
史記,記的是思想的高尚與批判。495Please respect copyright.PENANAaiOc9mBftL
說書,說的是人性的傳聞與詭闇。495Please respect copyright.PENANArSISsn8ZEe
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前者於後世傳揚歌頌、為時代推波助瀾。495Please respect copyright.PENANAIIqmCXPmTA
後者於背地流傳蜚語、野火下春風又生。495Please respect copyright.PENANAcAULKl7vr4
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而二者交融,方成「歷史」。495Please respect copyright.PENANA1ARypWL0Lo
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***495Please respect copyright.PENANAw2DL2Ybq0V
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夜色漸濃、大雨濛濛。伸手都未能看清自身是否仍擁有五指;又或被嘴饞妖孽竊去幾根戲耍的幽暗中,某處山腳下之村落卻與萬物聲息背道而馳,依稀燈火明滅於村子後口處,即便熄滅也會在瞬間再次點燃,彷彿深怕完全投身漆黑,如同人們綿延不息盤算的細語悄然搖曳;八卦竊語同時又怕撞見夜路上的鬼。495Please respect copyright.PENANAIk90d5XBGQ
495Please respect copyright.PENANAFkhAOLK09U
「已快到子時了......也是時候該出發了吧?村長。」令眾人幾近窒息的沉默蔓延了足足一個時辰有餘,不知何時才能結束這門掃運的苦差事,幾名男丁咽著口沫、面面相覷,直至臨近該上山的時機,才好不容易有人壯起膽子上前向始終站在隊伍最前拄著木拐、一動不動的佝僂老者試探道,就怕自己這沒讀書的說錯個一字半句,誤了大事。495Please respect copyright.PENANA7CWym2ZuIu
495Please respect copyright.PENANAPHs2zpCKeI
「嗯......」一聲低嘆自鼻腔長吐而出,老者輕撫偌長白鬚好會,隨後緩步轉身才朝手持火把的六人開口,嗓音低啞宛若磨石霍霍之響。495Please respect copyright.PENANActMMZD504s
495Please respect copyright.PENANAGTSLh7qFwt
「山路險峻,老朽無法與你們一同前行。一會上山幾里路後,會見一貼有道符之白石,於白石前掘地七尺,以棺尾朝山頂之姿下棺,形倒葬。而後用重石緊壓直至看不清棺蓋,最後再以土覆之。這是大師為我們村留下的一線生機,切記一定要將棺按照指點埋於那裡,絕不得有誤。否則--」495Please respect copyright.PENANAhQ3Zr7DQEy
495Please respect copyright.PENANAYGBAzPnim9
『全村男丁,都將死於非命。』495Please respect copyright.PENANAixZd8jYxIJ
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霎時間,前幾日路經此地道士的肅穆嗓音彷彿隨四周陰冷幽幽響於耳畔,順勢深入背脊。一番寒顫後幾人頓覺此事不宜再做耽擱,紛紛於一杯黃湯下肚後便壯起熊心豹膽,合力抬起那口棺蓋每角都被釘入半截綁有黃符五吋釘的大紅木棺,起步入山。495Please respect copyright.PENANAMLQK3q5Ifa
495Please respect copyright.PENANAhuJQ6NHxwq
沉入子時的深山寂靜至宛若跌進萬丈深淵,雖皆是打小生長於此的居民,早已把山林當作自家後院般熟透,可肩上乘載的沉甸重量、雙手扶抬所感受到木頭潮濕軟糯的觸感卻都讓人無法漠視地不寒而慄,頓感風吹影動、草木皆兵,個個繃緊了神經。但此時此刻他們所能做的,也僅有在心底不停默念佛經,向山頂處的佛寺祈求護佑平安。495Please respect copyright.PENANAucNoFy6gyA
495Please respect copyright.PENANAGuP4l8zuix
「......看到了!白石在那!」不知拖著沉重步伐行走了多遠,手中閃爍火光才於熄滅前映出月下慘白的巨石,寬高皆約為四、五米,被數條浸染過某種液體;繫有數張黃符之粗麻繩緊綑著。「得在子時前挖出七尺洞,快把棺放在一旁拿工具,趕緊地!」眼前指標好似張保命符,讓精神萎靡的男人們立刻提起了幹勁加快動作,將棺木放於一旁平坦便抄起身後工具於白石前開始奮力掘地,土壤翻攪鬆動的響聲不停潑灑在寂靜濃夜不知停歇。495Please respect copyright.PENANAG7cgl0er0N
495Please respect copyright.PENANAjiT0aOYKL4
「差不多這樣就夠了吧?」495Please respect copyright.PENANAs0JVuiaNvC
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「這樣有足夠七尺嗎?還是再挖深點……」495Please respect copyright.PENANAWWxydNDyjc
