第四章:詛咒的第七夜(上)91Please respect copyright.PENANA9ccpVIQyP6
91Please respect copyright.PENANAavEVSn8xPO
祖先昀燁的記憶91Please respect copyright.PENANACBNzC3Sqaw
91Please respect copyright.PENANAJKA48SR1Ce
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAoya6uEejtU
91Please respect copyright.PENANA6RMtKMAhTv
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAAc29rORll8
91Please respect copyright.PENANA4KIcbg11Rv
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——」91Please respect copyright.PENANAeKOyH9msVs
91Please respect copyright.PENANAOCwbPjr3Pm
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAU6gMxgOes2
91Please respect copyright.PENANAmFiH1tjGcu
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAs1yaCOz7BS
91Please respect copyright.PENANAgSh55TsQF5
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAGoytFWluUp
91Please respect copyright.PENANASJeqsEXvdU
「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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAp0y15TYmVb
91Please respect copyright.PENANAYoet3oUGsu
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAL662iEr9Fy
91Please respect copyright.PENANAdfw7GbAU1h
「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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAmmCkbigUmD
91Please respect copyright.PENANAnkOEQxA4C1
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAwxq7a8bslr
91Please respect copyright.PENANA5IgKw7yKeX
我站在人群之中,靜靜的觀察著他。91Please respect copyright.PENANAYEl9N9O29P
91Please respect copyright.PENANAFMWsGpMOZG
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA3enp0HMnAz
91Please respect copyright.PENANA5QJJZhjv1q
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAwxYILSSB3R
91Please respect copyright.PENANAfqL8uSNJZ7
**91Please respect copyright.PENANAH6sGeWUwtm
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「誰想試試呢?」他問,語氣就像在問:「誰要吃糖果?」91Please respect copyright.PENANAog6h1U8akk
91Please respect copyright.PENANAwgWA8ZxjQ3
我回頭,看見她——昑偑。91Please respect copyright.PENANAPNTJX9hMMj
91Please respect copyright.PENANAN55W3jlVIe
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,91Please respect copyright.PENANAjVL5zZPYXY
91Please respect copyright.PENANAg8p5YWfX1M
「要試試嗎?」91Please respect copyright.PENANAg1KZANsagw
91Please respect copyright.PENANALZF50j9R7h
她皺了眉,沒問原因,什麼也沒說,只是點了點頭。91Please respect copyright.PENANAL8r4VPGVIh
91Please respect copyright.PENANA1LNXJYc9ZR
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91Please respect copyright.PENANAU6FqTTQdK1
91Please respect copyright.PENANAYz41s0z3i4
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANALmWQt05VCK
91Please respect copyright.PENANAioWssoRt5p
男人笑了。91Please respect copyright.PENANAJnTN6AC2fM
91Please respect copyright.PENANAp7lcIX9YJt
他唸了幾句聽不懂的語言,聲音低得像在跟風講話。91Please respect copyright.PENANAM2OU7ULcQO
91Please respect copyright.PENANALheBYE5y8U
然後,盒子打開。91Please respect copyright.PENANAjKX1qWldvm
91Please respect copyright.PENANAsyIs5Ldlvs
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA930jDoezJe
91Please respect copyright.PENANAEekV4WVur8
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAve1yXHR0AJ
91Please respect copyright.PENANAE9QaaY45MN
「神蹟!這真的是神蹟!」91Please respect copyright.PENANAl4LzTmVcIP
「快去拿家裡的金戒指來試!」91Please respect copyright.PENANAXIqChJ0VAk
「這……這是我們的機會啊!」91Please respect copyright.PENANAryXL0cYRz7
91Please respect copyright.PENANAS2NPLUINsq
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANApDlJ13diOD
91Please respect copyright.PENANAGjdWBuCdW0
我卻沒有說話,只是盯著那盒子看。91Please respect copyright.PENANArmd0q4vGbE
91Please respect copyright.PENANA8bkFYO7Iil
