隨著爺爺的逝世,現存的人類中,再也沒有年過五十的老年人。9Please respect copyright.PENANArdSRfahWcm
9Please respect copyright.PENANAnNDmbAI9mY
事情發生後,有一部分的人留了下來。考慮到年幼的蕾拉沒有辦法處理遺體,就彼此討論所有的進程以及處理方式。9Please respect copyright.PENANAinbhiLxPn0
9Please respect copyright.PENANANVYu2zOT5N
最後一致地決定使用普遍的土葬儀式,將他葬在鄰近海邊的公墓中。9Please respect copyright.PENANAImOj4GunDJ
9Please respect copyright.PENANA1kcn6zui0c
彼此都是窮苦人家,也沒有人有手藝打造一座石棺的情況下,他們只能草草將爺爺的遺體用裹屍布包起,埋入挖好的土坑中。最後在埋葬點的前方,插上一座勉強雕刻出來的石墓碑,由全體居民共同禱告,這場葬禮就算結束了。9Please respect copyright.PENANAwcPZ7DFx5b
9Please respect copyright.PENANAq2tLvt6u0Z
從頭到尾,都沒有人問過蕾拉的意見。就算蕾拉說了什麼,他們也只會認為是孩童稚言,不會多加採納。9Please respect copyright.PENANAbYR7bn8oZQ
9Please respect copyright.PENANAg2hIcdXwxt
整個過程中,蕾拉沒有掉過一絲一滴眼淚。但同樣地,她的臉上也沒有笑容,只是木然地站著,被動地參與整個過程。9Please respect copyright.PENANAXlA8dS6mfg
9Please respect copyright.PENANANTPQv0bJis
葬禮結束後,蕾拉並沒有繼續出攤。三位小夥伴在自家家長的催促下而前來探望過她,卻被拒絕於門外。9Please respect copyright.PENANAWFxCNOjPk6
9Please respect copyright.PENANAgfJkbUWIuy
「蕾蕾,出來嘛!我撿到漂亮的貝殼了唷?妳會喜歡的!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAMzuMvAy2j9
9Please respect copyright.PENANAxBc7Ak6tmQ
辮子小姑娘率先進行嘗試,從懷中掏出一片漂亮的桃粉色貝殼。那片貝殼乾淨漂亮,顯然已經被人仔細清潔過。9Please respect copyright.PENANAnBMPAyB5ZV
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqITOko27FY
可她的溫情喊話,只迎來了一片死寂。9Please respect copyright.PENANASOoDhNKhsV
9Please respect copyright.PENANAyn6id6DvZo
「蕾蕾,妳是不是不開心?我們出去玩,把不開心的都丟掉唄!」9Please respect copyright.PENANApsYftX7qhR
9Please respect copyright.PENANAjQmVDMxeQ1
小胖子是第二名的嘗試人員。小胖子提出了自認為最好的建議,但他的喊話只迎來一陣寒風吹過,除此以外沒有其他任何的動靜。9Please respect copyright.PENANAgkl1B8DRIc
9Please respect copyright.PENANAAkuOsGdZOT
連續兩個小夥伴都吃了鱉,小捲毛再也無法承受這種壓抑的氣氛,走上前去用力敲了敲門。9Please respect copyright.PENANAxEIL3IIJ8B
9Please respect copyright.PENANArSBtqijqrH
「蕾蕾,別把我們關在門外啦!我媽媽叫我來問,妳要不要過來和我們一起住?以後我們當妳的家人!」9Please respect copyright.PENANACOXv6HGn2c
9Please respect copyright.PENANAcRPbk1NOok
緊閉的門扉依然沒有開啟的意願,但屋內的人總算給了他們反饋。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2Oh7Mtrtk
9Please respect copyright.PENANAhORmUujque
但這份反饋,並非是他們所預想的結果。9Please respect copyright.PENANAe7HyzJbv2g
9Please respect copyright.PENANAc0Rv3WZPab
「你們回去吧。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAxG2ICPqywO
9Please respect copyright.PENANA4FIiRQYP0l
「蕾蕾……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAleXMJ961oI
9Please respect copyright.PENANAepG7pBiwQ5
「我沒事,你們回去吧。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAKgqzeWkHcT
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMKHNx4MmDa
蕾拉的聲音非常平靜,卻多了一絲不該有的疏離。9Please respect copyright.PENANAGArBVaJoxl
9Please respect copyright.PENANArOlgtpzsZy