495Please respect copyright.PENANAzTdphn6KKf
「不用,要是超過子時還沒下葬就麻煩了!喂!拉我們上去!」約莫交互掘地半個時辰,輪後班的三人在下頭起腳將濕土踏平,隨後拉扯從邊緣垂下的繩索呼喚前班的其餘三人,但奇怪的是卻久久未有音訊。「嘖,搞什麼?那三人不會是睡死了吧——」495Please respect copyright.PENANAhyeZpN2x3y
495Please respect copyright.PENANAMJ3itrw88a
「噹——噹——」495Please respect copyright.PENANAabZXS3R16R
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迷霧裡,青銅鈴響,明火四滅。495Please respect copyright.PENANAri17tw4Vkv
495Please respect copyright.PENANAHAOvKGQJj7
彷若山靈自睡夢甦醒的長嘆,一縷陰風頃刻隨頂頭佛寺的青銅大鐘響聲迴盪一同向下吹拂,瞬息間吞滅了本就是風中殘燭的火光,留於洞內的三人霎時嚇破了僅靠酒氣強撐的膽量,有個甚至直接跌坐在地——瘋了。495Please respect copyright.PENANA7iWjazwmMi
495Please respect copyright.PENANAFbAMbBIkss
「啊、啊啊、一定是她來報仇了,不是我做的、不是我!救、救命啊啊啊!!!」像是突然被什麼竄入了腦門,男人抓撓著臉發出慘叫,隨後猛然轉身跪趴地面便開始徒手刨起濕土往嘴裡拚命塞去,。495Please respect copyright.PENANARCXF5oLYOn
495Please respect copyright.PENANAubDuwR25K9
「喂突然的發什麼鬼酒瘋!鎮靜點!」495Please respect copyright.PENANA8L8MlMumD3
495Please respect copyright.PENANArxzKjO7yHo
「哎呦我的老天,早跟村長說過別帶上他了不是!就會壞事兒!」495Please respect copyright.PENANAloGL23VQEX
495Please respect copyright.PENANAx2LI9NfQ7J
「那都是大師用克八字算的,哪是我們這些人能理解用意?壓住他就是了!」同樣嚇得只敢用氣音罵咧的兩人連忙緊抓言行開始癲狂的同伴,不讓他再出那麼大的聲響。此刻這片徒留月光的夜色裡,哪怕一根銀針落地,都著實突兀到感覺會將這山林間所有不該引來的「東西」全部吸引。495Please respect copyright.PENANAsjRYRjuw9n
495Please respect copyright.PENANAWKEfYk72m0
「啪,啪啪。」495Please respect copyright.PENANA3yTywoRxhf
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「那、那是什麼聲——」495Please respect copyright.PENANAwj0FH5Vod0
495Please respect copyright.PENANAaU1YPsRbE8
「噓!別說話。」495Please respect copyright.PENANAMF8t5VT6i3
495Please respect copyright.PENANAJuuGP86iPI
尚還心有餘悸,林間卻彷彿不想給緊繃神經留有一點喘息,幾個似是重物踩踏上頭乾草的響聲頓時從洞口處傳來,迷濛視野裡黑影幢幢,恍惚間若見有什麼趴在了上頭邊緣窺視著他們,死死緊盯,耳邊近乎都能聽聞不尋常的低嚎。495Please respect copyright.PENANAoJOrTK6l5U
495Please respect copyright.PENANAjdycnkbC5g
「......!」舉止間不敢有一絲多餘,但身邊還有熟悉的活人終究還是能給人壯起幾分莽膽,咽下口中唾沫,剩餘能維持理智的兩人對視了眼後,殘忍並無聲的默契於恐懼下抹滅良知,下秒便猛然一把將手裡仍在不停掙扎的昔日同鄉向前推去!495Please respect copyright.PENANAmQm2ygKaui
495Please respect copyright.PENANALMIs54XAjV
「哈哈哈哈、哈哈哈哈哈啊——!」495Please respect copyright.PENANAknFbp2DI6n
495Please respect copyright.PENANApC0rqI0eta
似是早已沒了正常知覺,於濕土泥濘上狼狽打滾過幾個跟斗,那人最終呈大字仰天之姿,時而哭號、時而大笑,與鐘聲疊合群起,讓本沉寂的山林間呈現出某種詭譎的熱鬧,而盤旋在洞口的啪啪聲也感到雀躍般越發頻繁,宛如火焰在燃燒乾柴時發出的斷續噪音——495Please respect copyright.PENANA9VRqCi1HMN
495Please respect copyright.PENANAvnOZsxrdud
『農曆七月,正子時,笙歌將起,百鬼夜行,附依生靈塗炭。』依稀記得幾日前,「大師」於離村前自言自語望向山頂的低喃。『怨鬼四起,群妖醒,大紅衣裳,莫問枯骨何冤矣。』495Please respect copyright.PENANAYqvnUkcrV6
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轟--495Please respect copyright.PENANA35tlaI3xkp
