第四章:詛咒的第七夜(上)55Please respect copyright.PENANAexsAYrGj0a
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祖先昀燁的記憶55Please respect copyright.PENANAnQHXwn041L
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那是一個小農村,村子世代自耕,日出而作、日落而息。沒有人見過外面的城市,也沒人走出過群山。村裡人都說,山外的世界危險、複雜,還有會把人拐走的「人販子」或「征兵隊」,只有少數幾天,會有商隊經過,帶來物資和外界的消息。村民們過得與世無爭,雖苦,但平靜。55Please respect copyright.PENANAeJKo8MnGK6
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那天陽光很好,太好,熱得有點不尋常。我坐在田邊,手裡握著還沾著泥的鋤頭,背後汗水緩慢地滲透衣服。那時候的我,還相信努力就會有結果,還覺得一個男人只要扛得起家裡的田地,就扛得起整個世界。55Please respect copyright.PENANADy6vBzjAvJ
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剛從田裡回來,汗水還掛在下巴上,就聽見村口有人喊:「有客人來啦——」55Please respect copyright.PENANAH3NuJVc2HZ
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那是一個陌生男子,身穿乾淨的白袍,帶著一個黑色的皮袋。他說他是從城裡來的,是個「尋找古物與商機的學者」,路過這裡。55Please respect copyright.PENANAUzKgYjUHnp
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他的模樣很平凡。說話輕聲細語,態度和善,笑起來時嘴角彎得像一條剛曬好的布條,不惹人厭,甚至讓人有些放鬆。55Please respect copyright.PENANA9S0wdEwgIP
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我們對「城裡人」總是有種說不清的敬畏。他的出現,讓村裡老少都圍了過來。村長請他進家裡坐,他也不推辭,只說來這是為了分享一個「恩惠」,一種能改善我們貧困的方式。55Please respect copyright.PENANA5GDgCnaEtx
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「我從大城裡的聖教會帶來了禮物。」他從皮袋裡,取出一個黑盒子。55Please respect copyright.PENANATlkoTbamdE
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盒子不大,像是某種祭祀用的器皿。表面刻著一圈我們從沒見過的符文,像爬蟲的骨頭交錯纏繞。55Please respect copyright.PENANAfoV30RZ3bB
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「這是來自文明之地的奇物,只要虔誠的把你『最珍惜的東西』放進去,神,會讓它繁衍。」他說這句話的時候,語氣就像講一段熟記的經文。55Please respect copyright.PENANASkC0Awf8ui
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大家竊竊私語,有些孩子開始問能不能放玩具進去。老人則皺眉,像是不敢相信這種「城裡的把戲」會成功。55Please respect copyright.PENANAjXW89UDOg0
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我站在人群之中,靜靜的觀察著他。55Please respect copyright.PENANAxip1QFubkK
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他眼神清明,看不出一點詭異,語氣也始終親切。要不是我站得夠遠,我大概也會和他們一樣,被這溫和的笑聲給麻痺。55Please respect copyright.PENANAZOo2amyucK
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直到他目光掃過我,輕輕點頭致意。那一瞬間,我不知道為什麼,後背發冷,像是有什麼東西正從他的影子裡望出來。55Please respect copyright.PENANAPAB2kMStMD
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**55Please respect copyright.PENANAvbp0yZgvfv
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「誰想試試呢?」他問,語氣就像在問:「誰要吃糖果?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAtHkOBOSlEB
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我回頭,看見她——昑偑。55Please respect copyright.PENANALoAmbkwLAv
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她一直站在我身後。那雙眼睛清澈得像一口老井,裡面裝滿了我從小到大的記憶。從小和我一起長大的她,是我唯一相信的人,55Please respect copyright.PENANAFowcLlj3Ag
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「要試試嗎?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAdGuoObgAbx
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她皺了眉,沒問原因,什麼也沒說,只是點了點頭。55Please respect copyright.PENANAwY84MMHsYw
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我們邁開身子走了過去,男子面帶微笑的看著我們,潔白的雙手遞出了盒子55Please respect copyright.PENANA5vp8Bdlxc6
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昑楓從脖子上摘下一條銀鏈,那是她母親留給她的唯一遺物。她的手有點顫抖,但還是走到那人面前,把墜子放進盒子裡。55Please respect copyright.PENANA2rkaJtVOtU
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男人笑了。55Please respect copyright.PENANAE2SSnVyTwS
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他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言,聲音低得像在跟風講話。55Please respect copyright.PENANAZdwZRvoTh4
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然後,盒子打開。55Please respect copyright.PENANAIR9X96wTxM
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兩條一模一樣的銀鏈子靜靜地躺在盒底,像是鏡子裡的映像,也像是……孿生的東西。55Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZfkKDrT71
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那一刻,人群安靜了幾秒,隨即爆出驚呼。有人讚嘆,有人懷疑,但更多人——開始相信。55Please respect copyright.PENANA79noPIq5d3
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「神蹟!這真的是神蹟!」55Please respect copyright.PENANA7DWHErPu3Z
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試!」55Please respect copyright.PENANA4jhZ2KaxKp
「這……這是我們的機會啊!」55Please respect copyright.PENANAIjo5SPLuEU
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空氣中的熱度忽然攀升,那些原本懷疑的目光瞬間轉為火熱。有人開始翻出腰間的布袋,有人轉身就往家裡跑。55Please respect copyright.PENANA0P0MYITFiG
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我卻沒有說話,只是盯著那盒子看。55Please respect copyright.PENANAw44jywkupV
