禽滑說:「東坡既在福建寫下<徐大正閑軒>,不僅因蘇頌為福建人,而是東坡確實得到火鼠的線索;又《竹取物語》提到『東海蓬萊玉枝』、『燕之子安貝』,經考古證明,子安貝源出臺灣。」我搖頭辯道:「蓬萊仙島係指日本。」禽滑道:「蓬萊究竟是日本或臺灣,暫且不論。崑崙山系與蓬萊海系,乃天地間平衡,崑崙山系於大陸地綿亙不絕,而蓬萊海系於大汪洋星羅棋布,各建傳說。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAyZVZdoOEtZ
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我反問:「火浣衣既在臺灣,媯大哥當年搶奪結果?」禽滑虧道:「搶到了不鎮日圍身上顯擺?臺灣天氣潮濕悶熱,蒐集皮草沒地自找麻煩,長霉爬蟎,況且退一萬步說,你這等施術能力才需該物。」我嘟噥,心想媽的咧,本少爺都復活了,莫再提糗事。59Please respect copyright.PENANAD1oWFzCSJ3
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正當我和禽滑談到至關重要的地方,媯盤神情冷漠地走進來,不知有否聽見對話。59Please respect copyright.PENANAwB3VUSJomi
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「媯大哥。」我嚥了嚥唾沫,媯盤靠近,面無表情地檢視我的傷勢,禽滑對他說道:「提到你昔年搶奪火浣衣呢。」媯盤愣了下,轉而咯咯陰笑:「咯咯,硫磺山蛸的建議,打算送小淳鉅子去死?」我睜大眼,心說不該呀,好歹我也她男人,昨晚感覺她挺喜愛我的。禽滑優雅搖扇,笑道:「說甚呢!硫磺山蛸不是怕小淳再受麞妖火刑,才如此建議。」媯盤往旁邊木凳一坐,翹起二郎腿,伸手稍微梳理油頭,一派企業經營者談判模樣,說道:「玄異圈暗稱裘墟,『斷崖吊尾』。」59Please respect copyright.PENANADrnlmMxx2B
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裘墟,販售毛皮的趕集。59Please respect copyright.PENANASlaNMYo4mi
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媯盤續道:「趕集人以絲線綁住毛皮尾部,懸掛斷崖,欲得特定裘衣者,支付特定貝幣,方有搶奪權利,則勝者取之。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAZNj7wmLZLW
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想像場景啊:各色稀世毛皮,用細得一扯便斷的絲線,綁在尾部,然後將一條條裘衣懸吊於濱海的萬丈斷崖上,支付指定的貝幣──非隨意撿來的貝殼──才能獲得搶奪機會。59Please respect copyright.PENANAKKNZigGHXs
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「特定裘衣者,支付特定貝幣⋯⋯意思是不同的裘衣,要用不同的貝幣?」我好奇問。媯盤如數家珍說道:「自然如此。子安貝取火鼠裘,麗蚌殼取狐白裘,秦銅貝取季子裘,漢玉貝取吉光裘和稚頭裘⋯⋯。」不愧皮草愛好專家。我阻截媯盤話語,恍然大悟,讚嘆說:「啊!教授說過孟嘗君墓中出土大量貝殼,原來如此⋯⋯。」雞鳴狗盜典故,曾記載狗盜替孟嘗君,從秦昭王宮殿內竊出狐白裘。媯盤淡道:「大驚小怪。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAjQwdeemMMo
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我眉頭緊擰,忒難!59Please respect copyright.PENANA29U08H3y23
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先不講攀爬斷崖多危險、濱海風浪多難預測,單是尋獲貝幣這件事,已不簡單。再來萬一別人和你相中同件裘衣,互相搶奪時,不僅要禦敵,還需謹慎施力取物,否則倒吊的裘皮,重量本不均,加之絲線容易斷脫,裘皮分秒落海。59Please respect copyright.PENANAtZak2Ktjxa
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媯盤解開左手袖釦,露出腕間手繩,上頭繫著一顆呈現絢麗紫藍色、波浪紋路的貝殼,他鬆開手繩交給我,我吃驚問:「子安貝?」媯盤示意我高舉貝殼,透光細觀。59Please respect copyright.PENANAf51AppP7pa
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子安貝透光後,令我大為震撼!59Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ0vfO8oIe
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殼內,竟包裹無數袖珍子安貝,渺似蟻首、形若海燕!59Please respect copyright.PENANAqn0jnjHx9y
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「今晚我讓青曇取一袋子安貝來,明早前往斷崖吊尾。」媯盤言畢,拿回手繩,站起,目光又不經意瞥看我的耳針,沒多言,步出房間。59Please respect copyright.PENANAK09fEVlSEv
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「這麼快!小淳想多休息兩日呢!」禽滑朝媯盤朗聲說道,尾隨出房。
