窗外庭園植被密布,遮蔽了發亮的壤土;荊棘沿著石壁攀上露臺,零星凋萎的花葉緩緩飛升,沒入永夜無邊的懷抱;遠處山下樓房林立,閃耀的路街為城市整齊鑲邊。185Please respect copyright.PENANARiuv9biqUO
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即使有建築、草木作遮蔽,依舊擋不住地面刺眼的光。光線穿透層層阻礙照射進屋,就連深邃清澈的天,都沾染了灰燼的顏色。其實只要他想,隨時都可以把頭頂那片黑裝飾得多采多姿,但下方的照明實在聒噪得過分,不如留給天空一片寧靜。185Please respect copyright.PENANAPDHOLRO7qC
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因此千百年過去,領土也好、日子也好,都是老樣子。185Please respect copyright.PENANAxoCknbRr6t
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偌大的正廳隱隱傳來門扉開啟的聲音,瘖瘖啞啞,像焚香時幽幽飄散的輕煙;然後是與之相反,極其彰顯存在的響亮步伐,毫不掩飾其主緊繃的情緒,該是有重要的事吧。即使如此,獨自進門的那位仍堅持一步一步慢慢走,而非振翅直飛主臥——他幾乎可以,不,是百分之百確定來者的身分。185Please respect copyright.PENANAJKkhi6Ul4w
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所以還沒等對方踩上階梯、踏入長廊,他早已做好面見的準備,至少心理上如此。他凝視著紗帳某處,不知道想著什麼,也可能什麼都沒想。沒有整頓衣冠,更不打算備茶招待,反正她不會介意這些……啊,說到底他現在的身分本就不用為誰做事,差點又忘了。185Please respect copyright.PENANAnpsQd9H5d0
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回憶似浪陣陣拍打上岸,不斷向他呼喚,為什麼?185Please respect copyright.PENANAoW5BaP8fdG
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地氈讓步履聽起來像心跳一樣,悶聲咚咚,朝往昔逼近,又向未來折返。門外隱隱傳來請侍從通報的細語,他終於等到這一刻。185Please respect copyright.PENANAXA1dD1yxDt
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「讓她進來。」185Please respect copyright.PENANAPckJ9NLvUV
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「謹遵巽令。」185Please respect copyright.PENANAiRCkW5pe8u
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她走了進來。185Please respect copyright.PENANA5DDUSbXudO
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他沒起身,只是隔著床帷靜靜望著。照射進屋的光線受困於黑夜,在挑高的室內打轉,門開的那一刻彷彿找到了出口,全都吸附了上去。她的輪廓因明亮而清晰,她的面容因幽暗而朦朧。185Please respect copyright.PENANA1YA2Gvy18N
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房門再次關上,有些光似乎悄悄溜走了,只剩一條縫在向裡面的同伴招手。她背對門板佇立,毫不遲疑:「主人,我回來了。」清亮如燈火爍爍。霎時,室內彷彿被字句點燃,帶來有形的溫度,就像她吐出了光。185Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZZaxvBoH5
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風將落地窗簾撩起,停止的時間再度向前飛馳。窗前暴露的身影是吞了一半的太陽,滲入纖維的孔隙篩成缺月,分不清上弦還是下弦。他嚥嚥乾涸的喉嚨,發出連自己都不敢相信的虛弱嗓音。185Please respect copyright.PENANAbdgLNdIKTk
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「嗯。」185Please respect copyright.PENANAqhHwMErcnb
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沉默。185Please respect copyright.PENANA12waN2dcwS
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陰影、塵埃、雜訊,在靜寂中呼吸,在生與滅間循環舞動。每口空氣都帶來燒灼的錯覺。185Please respect copyright.PENANA3zpraDwTMk
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棋盤上,兵卒打破僵局,穿過光與影行進,向著另一端孤獨的王。燭火搖曳,隨時都會熄滅似的——對方貼近紗幕單膝跪下的同時,他察覺她在顫抖:難道晨星也會被自己燙傷?還是這裡對行星來說太過冰冷?185Please respect copyright.PENANAwUyAsr6t5u
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「主人身體好一點了嗎?」言不由衷。185Please respect copyright.PENANAXddk6ZrRGc
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有誰的聲音在遠處呼救。185Please respect copyright.PENANAjQG57mxVU6
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「妳回來了,邊境呢?」185Please respect copyright.PENANAddcVLu1jOz
