第十三章 姜薑與半腐屍姜蓎
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此案延宕許久,後源於章路櫽之案已有新線索,終於結束近一個月的閒散生活。86Please respect copyright.PENANAdC1TIo90wj
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結合山友口供,章路櫽曾進過非法狩獵的山產店用餐,法醫亦找出其大體內,殘留燒毀的疑似動物組織,間接印證「動物謀殺」的高度可能性。我並非偵探,第一次接觸所謂的刑事案件,未免有點兒不真實感。86Please respect copyright.PENANAjumuRSzCB0
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話說「非法狩獵」、「山產店」⋯⋯就得問「她」了。
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午飯時,獨自在民族學專用研究室裡,從窗外跳進一隻兔子。86Please respect copyright.PENANAkDoGivpyXd
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嗯,兔子。86Please respect copyright.PENANA48WUizvp5P
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切莫妄想成愛麗絲夢遊仙境的西裝兔先生。86Please respect copyright.PENANApJqHVCdgT7
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這隻沒隨身攜帶懷錶──倒咬著老鼠腐屍來拜見我。86Please respect copyright.PENANA10299bnwQY
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我幽幽嘆氣。86Please respect copyright.PENANAkt9e4M7TOl
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望著老鼠腐屍,飯如何吃得進?取下兔子嘴中「禮物」,丟到窗外花圃內,順手把兔子塞入背包,我下午直接翹課,搭車至名為「純家食品公司」的冷凍倉儲處,那兒早等著一名水靈仙氣的青嫩女孩,姜薑。86Please respect copyright.PENANApqQ37s0fkF
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兩人互見,均毫不客氣擰起眉頭。86Please respect copyright.PENANAqJl9IPHn0Q
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「兔子還來。」姜薑瞧我由背包裡掏出兔子,俄頃十指即掐牢我頸部,兩大拇指更狠毒地緊按喉結,歇斯底里叫:「你混蛋!」我沒敢推開她,只岔氣說道:「再不放手,我化了兔子!」姜薑搶抱兔子,秒瞬又變回恬靜模樣:「姜蓎也在呢。」我撫撫脖子,低罵:「神經病!」86Please respect copyright.PENANAyQpk1HxZB5
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「墨薔⋯⋯歡⋯⋯歡迎。」冷凍倉儲的鐵門緩緩捲啟,霧簾冰幕朦朧裡,白皙溫雅的男子遲緩步出,我大喜,上前欲抱,姜薑卻錯身擋道,說:「你別毛手毛腳的吃豆腐。」我「嘖」了聲,無奈說:「妳滾好不好!」86Please respect copyright.PENANAejiXiR9xVE
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男子愉悅說道:「你⋯⋯你們⋯⋯們感情真好。」我低罵:「感情好個屁!拜託妳滾好不好!」男子雖受生理障礙影響,面容無法做出表情,但仍努力克服困難,笑了出來。86Please respect copyright.PENANA53wH6nPFJb
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姜蓎,非常特別的男子,除護神們外,我生平唯一的摯友。86Please respect copyright.PENANAISFEtjcC0R
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彼此緣分,回溯三年前,腹䵍受託,在飛機失事的雨林裡,找到被機體殘骸穿刺身亡的年輕人。死狀淒涼,屍身破碎焦黑,尚存完好的軀塊也已半腐,並藤蔓植物寄生纏繞──或許死不瞑目──「半腐屍姜蓎」,就此復活。86Please respect copyright.PENANAg6ut4EJGs7
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對的,是殭屍。
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女人放養男人,父母放養孩子,現在這世道就是如此運行。姜薑卻大不相同,她的天職是「放養殭屍」,嚴格說起來,僅活人和死人的差別。86Please respect copyright.PENANAS5iT2wGREH