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四下無人。59Please respect copyright.PENANAXatj2u4ltI
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拔下耳針。59Please respect copyright.PENANA2Oj0PekPFn
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倘非麞妖火刑,眾人永遠發現不了我私藏定海耳針這秘密。59Please respect copyright.PENANAGun2aItEYx
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昨日雖傷重,護神四人之言卻聽得清楚──
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「小淳鉅子的耳針可沒燒毀。」媯盤道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAZqoVZY8701
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「難道你認為小淳擁有定海耳針?」禽滑道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAstMvg0vyLD
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「此事後議。」腹䵍道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAwmDzBjJKrh
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「好,待處置好此處、通知老不死狀況,及完成小淳鉅子交辦之事,便與爾等會合巫女之地。鉅子令與蜘蛛天雪罟未毀,理所應當⋯⋯如非定海耳針,為何完好?咯咯。」媯盤道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAZrvmGdSbc9
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「鉅子如何得到定海耳針?」孟勝道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAuANpDUi4tK
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「小淳鉅子不可能如實相告。」媯盤道。59Please respect copyright.PENANA9jRARvPMvR
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「如若當真定海耳針,對小淳⋯⋯未免太傷。」禽滑道。59Please respect copyright.PENANAHmteoN54xM
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「必須阻止!」腹䵍道。
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──阻止不了的,這是我的宿命,不能拖累身邊任何人⋯⋯定海耳針將開啟「人間唯一死路」,必須我獨自走,不過時間早了些,在《京都百鬼咒術篇》和《布拉格傀儡煉金術篇》後,即進入那趟死劫,更戲劇化,陪我共同完成死劫的,並非護神和家人,而是一名預料之中、情理之外的不速之客。
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迅速戴回耳針後,禽滑旋即進房:「安排妥當,我倆、烏龜佬和青曇,明早四人動身斷崖吊尾。」我露出些微不自然的笑容,轉話題問:「你知道『她』是什麼嗎?」禽滑眼神曖昧,若有所思地竊笑,說:「蛸者,章魚。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAT58pIEp0gL
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我瞬間定格⋯⋯章⋯⋯章魚?59Please respect copyright.PENANAIW8S4pKMin
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神遊太虛好一會兒,幻想──章魚、蜘蛛、蜈蚣──多足⋯⋯哪個「更好些」?59Please respect copyright.PENANANwukj9LUPG
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禽滑的話,拉我回現實:「相傳凱達格蘭平埔族祖先原生海域,崇敬海洋。海中生物,尤以章魚之類的生物,不受生長限制,體積龐然,故成其敬畏對象。後來族人移居北投山區,蛸獸跟隨上岸,未曾離去,藉硫磺溫泉延年益壽,修煉成為更高等的妖怪。」我悟道:「難怪她能救我。火山之火,屬天地之火,比麞妖的生物之火強多了,何況她又具備水系靈力。」我一直不願親口叫她「硫磺山蛸」,實質定義,她不僅是恩人,更是我的女人。59Please respect copyright.PENANAxHPczgf4cA
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禽滑驟然賊笑:「小淳,你乃世間真男人,生命裡的第一個女人,是神也是妖,還在生命垂危下完成壯舉,虧得麞妖沒把你那話兒燒毀。」我笑罵:「幹!閉嘴!誒,你的第一個女人你還記得嘛?我得替小老妖婆問問。」禽滑搖頭笑道:「只記得少兒是我後代,其他記不清。」我曉得禽滑不願重提舊事,畢竟千年前他所處時代,禍亂紛爭,傷心事能少?59Please respect copyright.PENANAKdwylkIL5p
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倆人不再屁話,禽滑服侍我躺睡,他背靠床緣、席地盤腿,取出青花瓷瓶,於掌心倒些許南瓜花蜜,輕催靈力,滿室花香蜜馥,聞嗅舒暢,倆人都閉眼休息,沉沉入眠。