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA3I6QRb6edO
91Please respect copyright.PENANAI6xn2MQd5B
不是移動,是……呼吸。91Please respect copyright.PENANAUw3LeTHKPz
91Please respect copyright.PENANAM290TdSWG3
它像是活著的。91Please respect copyright.PENANADxqhBLi4Dc
91Please respect copyright.PENANA1XqmV4ekoA
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANATEUwsqdBuQ
91Please respect copyright.PENANAl1ofOLY4Tk
我眉頭皺緊,心底升起一股說不出的惡寒。91Please respect copyright.PENANArKs4piAPTB
91Please respect copyright.PENANAdMCH3Fi6XJ
我咬緊牙關,走到人群前方,喝道:91Please respect copyright.PENANAigr0m1mZQu
91Please respect copyright.PENANAKgnFiXmEj9
「夠了!!」91Please respect copyright.PENANAPM70hzlQrM
91Please respect copyright.PENANA0owDrlUhQS
聲音像石頭砸進水面,炸開全場的喧鬧。91Please respect copyright.PENANAvWLNqEAkjr
91Please respect copyright.PENANAyZxbBN4eGM
「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?!」91Please respect copyright.PENANADkIbzqcBxb
91Please respect copyright.PENANADBpwtqgLuU
我指著那盒子,目光銳利:91Please respect copyright.PENANAu4CjmNrQCx
91Please respect copyright.PENANAeGfZ9beRzv
「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?!」91Please respect copyright.PENANA8O9mo1wmFH
91Please respect copyright.PENANAUv7ThQwm5T
「昀燁……冷靜點……」有人小聲道。91Please respect copyright.PENANAQZAUlL1oBF
91Please respect copyright.PENANAZmi1pXecZP
「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?」91Please respect copyright.PENANAFL0ayeAXUP
91Please respect copyright.PENANADOhWVuyMwe
「不就是一個盒子嘛……看起來也沒那麼可怕……」91Please respect copyright.PENANAuVSYX9TIeM
91Please respect copyright.PENANAX9HmsFW4ik
「對啊,東西也成功複製了……不試試怎麼知道?」91Please respect copyright.PENANALSIbHZrcGQ
91Please respect copyright.PENANAAIymruysVH
我深吸了一口氣,聲音低了下來,卻更沉重:91Please respect copyright.PENANAP5Cfo0dF92
91Please respect copyright.PENANA4pOVbkAGJK
「你們知道我的人,我不會無的放矢。我只知道——這東西,不對勁。」91Please respect copyright.PENANAxvbL0FLeux
91Please respect copyright.PENANAUt8dDpxytP
所有人的目光又看向那男人。91Please respect copyright.PENANAjdVp7v6OA9
91Please respect copyright.PENANA0nGcKuMZDV
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA1oLih3Nza8
91Please respect copyright.PENANAobPC3nQQuP
我覺得不寒而慄。91Please respect copyright.PENANARC4tgTtOet
91Please respect copyright.PENANAt1jWeuFfb8
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA67jdTQBjK0
91Please respect copyright.PENANAhFB5mnpVmw
他低聲說了一句話,語氣輕到只能讓我一人聽見:91Please respect copyright.PENANApsTYIQR3Yr
91Please respect copyright.PENANAKIGikx8L7U
「……七天喔。」91Please respect copyright.PENANAYGFch5OZBz
91Please respect copyright.PENANA9uIslRVKRp
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAEtZ26P8g8W
91Please respect copyright.PENANA2EB2cFQftH
**91Please respect copyright.PENANAV2F9uTJvtM
91Please respect copyright.PENANAve32l03z0c
一開始,一切都沒變。91Please respect copyright.PENANAlx3skdVBnY
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANATNnIDlpJbD
91Please respect copyright.PENANA1eFwsr1K2N
在一天夜裡,發生了一件事。91Please respect copyright.PENANATHhlWaWCXC
91Please respect copyright.PENANAsgUUqmp923
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAM6ZyDGR7SQ
91Please respect copyright.PENANA57xicrYH8s
他餓得臉色發白,嘴唇開裂,他終於撐不下去了。91Please respect copyright.PENANAfLlQVPxTeb
91Please respect copyright.PENANAE4kVufGqsR
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAJweH7J6YVS
91Please respect copyright.PENANAUn1EPeAatp
幾秒後——91Please respect copyright.PENANArfunfZErlg
91Please respect copyright.PENANAgWXKxLIDiz
兩把米,靜靜地躺在盒底,甚至還比原本那把更加飽滿、白淨。91Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q7ohJMpuT
91Please respect copyright.PENANAqEvcOxwoyD