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所謂放養殭屍,不單純一蹦一跳那款,姜薑放養的品項多了些:有道士貼符傳統型殭屍;飽受不知名病毒感染的活死屍;外界訛傳還魂入軀、勉強具備人性的半腐屍,以及擺飾功能較強的乾屍和濕屍等。應有盡有,放養方式也花樣百出。86Please respect copyright.PENANAULBRfCgUKm
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姜薑在尋常人類社會的職業,不是女道士,而是在黑心食品企業擔任倉庫管理員。真抱歉啊,因為姜薑對過期、俗稱的「殭屍肉」也感興趣。86Please respect copyright.PENANAV03ckj5vVw
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對於無趣的職場生涯其實挺難撐,這算眾多職場人最血淋淋的心聲吧。猶記當初姜薑應徵工作時,在履歷表專業欄和興趣欄填寫的,是「鑑賞殭屍肉」,老闆沉默半晌,隨即笑顏逐開,立馬和姜薑握手說:「本公司正需要妳這樣的人才。」姜薑愉快又驚悚的職場生涯,就此展開。86Please respect copyright.PENANAdo8CrjEsOd
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「為什麼你要來!」姜薑一臉嫌惡,我故意做出假挖鼻孔、假彈鼻屎的幼稚動作,說:「妳才來湊甚熱鬧,可以滾了。」姜蓎不讓我倆繼續掐話,耽誤正事,直接進入正題:「倉庫⋯⋯倉庫自燃著火⋯⋯。」86Please respect copyright.PENANACd2fmuu1Cf
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姜薑說:「純家最近併購一家小貿易公司的貨⋯⋯。」我睜亮眼,沒有調侃,完全出自肺腑言論,問:「我去,就妳這公司還能談併購案?」姜薑下顎微揚,驕傲說道:「純家可是龍頭產業!」長見識了,一經營過期肉品的非法公司,還能是產業龍頭。然而純家食品公司的冷凍倉儲處,確實佔地頗闊、規模挺高。曾有食安稽查員給了姜薑一段謬讚:「姜主任堪稱神眼,秒讀殭屍肉肉齡,功力一流,多次得她幫助,破獲非法走私肉。」褒抑或貶?姜薑該欣喜一名食安專業人士對她的肯定,英雄相惜?她竟答謝:「過獎,盡本份罷了。」86Please respect copyright.PENANA6htDgTBfpV
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「新購入的腐肉在冰庫內⋯⋯無端起火⋯⋯十分⋯⋯不尋⋯⋯尋常。」姜蓎說明事件經過。86Please respect copyright.PENANAhpIWan4d4O
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所併購貨品裡,有批屬於非法盜獵的山產。玄就玄在此,貨甫入庫第二天,即攬接一名出手闊綽的新客戶──「鋼生企業」──指名想尋穿山甲肉,經姜薑盤點,正巧有「一整倉庫」、肉齡約七年前的穿山甲肉。當下姜薑並無多想,此時方後覺,欲非法盜獵「一整倉庫」的穿山甲肉,無異天方夜譚。昨日姜薑試著解凍肉品,發現十來隻穿山甲肉,居然是黏於另一巨大肉塊上,「閱肉無數」的姜薑認不清來物,與此同時,巨大肉塊開始自燃起火,虧得姜薑眼明腿快,立刻逃離冰庫上鎖,派殭屍兔來尋我。86Please respect copyright.PENANAgJ4Y2bwswR
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「腐肉起火⋯⋯在哪?」我心怵難遏,必生大事!86Please respect copyright.PENANAE7hqmJZ7Bq
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「這邊來。」姜氏姐弟謹慎地領行,經過七八棟偌大倉庫,本來我尚算平靜,愈行,體內靈力卻愈發鼓譟,怎麼一回事兒?姜蓎看出我的異狀,心憂問道:「你還好嗎?」我正欲回答「還好」時,倏忽一股妖氣沖面而來!86Please respect copyright.PENANAp86NF2drlh
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來勢太快,我暗驚,未加思索,鉅子令已然出手,一招「朱翟環舞」,朝空擊去,鋼線渦旋,逆風掃塵,與前來的妖氣互撞,激起一捲氣流,將尺近多物皆捲入。身輕形移、履轉腿躍,我急振右臂,將鉅子令收回,改纏繞住姜氏姐弟,左掌已張蜘蛛天雪罟抵擋,連續幾個踏空飛踢,扯著姜氏姐弟,縱身退離妖氣範圍。86Please respect copyright.PENANAFwM3q5zCZv
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最裡邊的倉房,黑頂紅牆,距我仨起碼二十公尺遠,然熾熱妖氣旺盛,籠罩並震盪於這片小天地間,那倉門嘎吱作響,而鎖門的鐵鍊瞬間寸碎,料想裡頭妖物將要衝出。86Please respect copyright.PENANAREg7SO9URh
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「怎麼突然就⋯⋯?」姜薑失聲說道,我低語:「我出現的關係。」身擁巨大靈力,彷彿天生磁礦,當引得妖魔精怪、魍魎魑魅來探。自馬來雲頂噬頭女一案,獲千煞黑娜咒後,靈力更大增,故遇不少小插曲。86Please respect copyright.PENANAa8vQ1r2THF