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翌日,我領墨薔家眾,拜謝巫女之地救命恩情。莿桐姬對我依戀不捨,拔下她髮髻的莿桐環,輕繫我頸間,其他巫女和墨薔家眾均神色一異,唯獨巫女長情狀泰若。我擁抱莿桐姬以示答謝,趁機悄聲耳語:「替我⋯⋯照顧她⋯⋯。」莿桐姬亦耳語回話:「她不會離開你。」相視而笑。59Please respect copyright.PENANAEY7TbVvRl0
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眾人再寒暄幾句,孟勝和腹䵍向我施禮送別,我、禽滑、媯盤和青曇,四人前往斷崖吊尾。
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一週後,我蓬頭垢面、衣衫襤褸,扛著滿身疲憊進家門。59Please respect copyright.PENANAkEULsyuVRv
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「舒爺爺,我回來啦!」將一隻麻布袋丟在矮長鋼桌,我直接癱倒灰牛皮沙發上,率先來迎接我的,是魁鐮螳蜂。牠逡巡不停,好奇我怎如此狼狽。雖沒和牠來個愛的抱抱,卻欣喜問安:「臭蟲,八九天沒見,過得好嗎?」牠刷了兩刷鐮刀,扭擺腫了一圈的蜂腰,表示愉快。喲,我家飲食不錯啊,吃得肥肥胖胖。59Please respect copyright.PENANAK8qb0TIQJM
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此時萬妖牆自動掀揚白幕,我動也不動,用眼角餘光搜索麞妖身影,但見麞妖癱軟地縮瑟於角落。59Please respect copyright.PENANA1YMzMmLAV6
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萬妖牆內封印歷任墨薔鉅子之靈力,以控制納居其中萬妖的秩序,舒爺每天也會檢查空間狀況,是以千年來無事。眾妖之中,一「人」走向我,隔牆微笑問:「孩子啊,這幾日去哪兒?」我挪挪指尖,當作招呼,微笑回答:「姒先生好,太累了,沒法兒向您鞠躬行禮⋯⋯去取火浣衣。」姒先生點頭道:「是了,修補麞妖。」姒先生言畢,又默然離開。59Please respect copyright.PENANAeHhXV46QyC
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癡望姒先生躲回群妖內的背影,我不禁深感哀傷,與其說鉅子靈力是控制萬妖,不如說是囚桎姒先生,將他控制在萬妖牆裡,即能鎮住萬妖。會否未來,玄異圈相中我蘊藏的浩瀚靈力,也在我死後,將我的靈魂禁錮為用?59Please respect copyright.PENANALLlDpgHdhs
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舒爺聲音在背後響起。我喊:「好累!」,舒爺走近沙發,我一眼就看見舒爺眉宇間深刻痕紋,過去幾日,他必定為了我牢皺眉頭吧,否則不會產生這般刻線。我低聲說:「舒爺爺,我回來了。」舒爺輕拍我肩膀,又摸摸我頭,眼眶有點兒潮濕,微笑說:「回來就好、回來就好......除了煎牛排,還炸了薯條和雞塊,快洗手來吃。」我放高聲量,說:「冰可樂!」,免強伸手要舒爺扶攬我一把。59Please respect copyright.PENANAMHL9KZcIuR
舒爺使勁搭起我,緩步往廚房走,直說「好」,爺孫倆人痛快吃喝去。
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休憩兩日後,我打了通電話給龜毛妹,告訴她真相。59Please respect copyright.PENANARkn8nUlJdF
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龜毛妹語氣極其不自然,終究妥協事實,嘆氣說:「雖無法接受欺騙行為,但不引起群眾恐慌也是警察職責之一。」章路櫽事件,最後新聞報導,以攜帶燃燒物誤引火結案。59Please respect copyright.PENANAqL5Wo3Kzko
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通完電話,我不自覺仰望天花板,發呆。59Please respect copyright.PENANAvgdb3HdwRg
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幾天前,我奮戰搶奪火浣衣同時,羅楚嬿服藥自殺。59Please respect copyright.PENANA5wJNFMuDjP
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她那句「戰國墨薔家鉅子,哼呵,這年頭竟還真存在封建階級下所造就的秘密組織。」那神情、那語氣,我一輩子怕是忘不了。媯盤解釋,依羅楚嬿時至今日的名氣和曝光率,若張筱卿想敘舊,早現身在她眼前,遲遲無蹤,事實證明,張筱卿不想見到羅楚嬿,既然如此,墨薔家何必濫作好人,將張筱卿現居處曝光給羅楚嬿?59Please respect copyright.PENANAP6jNNPqjCz
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同意媯盤說法。59Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZaXxO6u77
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是故,我在斷崖吊尾之地,視訊羅楚嬿,欺騙她,張筱卿母親另嫁,已離開臺灣、定居他國,下落無可找查。羅楚嬿無甚表情,靜聽,良久才向我道謝、斷訊。59Please respect copyright.PENANAe6kC5qdwgK