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他沒有催促,只是等著。185Please respect copyright.PENANA1g542vvurC
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因為沒得到預期的答案,對方顯然不知所措。其實她隱藏得很好,但相處這麼多年,他了解她自然的反應勝過她自己:為掩飾緊張,她想立刻作出回應,急著說明卻在開頭就搞錯用詞,最後只能結結巴巴完成報告。真是很有她的風格,看她的頭,好像壓得更低了。185Please respect copyright.PENANAPfytZEMex9
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風把新的明亮帶進內室,遮掩的帷幕輕輕搖曳,隨著光點的心意擺弄、舞動,在天花板上映出燈盞熒熒。房間是巨大的燈罩,籠罩的紗擬似燭火,他與她在燈座之下。俄頃,漸強的風吹開兩者間的紗幔,他俯視的目光就這麼對上了她仰望的星眸。在那瞬間,他錯覺自己渾身赤裸,僅剩薄被蔽體;而她是羽翼漸豐的孔雀,被他豢養匣中。185Please respect copyright.PENANABg8ieaKJKs
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她語氣遲疑,怕是隱瞞了壞事。思及此,他還是問出口:185Please respect copyright.PENANAX1GiAnWRIS
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「發生什麼事?」185Please respect copyright.PENANAOiS8DaDbls
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聽見了,有誰在呼救。在腦海,在遙遠的地方。185Please respect copyright.PENANAEWrcfmLZFl
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而眼前的身影正在糾結。185Please respect copyright.PENANA8yvR1Ce0l3
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「稟報主人,都寫在軍機報告裡了。」對方垂首斂眉。185Please respect copyright.PENANAKhs4dxVfZk
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他不動聲色,只是淡淡地看著她從懷中拿出稟帖奉上(老友的蠟印,封緘是一貫的風格),遂伸手取將過來,一面用餘光觀察著對方。感受到來自紗幕後方的注視,她小幅度縮了一下,又偷偷別過臉,煞是可疑。185Please respect copyright.PENANAwjcw24fkhx
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是不是想說什麼卻忍著不說?戰況不順利?莫非是違反軍紀,正等候發落?若事情真到非他出面解決不可的地步,那恐怕不是區區嚴重兩字就能概括了。還是……她發現了他留在這裡的原因?185Please respect copyright.PENANA7W0EzjAzBE
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也許老友的報告書會告訴他答案。他收回視線,熟練地解開封印,取出內容。185Please respect copyright.PENANAChsWQ5uvil
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空白。185Please respect copyright.PENANAyioSooBHnv
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什麼意思?老友到底想表達——185Please respect copyright.PENANAYuty4cft7Y
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錚!185Please respect copyright.PENANA5uMJx7ljgn
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瞬間,冷光閃現。她從地上躍起,挾雙刃直撲而來。書信從鬆開的手中滑落,蛛網似的帷幕不堪撕扯,蜷縮床邊。她不消數秒便將他壓制,短劍刃鋒交叉,刺入床單;他的頭頸就這麼被鎖在兩把凶器之間,動彈不得。可對方同樣進退兩難:在對方襲擊他的那一刻,他的武器也抵住了對方的後背。185Please respect copyright.PENANA3VzcuVwPHh
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燭火晃動,她瞪著他,他凝視她,只餘跳動的溫度。185Please respect copyright.PENANAqUBx0a2EkL
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刀刃的反光妖異眩目,像摔碎的冰鏡,隨時都會滴下水銀露珠。涼意拂過試圖反擊的手,他才順著觸感瞥見她薄如蟬翼的翅膀向四面張開,取代紗帳化成帷幕的一部份。她的身體與他如此貼近,他幾乎要摟住她的腰,不知情的人想必會以為他們是愛侶,實際情況卻恰恰相反,他們今天都得殺了對方;好一幅詭異的畫面。185Please respect copyright.PENANAmUTCn0ETpt
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「不動手嗎?」185Please respect copyright.PENANAU5EJJfGRpR
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他率先打破沉默,換來她加重力道令雙刃深入床單,劍鋒已經壓在脖子上,留下兩道淺淺的血痕。他不惶多讓,在她背後也劃了一道。他們之間的距離更近了。忽冷忽熱的感官衝擊下,他選擇閉上眼睛,直至沉默終結。185Please respect copyright.PENANAMsf34CMzyE
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為什麼?185Please respect copyright.PENANADW7KxYmCtX