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舉個例,每當施術「明鬼四之術──吹燭喚鬼,弔影壁隅垂」,召喚護神們出來後,須用墓封灰使之顯影,並餵入泥土混著剁碎榕樹葉的丸子──「榕曼胎泥丸」,方能讓禽滑、孟勝、媯盤、腹䵍四人,長久維持人形及靈力。86Please respect copyright.PENANANepc7ZsMvE
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不論墓封灰或榕曼胎泥丸,製作都極其不易。86Please respect copyright.PENANAwrz9LaBy4z
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榕曼胎泥丸,顧名思義,由剁碎的榕樹葉,混攪曼陀沙華、紫河車、泥土三物,加入符灰後,浸潤四十九天、風曬四十九天、薰香四十九天,方能製成。86Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ndu5xVIl4
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作法聽來簡單,實際執行可謂千辛萬苦,榕樹葉必須選擇違逆乾坤的百年「倒頭榕」,即榕樹枝倒著長。全臺的倒頭榕爺爺,也就那麽幾株,珍貴至極。曼陀沙華,若改說為「彼岸花」,你們肯定覺得:哎呀!冥界花啊,果然只有玄異圈的人能取得。若說它其實也叫石蒜,你們換矇了:石蒜?隔壁花市賣得,可入藥的那個?是那個沒錯,不過墨薔家製作泥丸的曼陀沙華,必須生長於孤島懸岸、迎熱燥秋時節,生成「火照(紅和熱)黃泉(秋)之道」,才摘折。黃泉道,乃送人間鬼魂進入幽冥的一條路,若經倒頭榕違逆乾坤,反而將鬼魂推回人間,故護神四人亡靈,方能長久留在人間不滅。86Please respect copyright.PENANAGX56cdMWAa
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紫河車,人類胎盤,非不易取得,更非怕內藏病毒,而是母體的選擇著實特殊怪異,我不便詳述。再者,用何泥土,用何符咒,如何浸潤風曬薰香,待下回的極短番外篇,咱再分曉──禽滑釐之《羲扇》──不不不,別亂猜,《羲扇》不是禽滑充當啥帶貨網紅的開箱文,墨薔家相熟者俱清楚,禽滑扇不離身,實為血淚愧疚之情。86Please respect copyright.PENANAt7FEInq84Y
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話回某日我準備製作榕曼胎泥丸,摘折榕葉時,樹幹乍現絞殺裂痕(樹體氣生根狀態),裂痕內迸出一隻蒼皮包骨的手,五指戴滿華貴寶石戒,手腕卻單繫一條染紅的草繩,欲送信一封,我頑皮心起,一手接信、另手扯將草繩,急得那手緊縮回裂痕裡。不清楚那手啥玩意兒,然靈力增強後,諸類臉缺邊、斷肢殘體的「人」前來拜望、遞帖、贈禮等等,已成生活常態。是以麞妖濡染我靈力,鳴應,甦醒。
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「磅」地一聲,倉庫鐵門爆炸,煙硝夾火,彷若十萬飛螢,隨薄冰乍迸,一時銀光瀰漫。我仨急捂口鼻、側頭。86Please respect copyright.PENANAFe93gtkQNy
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粉塵迷霧裡,一巨物竭力撐起四肢、搖搖晃晃地走出,我大吃一驚,眼前竟是塊斷頭剝皮的腐肉怪物!我自幼起,即與妖怪朝夕相處,倘說「萬妖牆」是墨薔家寵物欄,絕不為過,但沒見過哪隻妖怪被斷頭剝皮後,能走、能噴火!我步踏流星游雲,指掌軟綿如柳花蒲絲,天轉地圜,將蜘蛛天雪罟撐成團欒盾牆,當保姜氏姐弟無傷免害。86Please respect copyright.PENANA1sIXZ0zF7c
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「大象嗎?」我揣測大象屍塊或被妖靈入侵,故能如此行動,姜薑急說:「白癡!象肉又不好吃,誰買單?」我說:「天下間最沒文化就妳!《呂氏春秋》有言『肉之美者,旄象之約』,指的是氂牛和大象。」姜薑蹶嘴說:「你家那些怪七怪八,油漆喇叭的一堆堆,我不懂!」我問:「妳說什麼肉?」姜薑搖頭:「沒看過。」86Please respect copyright.PENANAr7IK0mWFj5
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臺灣不產大象,雖外國盜獵象之風興盛,卻奪牙不奪肉,況眼前殭屍肉倘使尋常如象肉,姜薑神眼早鑑別出,現下連她亦無頭緒,那便非尋常動物。86Please respect copyright.PENANAbQGqt6R3so
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用力憶想世間有何四蹄火獸,我「喔咿」一聲,思緒倏地清晰,自語道:「不會吧,解山王?」姜薑疑惑問:「解山王?」我解釋:「左營蓮池潭畔的半屏山,曾有麞啼似嬰、或火或雨的傳說,因麞妖提醒百姓們火災將發,所以後世立『解山王廟』祭拜答謝,也有一說麞妖真身乃老山羌。」。聽見「老山羌」關鍵詞,姜薑傾刻間妍顏明眸,笑靨盈盈,高興說:「老山羌是吧?上品殭屍肉是吧?」我罵道:「蠢女人,我們都快成頂級烤肉,妳還有心思想這種鳥事!」姜薑嘖聲,耍賴說:「墨薔,你叫醒的,你得負責把牠還回我!」想不透,麞妖名「妖」,雖貴為「火神」之列,然死後卻無有復生可能,且其屍體是「神軀」,妖靈何以侵駐,施火傷人?