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當晚,羅楚嬿便自殺,媒體報導她長年遭憂鬱症所苦。59Please respect copyright.PENANAfxblJenfQM
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墨薔銀哭哭啼啼來電,劈頭蓋腦就罵:「你什麼破鉅子啊!為什麼幫不了羅楚嬿!」我內心也焦苦,回罵:「關妳屁事!妳和她不也交惡,何必惺惺作態表示關心!噁心!」我姐弟倆吵了一架。
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不再凝視天花板,我伸伸懶腰,拿著手機和錢包,出門一趟。59Please respect copyright.PENANAHFgbyzqqVS
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循著媯盤由貓空呂桑那邊得來的地址,我獨自前往屏東。59Please respect copyright.PENANAiMBh4pFxAu
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油綠菜田及蔚藍海岸,也未能洗刷我內心憂傷。剛過中午,到站,我包了輛計程車前往張筱卿家。59Please respect copyright.PENANA3c2usAqfEO
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偏鄉僻壤裡搭建一間質量極差的平房,屋前方正水泥地,一婦女正手工處理採割下來的農作物。雖婦女看來頗滄桑潦倒,卻依稀保有照片裡的人偶姿色,只是年輕許多,我張口問:「張筱卿小姐?」婦女疑惑地抬眼望向我,答:「對,你誰?」我一屁股坐下水泥地,快速說明找她的理由,張筱卿進屋倒杯水給我後,掏出香煙,淡淡回道:「抽嗎?我還記得那個同學。」59Please respect copyright.PENANANe83epDn9V
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聽到「那個同學」四字,我心登時涼颼,媯盤分析得對,在張筱卿心中,羅楚嬿僅是過客,我些微忿忿難平,說:「妳從沒想過找她嗎?」張筱卿打量著我,失笑說:「帥哥,你家很有錢吧。」牛頭不對馬嘴的回話,我錯愕說:「還不錯。」張筱卿忽在我眼前轉身一圈:「我猜我們年紀差不多,但我看起來都可以當你媽媽。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAP52Xf2v4u0
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張筱卿確實體態略臃腫、氣質亦呈猥瑣,就連點煙、抽煙模樣,都難掩狡獪,她刻意將煙圈吐向我,不正經笑聲中,極力隱藏對世間炎涼的悲哀,說:「小時候不懂事,以為能和媽媽一起住,多幸福開心,結果我媽是沒用的女人,鬧出好多事,最後沒錢,我們只能躲來鄉下⋯⋯過得不好,誰還有心情記得那個同學。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAgSEVUQiOvS
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「她幾天前,自殺了。」我低沉緩慢說道,張筱卿夾煙的手指,微微一顫,反應卻冷漠說:「是喔。」我不曉得該做出哪種反應,可心裡非常明白,這並非張筱卿該承受的指責,更進一步說,是羅楚嬿單方面的一相情願,我說:「沒別的意思,只想請妳同情羅小姐十七年來的思念情分,也能偶爾思念她。」張筱卿又問我:「如果羅楚嬿沒死,今天見到我,你猜她會什麼態度?」我憶起米蘭時尚週,羅楚嬿的舉止神情,說:「久別重逢的喜悅。」張筱卿誇張搖頭:「是失望和鄙視。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9TBIXaqce
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「不會!」我努力反駁。59Please respect copyright.PENANAc2Il1akDGS
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張筱卿的字句血淋真實,鞭笞著我,她說:「綾雲緞莊當年叱吒全臺灣,小公主張筱卿,天天穿最美麗的衣服登臺亮相,哪個小女孩不羨慕?我夢想成為服裝設計師,全班女同學就爭相說要成為演員或模特兒,穿我做得衣服⋯⋯現在的張筱卿,無法提供美麗的衣服給她穿,她還能思念嗎?帥哥,你不夠懂女人⋯⋯女人啊,是能為漂亮衣服去殺人的。」59Please respect copyright.PENANAXng2CMZpZe
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與張筱卿談話,前後不超過十五分鐘,我即搭車回火車站。
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不否定人心鬼域複雜,卻仍相信世間存有真情,或許羅楚嬿早預料張筱卿不僅活著,而且還活得不太好,所以想見面──至於見面心態,是表達思念及幫助,抑或展示取笑和鄙視,不得而知,畢竟,她們幼時所存在的情分恩怨,於兩人心中是不同的漣漪效應,好比我們自以為對他人的友善勸誡,他人聽來卻是批評諷刺。59Please respect copyright.PENANAA21VIcMt3R
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總之!59Please respect copyright.PENANAtqu3kufQ0x
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《詭偶》案隨委託人羅楚嬿自殺,正式結案──回歸慵懶混賴的少爺生活啦!