辮子小姑娘忍不住紅了眼眶,小胖子與小捲毛心裡也不太好受。三個孩子面面相覷地站在原地,但最終因為沒有其他辦法,只能先行離開。9Please respect copyright.PENANAp1gfSIz1WD
9Please respect copyright.PENANAJTCrQoSU6C
蕾拉本以為不會再有人前來,卻沒想到傍晚後又換了一名造訪者。9Please respect copyright.PENANAUpdHTPkMxf
9Please respect copyright.PENANAzKCZLi6RxY
「小蕾拉,妳在家嗎?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAjySrdeulJV
9Please respect copyright.PENANATVTPvLsH8b
熟悉的聲音從門外傳來,蕾拉一聽就認出了對方的身分。本想視而不見的蕾拉,不得不開口給予回應。9Please respect copyright.PENANA6AkqIxrSQ7
9Please respect copyright.PENANAiu7DpmllbL
「姨姨。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAZsGXFfEN4X
9Please respect copyright.PENANAEyC5zjhM2a
「小蕾拉,我們家小皮猴應該跟妳說過了吧?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAAzjdDnuaq1
9Please respect copyright.PENANAuG28RuGvLd
得到蕾拉的回應後,胖嬸的聲音染上了欣喜之色。話說到一半時,她稍微停頓了片刻,似乎是在斟酌著用詞。9Please respect copyright.PENANAMc6Rn0dVf4
9Please respect copyright.PENANAmryA0aV5I4
「姨姨很喜歡小蕾拉,所以……希望妳能當姨姨的女兒。好嗎?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAkj6JgqaZov
9Please respect copyright.PENANAFJlif48cwY
隨著對方越說越多,蕾拉原本抓著布料的雙手越攥越緊。她低下頭,沉默了很久。即便蕾拉沒有給出回應,對方也沒有開口催促,只是安靜地坐在那裡,耐心地候著蕾拉的答案。9Please respect copyright.PENANAnXWWDlttXN
9Please respect copyright.PENANAnyAkvXH03V
「姨姨,對不起。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAg8pcacvVQS
9Please respect copyright.PENANAavP89ToFC8
沉默許久之後得出的答案依舊是否定,胖嬸有些失望,但她能體諒蕾拉的心情,不會有任何強迫。9Please respect copyright.PENANAOhku40aDw8
9Please respect copyright.PENANATFH9DMqayT
「沒關係,姨姨等妳改變主意啊。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAvylRaaAuUM
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwtn9H2kKKU
對方的聲音很溫和,言語中的溫柔,讓蕾拉忍不住想起爺爺還正常的時候。9Please respect copyright.PENANAimsVNVtbZL
9Please respect copyright.PENANAo50mrDZfhW
可即便對方已經走遠、已經離開,再也聽不見腳步聲,蕾拉還是沒有開口喊住對方。她只是沈默地抱著一塊很大的布,將至今為止還未被用於生計中的貝殼,一片一片縫在那塊大布上方。9Please respect copyright.PENANAvHEWus7pAt
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0UPdticXYZ
在爺爺離世的過去了大約三天後的深夜,緊閉多日的大門終於被打開。一個小小的身影從門內鑽出,推著一個簡易的木推車走出。9Please respect copyright.PENANACAxKRSJJHg
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVYI6K8hTmr
老舊木頭已經朽化成銀灰色,輪軸與接縫處漫出一層薄薄的青苔。鏽化的鐵釘膨脹了開來,將其中一塊木頭撐得裂開。9Please respect copyright.PENANAwlzP4uzH9t
9Please respect copyright.PENANAA7fWvLkFXJ
隨著蕾拉的推動,推車還不斷發出刺耳的嘎吱聲,像是隨時會散架。推車上,小袋子的內容物互相撞擊著,發出喀啦喀啦十分吵雜的聲音。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFsXTqEDQFX
9Please respect copyright.PENANAAXkfi0ZVAZ
唯恐嘈雜的聲響會吵醒其他人,蕾拉刻意放緩了速度,獨自一人在寂靜的街道上走著。9Please respect copyright.PENANAF50X96eiSt
9Please respect copyright.PENANAkdN1jvmIUd
再一會兒,再一會兒就好。今天過後,你就可以休息了。9Please respect copyright.PENANAe0KEd7bKQy
9Please respect copyright.PENANAH7TEqbZtTq
這麼想著的蕾拉,緩緩將推車推到了公墓。9Please respect copyright.PENANA3eowgNinvn
9Please respect copyright.PENANA1hZbcpHI0B