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我不知道是不是陽光的角度問題,還是自己的錯覺——有一瞬間,我覺得那個盒子,好像動了一下。55Please respect copyright.PENANAgJCRprEZ8T
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不是移動,是……呼吸。55Please respect copyright.PENANAS8lPH9ybTr
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它像是活著的。55Please respect copyright.PENANAiiNOuF57hB
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盒子表面微微脈動著,不再只是刻在盒面上的花紋,而像是一種等待甦醒的皮膚。我甚至錯覺,它正「看」著我,用一種深不見底的方式。55Please respect copyright.PENANALPHYrUoM1u
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我眉頭皺緊,心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。55Please respect copyright.PENANAYcIJSI2fVx
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我咬緊牙關,走到人群前方,喝道:55Please respect copyright.PENANAx7zymBruSe
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「夠了!!」55Please respect copyright.PENANAts8KuFQ5hs
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聲音像石頭砸進水面,炸開全場的喧鬧。55Please respect copyright.PENANAlauqnb3Y2f
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「你們都瘋了嗎?剛剛還不敢相信,現在看到一條銀鏈就開始把信仰都丟了?!」55Please respect copyright.PENANA5PpvnrSUNV
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我指著那盒子,目光銳利:55Please respect copyright.PENANAxYaLieESzJ
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「天下沒有不勞而獲的事!你們想靠這東西活下去,那你們的手、你們的田、你們的家人算什麼?!」55Please respect copyright.PENANAhNTfvjBJCP
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「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。55Please respect copyright.PENANAsenKD9n6xc
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「你們才該冷靜!這東西從哪來的?這個人又是誰?他說是恩惠,你們就信了?他說是神的東西,你們就不問代價?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAkGdcz9OiwV
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「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」55Please respect copyright.PENANAlOwdP8g3q5
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「對啊,東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道?」55Please respect copyright.PENANA9JlOecBluj
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我深吸了一口氣,聲音低了下來,卻更沉重:55Please respect copyright.PENANApPRyJa6VWY
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「你們知道我的人,我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西,不對勁。」55Please respect copyright.PENANAZlsoJUhDq6
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所有人的目光又看向那男人。55Please respect copyright.PENANANasnyxUqRV
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男人依舊微笑,沒動怒、沒解釋、甚至沒試圖說服。他只是站在那裡,靜靜看著我,像是在等一場注定會發生的風暴。55Please respect copyright.PENANA4HEkxxSpRx
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我覺得不寒而慄。55Please respect copyright.PENANAoJcidDMe14
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然後,他輕輕地,對我笑了一下——那笑容不像剛才的溫和,像是早已看穿一切的、令人發毛的平靜。55Please respect copyright.PENANAr70RUMtnjU
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他低聲說了一句話,語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見:55Please respect copyright.PENANA9HqpegUbZY
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「……七天喔。」55Please respect copyright.PENANAOqoGr9ZKAv
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沒有留下任何解釋,也沒有繼續推銷,只是轉身,像完成了一項任務似的,輕描淡寫地離開了村口。55Please respect copyright.PENANANAG0cSaEkp
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**55Please respect copyright.PENANAJWYJMvLK66
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一開始,一切都沒變。55Please respect copyright.PENANAGcfA7IY08h
村民們壓抑住了誘惑。沒有人使用盒子,甚至有人提議把它埋進老井底下,永遠不要再提起。但日子還是苦。田地瘦,孩子餓,藥草不夠,獸欄裡的豬瘦得像紙片,晚上還會發出咿咿的哀鳴聲。55Please respect copyright.PENANAiPngM75k2S
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在一天夜裡,發生了一件事。55Please respect copyright.PENANAVpbVcELo3O
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那是村口的老流浪漢,平時靠撿拾農田邊角、幫人挑水討點食物活著。那天晚上,他坐在自家破棚裡,連續咳了半個時辰,咳到臉色發青。55Please respect copyright.PENANAnYCcNH3Rzs
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他餓得臉色發白,嘴唇開裂,他終於撐不下去了。55Please respect copyright.PENANAwJH5Awoxrh
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沒人知道他是怎麼偷進村長家,把藏在櫃底的盒子找出來的。他只是顫顫巍巍地捧著一把稻米,把它投進盒子,嘴裡念著幾句不知是真是假的祈禱詞。55Please respect copyright.PENANAJZFZ9H78oy
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幾秒後——55Please respect copyright.PENANAnU3bviNiii
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兩把米,靜靜地躺在盒底,甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。55Please respect copyright.PENANAurBtBqZMIi