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAdfx1D4YmTZ
91Please respect copyright.PENANA9mc8wCtSRR
可惜,酒讓嘴不牢。91Please respect copyright.PENANAtDDxelAoP0
91Please respect copyright.PENANAz99m6EXa12
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——!」91Please respect copyright.PENANAyfPVRAqp03
91Please respect copyright.PENANAqHfaKAoV0l
他一邊笑一邊哭,整條村街都聽見了。91Please respect copyright.PENANAR0KKIDAeZ1
91Please respect copyright.PENANAwImm5O9Ek3
**91Please respect copyright.PENANAf2D4c6yXZg
91Please respect copyright.PENANA4uvZyVcuqN
試驗開始了。91Please respect copyright.PENANADefFFzy2GQ
91Please respect copyright.PENANAgrgBrcoLmZ
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」。91Please respect copyright.PENANA9JrWFNUGuu
91Please respect copyright.PENANAiCS3YTTCrK
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA6NNce8xRee
91Please respect copyright.PENANAJYiMggOctO
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAnQlV8JtFRT
91Please respect copyright.PENANAsbZ5op5d9v
我和昑偑站在不遠處,看著那群人。91Please respect copyright.PENANAGXf2C0fa7Y
91Please respect copyright.PENANAl1gU3udeSH
他們的臉上沒有一絲懷疑,只有貪婪和光芒交錯的欣喜。91Please respect copyright.PENANAs5hStpYbzV
91Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZDGGeMWs5
「他們瘋了。」我低聲說。91Please respect copyright.PENANAWayjTTyzrl
91Please respect copyright.PENANAn6RE2tF8t7
「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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAK0Pc7ThOg7
91Please respect copyright.PENANATOZnT7cWWx
她的側臉在夕陽下平靜得可怕。91Please respect copyright.PENANAFteNBrCHhm
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**91Please respect copyright.PENANAw8BjIyE8xq
91Please respect copyright.PENANAoSsJhfBeP5
我和昑偑,依舊守著自己的小屋。91Please respect copyright.PENANAMkTkRI1TBD
91Please respect copyright.PENANAaFLKD71BiZ
我們依舊沒碰那個盒子。91Please respect copyright.PENANAPiQC3yL5w3
91Please respect copyright.PENANA0KPcKyIZAd
起初還有些人勸我們:「你們不信神也要信自己的眼睛吧?」91Please respect copyright.PENANAndFtpX9Jhy
91Please respect copyright.PENANAdigyTXbN6g
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?」91Please respect copyright.PENANA1pjRrOBMuA
91Please respect copyright.PENANAWi4fx5bzLf
再後來——他們不說了,只是看著我們譏笑。91Please respect copyright.PENANA7u6jZ8ydJJ
91Please respect copyright.PENANA3mN3hDKAkx
我們成了全村唯一的異類。91Please respect copyright.PENANAmRUKRKkOHq
91Please respect copyright.PENANAdfjPal99QA
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANA6waXfakVKD
91Please respect copyright.PENANAhFQsmmk7vN
屋內卻只有我們兩個,一人手裡拿著一小塊冷掉的地瓜。91Please respect copyright.PENANA9tzvSSR2f8
91Please respect copyright.PENANAlK628dW92E
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANArSnizUaxtY
91Please respect copyright.PENANAuw4H9gd2BR
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:91Please respect copyright.PENANAsibQwpRKGO
91Please respect copyright.PENANA7Uuzq2pWWy
「你後悔嗎?」91Please respect copyright.PENANAPsvvxp3yiC
91Please respect copyright.PENANA2ALtsSe3GQ
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAaBL2bsUWsS
91Please respect copyright.PENANAPRVlHmlB9M
「……有點吧。」我說。91Please respect copyright.PENANAkAm8mYkGDA
91Please respect copyright.PENANAtMrniG6LhQ
她笑了笑,沒再多說,只補了一句:「我不後悔。你說的,我信。」91Please respect copyright.PENANAcuRiHqiUCt
91Please respect copyright.PENANAcDjPtAxZzA
我們繼續吃著地瓜,像什麼事也沒發生過。91Please respect copyright.PENANAhYVmcxyQv5
91Please respect copyright.PENANAQYX5wq1aYM
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAmVadpXHrTq
91Please respect copyright.PENANAWEZC8S7jOl
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。91Please respect copyright.PENANAMQhp8kD1yo
91Please respect copyright.PENANA02FfKe12m2