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此時,不知從哪處方向,徐風吹來。86Please respect copyright.PENANA14bwhJ630j
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風,柔緩著、安慰著、撫摸著、親吻著。86Please respect copyright.PENANAmV0wT9uihF
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吻著吻著,心促臉熱。86Please respect copyright.PENANAao7Z8RUep0
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臉熱了,發燙了,似舔似咬。86Please respect copyright.PENANABNmFdwOwLn
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輕咬、深咬、撕咬,咬痕滲血。86Please respect copyright.PENANAsYizJJtv6C
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血染肌膚,逐漸赤紅一片──辣痛⋯⋯。
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「不好!」我轉頭瞧向姜薑,果然她渾身浴血、雙目失神,則姜蓎暈厥倒地,恐怕我自己的模樣也好看不到哪兒去。這陣稀奇古怪的風,不僅讓我們陷入怔愣無感的狀態,麞妖似乎也受風的影響,原本血液乾涸的軀體,竟開始滴血!86Please respect copyright.PENANANgQ2Sk9fKe
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我立馬領悟,風中挾帶某種不明化學物質,既引得我們五感暫時失效,更和麞妖腐肉表面的涸血,產生化學作用,重塑生命體徵。86Please respect copyright.PENANA1lQFxqtLdL
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「他娘的,以為用一陣怪風,就能擺平本少爺!」話甫出口,我又「幹」的一聲,好啊,這不就叫「搧風點火」?這般低俗、無聊的惡趣味,還能是哪個傢伙好事?86Please respect copyright.PENANAFCq4Sc2Bym
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翟流!86Please respect copyright.PENANA5kaScEBI6d
86Please respect copyright.PENANAI1l8JX2CRa
跨國企業「不了風首」,老闆「翟流」比墨薔家更加神秘,身世背景、年齡相貌均為謎團。其公司販售商品包羅萬象,舉凡學校文具、冷凍食品、生技藥物、工事建築、電子產業,甚至連航空母艦,可見縫插針處,絕不缺席。公司營運方式殊異、作風詭譎,派出的收購或販售等負責窗口,未曾統一,員工人數不詳,全企業密不透風。86Please respect copyright.PENANAEZb5KvRQKi
86Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mawdp3N42
不止一次設想過,翟流處處搞事殃禍,根本衝我來,他姓「翟」,會否和「墨翟」有關?好比我墨薔家繼承「墨」字,而他繼承「翟」字。他到底想幹嘛!86Please respect copyright.PENANABD7L5Lsr10
86Please respect copyright.PENANAM8IaMD2EiX
先發制人,必須在麞妖施行火攻前,先壓制牠。我以蜘蛛天雪罟為盾,足跟點頓,挪步急馳,宛猶淵蛟翔水,乘風前奔,鉅子令出手,先招「春翟綻羽」、再招「澤翟刷翅」、三招「眾翟戰敵」,務求招招傷敵。86Please respect copyright.PENANAxH3XsUzNls
86Please respect copyright.PENANAFWKaBWSs2x
麞妖四足勁力蹬地,後揚起前肢,愈顯巨大,血珠落地後蝕洞冒煙,足見被其血噴濺,亦難完好。雖早防備,我仍支絀,數十條臂粗的火龍,同時由麞妖的腐肉裡竄出,分成三股力量,一股抵擋鉅子令攻勢,另兩股朝我和姜氏姐弟飛來。一來無法掌握火龍的破壞力,二來姜氏姐弟無自保力,我不禁大叫:「藍寶在嗎?」