誇大成份並不多,畢竟見識過靈芝的實力,在她面前自己像隻螞蟻般渺小,不存在反抗一說,心底萌起另些想法:29Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ii7aOpoWR
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhR5koUPKoT
不知道她和君柳相比如何,按階級的話靈芝排得更高,不過教會的分級是否取決於實力仍不確定。29Please respect copyright.PENANAT8b1OmncgB
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0QFcKVSkHJ
「哦對,忘了問薪金的事。」楓垚急忙道,這可關係到他的生活。29Please respect copyright.PENANA7mXp5XMuKv
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaBsHjoD1fe
君柳按著額頭,好一會才說:29Please respect copyright.PENANAe5T2iiJeac
29Please respect copyright.PENANAVyqf153h5S
「1金4銀,兩周結算。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAselk8y9AVA
29Please respect copyright.PENANAdQazeBctJX
這個世界裡1金等於20銀,等於200銅,又等於1000仙,而1仙約等於地球港幣5元。29Please respect copyright.PENANA8yxqO9H45s
29Please respect copyright.PENANA05YFXnYQRI
半個月6000,很不錯了……楓垚簡單計算,非常滿意,這筆薪金應該可以過上物質充裕的生活,心情一下愉快不少,連聲調也隨之提高,29Please respect copyright.PENANARFH2r7ULI6
29Please respect copyright.PENANAoFtxrltT0n
「我的職位是?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAo7CHZQGXKt
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2Wj2O3utJH
「執事助手。」29Please respect copyright.PENANASBczJvvJNU
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2iDoP6wp3K
「工作都有些什麼呢?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAJrcdK48hil
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlXMubXwWnQ
「等等就知道。」君柳揉了揉太陽穴,「走吧。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAcPRQeo14lF
29Please respect copyright.PENANALILcrb0Aky
「去哪?」楓垚跟上步伐。29Please respect copyright.PENANADEiE2Aukgt
29Please respect copyright.PENANApoIfyKu7vr
「赤里區,水道街。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAIPK9l0VoIS
29Please respect copyright.PENANAum9xynfxB4
……29Please respect copyright.PENANAcuVGPHutxT
29Please respect copyright.PENANALMeoN0oGhV
馬車平坦行駛,前面不遠便是水道街,吞龍城的三大貧窮窟之一。29Please respect copyright.PENANAQMT6cf2jCE
29Please respect copyright.PENANArmfhyeThv6
楓垚和君柳在一間尚算體面的旅館下車,兩人前來之前已經換過教會的工作服,束身上衣、長筒襪、棕色靴鞋,胸前掛上一枚彌爾教的徽章。到目前為止,君柳沒有一句話,楓垚靜靜緊隨其後。29Please respect copyright.PENANAJcq7spb7W9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaIKJFUICH0
不少地攤沿著道路兩旁擺放,有的賣菜、有的賣手工品、有的招攬髒衣服…君柳一眼沒望,直直往前行,只有楓垚對於新的景象深感興趣,東張西望,同時也暗自慨嘆:29Please respect copyright.PENANAcjFR0mWuVd
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4KmzFRif0I
無論在什麼地方,生活都不易啊,唉……29Please respect copyright.PENANAXLZRqtz1GJ
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2W8Dzd7vnk
走過一陣子,君柳停低步伐,到達了目的地,那是一棟三層高的建築。他從袋口拿出懷錶睄一睄,又啪答合上,這才推開底層的門走進去。29Please respect copyright.PENANAwYiE5QzZvK
29Please respect copyright.PENANA97XHCb1YHf
前方有一條徑直走廊,兩旁排列著一式一樣的小門,而走廊的盡頭是通往上層的樓梯。29Please respect copyright.PENANAt76KHvBAHN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3011HXAOi
「真是不方便的設計。」楓垚無奈道。29Please respect copyright.PENANAyY1M5m6OSL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMlJOzx4385
穿過走廊的時候,總會有哀怨夾雜著痛苦的低沉聲音傳來,令人不寒而慄,像有處細縫不斷漏進寒風。29Please respect copyright.PENANAGX2QixePtB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAulWWsWjzTR
「什麼聲音?」楓垚忍不住問。29Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qih68FSvn
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMIdEFBrM9Y
「這裡是老人院。」君柳點頭。29Please respect copyright.PENANAJJK8KLhQUB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvnhR8UhVWR
原來是老人……楓垚不禁同情起這裡的住客,他對老人院的觀感一直很差,認為那裡只是提前擺放屍體的地方。29Please respect copyright.PENANAfiA4VIJIun
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHJsgqxGu8Q
咚咚咚。29Please respect copyright.PENANAup9BTDuGhY
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兩人來到二樓的一扇門前,敲起門芯板。29Please respect copyright.PENANAkOguNwjQCf
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlkpQVU8D9S
得得得。29Please respect copyright.PENANAtIgMhs1Hra
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腳步聲傳來,門很快便打開了三分一,門後的是位中年婦女,束起棕色馬尾,身穿陳舊麻布衣。29Please respect copyright.PENANA0l3iszUyFB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAR6AtpNZ8P7
「請問你們是?」婦女問,身體保持在門後。29Please respect copyright.PENANAygFn8OP9wQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwJeuw4C2Zx
「教會執事,過來探望蔓莎女士。」君柳行了個微禮。29Please respect copyright.PENANA7qnmweNn91
29Please respect copyright.PENANAy2TsA1TO4Z
「裡面請。」婦女點頭回應,將門完全打開。29Please respect copyright.PENANAACgUamtWlJ
29Please respect copyright.PENANA7RmndMhYYE
裡面的空間大概有三百多呎,一人住起來不算狹窄,廚房、臥室、衛生間,應有盡有。29Please respect copyright.PENANANKLTupqXYq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAk162gp0WGl
婦女領著二人走進臥室,裡面有張單人床,上面正躺著位年邁的女士,她側頭望向窗戶,沒有注意到進來的客人。29Please respect copyright.PENANApmO9a6VuRd
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哐哐。29Please respect copyright.PENANA50xNeCqYS3
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「夫人,教會的人來了。」婦女輕輕敲門。29Please respect copyright.PENANAR1Gjw3iXFy
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIk3aRgMHbe
蔓莎女士在聽後門聲後才後知後覺地扭過頭來,臉上拱起笑容,略帶歉意地說:29Please respect copyright.PENANAJTvUgbVZOe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAUgI1d6EJ3j
「真是抱歉,看得太入神,沒有注意到你們呢。」29Please respect copyright.PENANAg0XfQxcAN2
29Please respect copyright.PENANAymNcClC1w7
君柳坐在床邊的椅凳上,嘴邊掛起難得可見的微笑,29Please respect copyright.PENANA3VcT7fFJpO
29Please respect copyright.PENANApLwDGEBVne
「女士在看什麼呢?」29Please respect copyright.PENANAot3LEyyva0
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9RMMfrcK9j
蔓莎女士再次望去窗邊,她的笑容更濃了些,眼神裡有種響往,29Please respect copyright.PENANATCajykiG1V
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhFMeShnBS3
「我看見兩隻烏鴉追逐,然後飛走。可惜這窗太小了,看不見他們飛去哪裡。」