深夜的墓園有些陰森,但蕾拉沒有多少害怕的情緒。她推著木推車找到了那塊熟悉的墳墓,隨後將推車上的小袋子打開,從中取出一個打磨好的海螺。俯下身後,就開始挖掘。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8riYnYW72n
9Please respect copyright.PENANAljZhzWHutE
最近才剛搬動過的泥土十分松軟,挖掘時並沒有耗費太多的力氣與時間。很快地,她挖到了不一樣的觸感。在即將碰到遺體的時候,她將海螺塞回袋中,改用手撥走上方剩餘的泥土。9Please respect copyright.PENANAcZscgOvZQ5
9Please respect copyright.PENANA96XyeB8adE
隨著一陣惡臭傳來,蕾拉看見了包在裹屍袋中的遺體。有裹屍布的隔絕,蕾拉只聞到一些異味,但眉間還是忍不住拱起了一個小山丘。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8wp2GHH9p8
9Please respect copyright.PENANAzAoSugB4uv
接著,她俯身將爺爺的遺體拖起,慢慢挪到推車上。這個動作費了不少的力氣,讓她已經開始有些虛喘。想到接下來要做的事情,她深吸一口氣,開始推動這台比來時還要更加沉重的推車。9Please respect copyright.PENANABaIBi2aFuK
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVm9jmdcazZ
公墓與小石灘的距離並不是太遠,可蕾拉體力有限,平時幾步路的距離,似乎也變得無比遙遠。好不容易移動到石梯上,蕾拉甚至只能坐在地上喘息,慢慢等待體力恢復,並抬頭望向仍舊暗沉的天空。9Please respect copyright.PENANA5O7D3c7olA
9Please respect copyright.PENANAiUn1QX0ocq
即使時間還算充裕,蕾拉仍擔心會驚動其他居民,她咬了咬牙,決定榨乾剩下的體力,趕緊先將爺爺和推車移動到小石灘上。9Please respect copyright.PENANAVRm1AV9qvG
9Please respect copyright.PENANACriT5heG8q
這裡沒有適合的斜坡,蕾拉只能控制力氣,緩緩將爺爺挪動到石梯下方。9Please respect copyright.PENANAJSM9ZINuih
9Please respect copyright.PENANAxInqD2uiU5
可想像終究是美好的,當她拉住推車時,在沒有支撐的情況下,她的力氣不僅無法支撐,而那不太穩固的推車,終究還是在這一刻徹底解體。9Please respect copyright.PENANABSzpIPaXP2
9Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ3crF4ycx
爺爺的遺體,也就這麼摔了下去。9Please respect copyright.PENANA7TSDJQNCBY
9Please respect copyright.PENANAxCwcmnubXO
事情發生得太快,當她回過神時,手上只剩下推車的把手,以及綁在把手上的一個小袋子。9Please respect copyright.PENANAUZsiCQaQe8
9Please respect copyright.PENANAGMCl5ql4t1
「爺爺!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAT3BZE6oIG3
9Please respect copyright.PENANAvV6nrGUSUa
蕾拉已經顧不上聲音是否會被聽見的問題,她趕緊抓上那個小袋子,噠噠噠地跑到爺爺的遺體旁。9Please respect copyright.PENANASZ4I9WAAhT
9Please respect copyright.PENANA2J1rAlgdVP
爺爺身上的裹屍布有些散開,那股惡臭味撲面而來,讓蕾拉猝不及防嗅了滿鼻。遭到衝擊的蕾拉頓時感到胃部翻騰,差點吐出滿腹穢物。她趕緊將伸手裹屍布的縫隙包好,讓那股令人難受的味道總算被壓了下去。9Please respect copyright.PENANAQa1JL5CMyT
9Please respect copyright.PENANAXwCgviSvHk
看著這臺已經肢體破碎的推車,蕾拉咬了咬牙,抱住疑似是爺爺上半身的位置,一點一點地向石梯下挪動。9Please respect copyright.PENANA6RLBPulGqK
9Please respect copyright.PENANAZJWZMlsrr5
「爺爺,對不起,就快到了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA97FyPPAIaK
9Please respect copyright.PENANAnhig4hlfbK
每拖動幾步,蕾拉嘴上總會喃喃自語這麼幾句。好不容易拖到了海邊,她又一次坐下來恢復體力。9Please respect copyright.PENANAHFmXNq47Z7
9Please respect copyright.PENANAOH9svTGxFa
因為她明白,最後一步會需要更多的體力和體力支撐。也因為只剩下一步,這次的休息,就是最後一次了。9Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZnYV9zRVS
9Please respect copyright.PENANA3IGr1qmjIW
在休息期間過度消耗的精力,卻不斷化為瞌睡蟲襲擊著她的意識。她死死支撐的眼皮不讓它閉下,結果體力雖然恢復了,精神卻變得更加疲憊。同時,天空已開始轉亮,太陽也冒出了個小頭。9Please respect copyright.PENANA6JhFlgMNMu