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無人應答。185Please respect copyright.PENANAwx4L43NbrN
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她的聲音隔著深色的水簾:「為什麼,你的臉跟他一模一樣?」185Please respect copyright.PENANAhwoFlhzBmh
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他始終不語。任憑她那雙瞳如何怨懟、質問、折磨、灼燒,平躺的灰白色軀殼仍紋風不動,像毫無生機的瘠土,只有眼神活著。這個問題他無法回答。不是每個問題都有相應的答案。185Please respect copyright.PENANAqxL3Mpl2d6
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所以,為什麼要執著於得到答案呢?185Please respect copyright.PENANAA37jrLkdvg
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「妳進步了呢。」185Please respect copyright.PENANAvwiItkNcV5
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所以,他選擇放手,繳械,將一切完全交給背後那片平坦,還有面前的火焰。185Please respect copyright.PENANAptitDhoEXf
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「之前不是嘗試很多次?只有這次,妳成功在我動手之前完全壓制我。」185Please respect copyright.PENANA24FP5Y9GNn
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火焰明明滅滅,不斷閃爍。她沒有進一步壓下短劍,就這麼停在手刃的中途。不過這次真的是最後了吧?他像隻飛蛾,即將投奔明亮的深淵。185Please respect copyright.PENANArjQr9u1gl5
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「……不是我進步,是您比以前虛弱了。」185Please respect copyright.PENANAflXFcI4moI
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是啊,不知不覺我也變成這副模樣了呢。遠處地光照進來,大部分打在雕花的天頂,極少會直射房內的大床。如今沒有紗帳遮蔽,光線暢行無阻,終於爬上靠窗的床沿,侵略純白的新大陸。他攤開的手暴露在這些入侵者跟前,它們肆無忌憚地掠奪,從那沒有血色的肌膚敲下片片瓦礫。銀白色的鱗片像海上的泡沫,風吹就會消逝一樣。吹起的細小塵埃是雪的蜃景,是倒流的沙漏;霜霧紛飛飄舞,突然浮現彼此最初的面貌。185Please respect copyright.PENANALuxWaQYd68
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「動手吧。」185Please respect copyright.PENANANkRdUYKOx7
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——那真令人懷念啊。185Please respect copyright.PENANAoOqvd154iG
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他不自覺地揚起嘴角,痛楚刨得更深了,她眸裡的燈火卻更加搖擺不定。世界正在搖晃,某人的肩膀正在顫抖。本以為她胸有成竹,但照情況看來,連她自己都沒料到會成功,反倒因為輕易得手而恐懼。他又何嘗不感到意外,明知對方的目的,清楚對方的動作,這次竟沒能擋下。185Please respect copyright.PENANAB5ahnZzuYG
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一定是因為火太溫暖了。沒辦法。185Please respect copyright.PENANAClUftGDnc6
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「真的……沒辦法呀……」185Please respect copyright.PENANAz5s8pTlXlD
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蠟燭逐漸傾斜,燒著、滴著。他仰望著,周圍包覆在蒸氣中,只剩沙漠中的烈日,燃燒的泣訴越來越遠,呼救的聲音不知何時已經停止。185Please respect copyright.PENANAPiIIZZ5ogL
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她雖然看著他,想到的卻是另一個,他懂。那個影子——風神的使者,審判的臣民,他的朋友——比他更早與她並肩前行,聯繫著他們共同的往昔,如今已停泊在時間的彼岸。他願意為任何一位交換過誓言的存在分憂解勞,可是無法為他們倒流時光。185Please respect copyright.PENANAq36ajoPoN9
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忘不了那個回不來的人啊!她淚眼看著他緘默,憐憫她的肅殺,也澆熄她的鬥志,不自覺鬆手輕撫那片貼上頰邊的沁涼。185Please respect copyright.PENANAqn1FvNeT38
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「您要我,怎麼對您下手呢?」185Please respect copyright.PENANAvSPhQMBi0q
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他知道她再也傷不了他。185Please respect copyright.PENANAYaiRoAHMR5
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