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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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhtyc4yzv6
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRKeCUimDp
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qVaFeQKWs
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4qwL55VdP
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？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qj0NCqgL9
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VU6l1sh9A
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEM0KMPmZ7
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLbW1wISyB
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？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E9S6I4au7
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQKJxId21f
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzLGaBEt1j
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZtDb1cEbQ
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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUREvFlQ2B
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xIxHwuX4k
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。
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Emuo0IIB
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48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdfmvnnAfV
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLqyyQyu0S
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3DmPWtMzA
「這是...？」林戴志疑惑道。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeySGlNrs82
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t1ODkac8I
「界線。」江小由頭也不抬，「越界者死。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vmAsug9jC
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXu48AimJD
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRvOfwcxPb
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdsRyPPoXg
江小由瞥了一眼：「還不撿？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZrlL13j8B
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVW7vlT3ax
「啊，是...」林戴志慌忙去撿，手指不小心碰散了幾粒鹽。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2G8r18XG2
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oDeIGdtFD
「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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkw3lg8LVy
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89hsN31sbC
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiunbT1kIP
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgQJPUAriG
「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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8dHxywBvI
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjeRpWkUCK
「對、對不住...」林戴志僵住不動，連呼吸都放輕了。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BNqWw4tRb
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0RLboMDgD
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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOZHw9eNjp
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYidltnakm
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...」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ic9GN6zOR
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMXQdnhRtf
「閉嘴，睡覺。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kXOB1cAvM
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcHROdgTSL
「我是想說...」林戴志猶豫了一下，「你的龜甲...好像裂了道縫。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNku1Cakbw
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHbB5xdAs7
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！」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssv4QRAL9v
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhWRiEZ8b6
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。
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD6Ik6as1x
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48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xAjf7w53g
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8DvjoFcJy
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbAQVdKMDA
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCbXERIrDY
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WAoKKfMp7
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHdCbCPYXO
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuWdWVdoIe
江小由舀起一勺黍米粥：「不就是塊值錢的石頭？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp865Y0w5KR
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvSG5vaUC8
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKEx4opLHH
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizGdI2OwET
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMofyqYEbdf
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVBG3lVhlO
「怕啥？」江小由的龜甲在指間轉了個圈，「當初捅洪浪的膽子呢？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tuCb4Fe9b
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqsUCfWH9E
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLAPAQYnXw
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozLaTbmoZW
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQtGAYfRis
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxcpH48r0F
林戴志摩挲著衣物上陳年的醬漬：「我們扮成洗玉匠去偷？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0fugAJb3n
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyr3JBglC8
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQGu3cbvng
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxnTsh0Qjr
江小由突然將手拍在桌上。「老鬼，這不是要我們去賣命？」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9WwyMT2hA
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Lzt2MTZy
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM4bIch66G
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh413EsLzv4
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRlisMrmSG
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Q1CdBYbT
「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...」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMdofWHLL0
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVJbJxZ8Zy
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。48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40vwbDYuhI
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrNwS8lnoK
「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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeoMhVcAtV
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRf330jGME
「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…」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RM2XwdFGz
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbyX3KgB9H
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。」48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOIHwpri0e
48Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFE7Pk2ySl
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。