9Please respect copyright.PENANAjgg5t9vCE3
一如那天,她從小石灘回去前看到的天空。9Please respect copyright.PENANARayElWsowN
9Please respect copyright.PENANAOGJhYw4FpF
蕾拉明白自己已經沒有多少時間,趕緊在小袋子中翻找著,最後在底部拿出一塊縫著許多貝殼的布料,隨後包裹在爺爺的身體上。9Please respect copyright.PENANAdsS6XH4ovo
9Please respect copyright.PENANA4d23t8JGfw
「爺爺,這是蕾蕾能為你做的最後一件事。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAwfLCt43vKZ
9Please respect copyright.PENANAsRCpaftzva
女孩的眼眶沁著淚水,卻始終不肯落下。她抬手抹去了那些淚珠,再次托住爺爺的上半身,一步一步朝著海水挪去。9Please respect copyright.PENANAqnAOKyOVz0
9Please respect copyright.PENANAUbk92aCw6o
隨著水位上升,海水逐漸沒過蕾拉的身體,直至腳騰空,身體慣性浮起的那刻,也依然不停下腳步。9Please respect copyright.PENANABWfNOOUQ2M
9Please respect copyright.PENANA9hEZQB2ceH
在身體浮起的那刻,蕾拉的臉色蒼白了許多。9Please respect copyright.PENANAcK9jBk2DsS
9Please respect copyright.PENANAD03O3QeJeT
拖動一個比自己還重的遺體本就需要花費相當多的力氣,更何況現在還得騰出一隻手來游泳,她的體力幾乎是斷崖式的急速下降。不過才前進幾步,就感覺自己的體力幾近耗盡,精神也變得渙散。9Please respect copyright.PENANAKRGZLhJD9I
9Please respect copyright.PENANAu45fvsncsY
「停手罷,汝已盡力。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA0Am9mLFmpY
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwK1gw0FbbZ
恍惚中,蕾拉彷彿聽見了阿幽的聲音,可祂的聲音卻是在勸她放棄。本來已經力竭的身體彷彿在這一刻再次得到了力量,她又努力往前撥了幾次水。同時,即便知道會將剩餘的力氣洩出,還是忍不住開口大喊。9Please respect copyright.PENANA7jhrO9RmDW
9Please respect copyright.PENANAlpCn4X47sB
「爺爺他……!一直都想著奶奶!」9Please respect copyright.PENANANxQVCrJWcM
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqPzHymTcDY
海浪撲面而來,喝了一口海水的蕾拉嗆得咳了咳。好不容易喘過氣,又立即向前邁進。9Please respect copyright.PENANAulap4d5ksd
9Please respect copyright.PENANAOZSiJfbVGi
「爺爺一定……一定很想去見在大海中的奶奶!」9Please respect copyright.PENANA9OTa8lFys5
9Please respect copyright.PENANA8BfVhGPpF0
「所以……我……!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAbSswNTZPFW
9Please respect copyright.PENANAbuf8eiI0v8
說到最後,蕾拉已經沒有多餘的力氣說話,只能咬著牙繼續向前進。到了最後,她感覺自己就像是塊海上的浮木般隨著海浪漂浮,麻木的手腳不斷朝著前方撥水,僵硬的手彷彿失去了執行其他動作的功能。9Please respect copyright.PENANA5efY7x1Xd8
9Please respect copyright.PENANA90LASYzKtC
好不容易就這樣硬撐著來到預定好的位置,小臉上終於露出時隔多日的笑容。她緩緩鬆開已經僵到發直的手,放開爺爺的身體。那塊縫滿貝殼的布在海中微微飄動,像是被誰溫柔接過一般,隨後緩緩下沉,直至消失不見。9Please respect copyright.PENANAiu8yfLkpUN
9Please respect copyright.PENANABfRcdDLxn4
「再見了,爺爺。」9Please respect copyright.PENANACp9HSJvfOO
9Please respect copyright.PENANARzr5OEADSR
緩緩說出這句話後,蕾拉感到一陣黑暗忽然襲來,身體無法再受控制,整個人向後傾去。冰冷的身體逐漸沒過身體,蕾拉緩緩合上了眼睛。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFiVM77Nqbg
9Please respect copyright.PENANAfNC9Q2j4t7
──爺爺,蕾蕾好累啊。現在……終於可以休息了。
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七大罪童話寓言故事
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七大罪童話寓言故事
Author:
鏡子Kyou
ISSUE #30
【貪婪篇章】砂岩城的小蕾拉 - 第十一幕
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