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那一夜他沒說任何話,只是緊緊抱著那把米,像是在抱自己唯一還能相信的東西。55Please respect copyright.PENANAOWC4aX74UD
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可惜,酒讓嘴不牢。55Please respect copyright.PENANA4N0LDJkBD6
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第二天,他喝醉了,在街邊搖搖晃晃地喊:「哈哈哈!是真的!那盒子是真的!神明真的會給東西啊——!」55Please respect copyright.PENANA4p23WTBX8l
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他一邊笑一邊哭,整條村街都聽見了。55Please respect copyright.PENANAZTCx17d7Zr
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**55Please respect copyright.PENANAP7FGBzVhu2
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試驗開始了。55Please respect copyright.PENANArKetwTX2qC
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村裡年輕人率先效仿,把破鞋、乾掉的蘿蔔、還有老母親留下的骨雕飾品一樣樣丟進盒子。每一次,盒子都照單全收,並「回贈」兩份。就像它從不挑剔,只求你「誠意十足」。55Please respect copyright.PENANAf9iEnf8gyd
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村民們驚呼、雀躍,甚至開始比賽誰複製得最多,誰投的東西最有價值。從糧食、布匹、牲畜、工具、金銀、首飾,甚至到符咒、經書……盒子通通照做,毫無底線。55Please respect copyright.PENANAGj3U3VA40J
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短短幾天時間,村裡的集會廣場已經排滿人。他們抬著大缸、裝著牲口、拿著傳家寶輪流操作,像是在朝聖。55Please respect copyright.PENANA0z3URvOzxr
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我和昑偑站在不遠處,看著那群人。55Please respect copyright.PENANA5fYC1CGIEq
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他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑,只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。55Please respect copyright.PENANAS1Ww9Vyptu
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「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。55Please respect copyright.PENANALBFpTNWaZR
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「不,是他給了他們理由去瘋。」昑偑冷靜地回應,咬了一口冷掉的地瓜。55Please respect copyright.PENANAqCo9tGFwcX
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她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。55Please respect copyright.PENANAURuaPzMMaL
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**55Please respect copyright.PENANAhoBDsXI6mS
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我和昑偑,依舊守著自己的小屋。55Please respect copyright.PENANAPqkrUmKowU
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我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。55Please respect copyright.PENANAreT13b1Anu
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起初還有些人勸我們:「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAIraZ5ukiYL
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後來變成:「是不是放不進去東西啊?還是你們連『珍惜的東西』都沒有?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAxffL4g2n1Q
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再後來——他們不說了,只是看著我們譏笑。55Please respect copyright.PENANA3jS47tqY0A
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我們成了全村唯一的異類。55Please respect copyright.PENANAD595zwVGpo
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那天晚上,我們坐在屋子裡,天花板滴著水,油燈忽明忽滅。外頭廣場熱鬧的像過節,有人在燒烤,有人在唱歌,還有人在討論明天要複製什麼——有個醉漢還說要複製老婆,笑得差點翻進水桶裡。55Please respect copyright.PENANAcISRlfHRO2
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屋內卻只有我們兩個,一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。55Please respect copyright.PENANAAemHhBUW5T
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昑偑把剝好的一半遞給我,我沒接,只是盯著手上那塊地瓜出神。55Please respect copyright.PENANAaNTCDD6877
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她看了我一眼,咬了自己那半塊一口,過了好一會,才輕聲開口:55Please respect copyright.PENANAT8jYHBUT1n
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「你後悔嗎?」55Please respect copyright.PENANAdbCOjuzyYM
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我沒有立刻回答,只是聽見屋外又響起了煙火聲,火光照亮我們窗紙上交疊的影子。55Please respect copyright.PENANA8o6jgledZJ
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「……有點吧。」我說。55Please respect copyright.PENANAefi38lWeq6
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她笑了笑,沒再多說,只補了一句:「我不後悔。你說的,我信。」55Please respect copyright.PENANAPI2kU81TKg
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我們繼續吃著地瓜,像什麼事也沒發生過。55Please respect copyright.PENANAc48GhuiksK
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可窗外的火光越來越亮,笑聲越來越遠。我卻莫名感覺,那些將幸福建立在盒子上的人們,正一點一點,離開人類的樣子。55Please respect copyright.PENANAGpSlliBLkh
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而窗邊桌上,那條複製而來的銀鏈,照映著窗外的燈火,透出一絲詭異的光芒。55Please respect copyright.PENANAD4i4MsXT4F
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