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宋朝建隆四年某夜,於國土邊境的白石村山腰燃起了無名大火,遠觀如一介火環繞於山林一路延燒,而位於山腳下的上百村民無一生還,焦黑狼藉,自此之後數百年間便再無人開墾居住,各樣流言也逐漸隨時間四處流傳。495Please respect copyright.PENANA2vqAJZw46z
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傳說,雖並未有人在那場大火之中生還,但卻於起火的山腰處尋得一口大紅木棺,棺身完好但棺蓋燃盡成灰,棺上存有明顯封棺痕跡,裡頭卻空無一物。而棺木旁則有一七尺深洞,洞口與洞內分別有垂掛、有躺臥、有瑟縮角落等共六具男性焦屍。495Please respect copyright.PENANAE7TNyvPUba
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『嗚呼哀哉?哀哉。』495Please respect copyright.PENANAS1e0KC2Smq
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***495Please respect copyright.PENANAi7VB8XemxF
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「道還師父,時辰不早了,我們夕落前真能走到山外的村落嗎?說不定那奸商騙我們的呢!」身著男孩兒樸素但便於行動的上衫與麻褲,娟兒邊踢著石子邊在道還前邊不遠處三步併兩步地抱怨道。495Please respect copyright.PENANAbOF5PGBUrR
495Please respect copyright.PENANAdz9vwUzKEB
「不可如此無憑無據地猜忌。人家是好心為我們指點方向,妳不感激便算了,怎能這樣說話?」495Please respect copyright.PENANA4bFAg0ZVPm
495Please respect copyright.PENANAvz7rmHmTGt
「感激?師父您這話就不中聽啦,剛那奸商可還想坑我們呢!要不是最後還是跟他買了點東西,娟兒看呀,他連跟我們多說一個字都懶!」495Please respect copyright.PENANAqM8DSO5qSZ
495Please respect copyright.PENANAolFQA2jS4K
「......娟兒。」略感無奈地輕嘆了口氣,雖是受友人所託,但道還在與年幼孩子的相處上也著實不擅長。495Please respect copyright.PENANACtgjQNCN3G
495Please respect copyright.PENANAHgaPqPW9dG
伴著晚霞漸染天空至一片娟紅,夜風也帶來些許涼意,他抬眼看了眼方位,隨後伸手輕壓斗笠邊緣繼續前行。跟了對方幾年的娟兒至今也不明白,明是遮陽遮雨用的裝束,夜晚並不利於視野,但道還卻從未在外頭時摘下。495Please respect copyright.PENANAkz9KwDhNtg
495Please respect copyright.PENANAR8A9kERoUn
而且印象中她也不曾見過有其他人戴著跟師父相同編織的黑斗笠,甚至有時還因此到了村落招人閒語--495Please respect copyright.PENANAlPxraBlemk
495Please respect copyright.PENANAp9mcV4JKSD
「唔!」就在漫不經心想著事情沒專注走路時,娟兒一個轉身正巧撞上走往相反方向的路人。「對、對不起!」她連忙退開一步道歉,卻於映入眼簾的滿目江紅順勢抬首望去,一名面容精緻美艷的女子朝她莞爾,一身大紅嫁衣彷彿快融於這片應景的夕陽西下中。「哇......妳好漂亮呀!」495Please respect copyright.PENANAmEDARiAePz
495Please respect copyright.PENANA5STwz7VmPy
「娟兒,不能這樣無禮。」微皺眉稍,道還邁步走了上前。「十分抱歉,孩子調皮,走路都沒好好看著前面。」495Please respect copyright.PENANAsdHkBVdHir
495Please respect copyright.PENANAn9jRE36P3Z
「小事而已,您不用介懷。」再次讓娟兒向對方道歉,彼此頷首過這短暫的相遇即將擦肩而過時,女子卻再次開口。「對了,冒昧請問您是否知道白石村的方向該往哪去?」495Please respect copyright.PENANAXlNoP6cTsQ
495Please respect copyright.PENANARYw58Zs4lV
「白石村嗎?大約還要再往西南方走幾十里路。這個時辰的話,您要走到大約也是明日夜裡了。」495Please respect copyright.PENANAchClcH3wEq
495Please respect copyright.PENANAknShNlXDRT
「我明白了,感謝您的指引,願您旅程平安。」勾起塗抹朱紅的薄唇莞爾,她再次點頭致意後才轉身離去,步伐依舊優雅如賓、不急不徐。495Please respect copyright.PENANATr18IuCznS
495Please respect copyright.PENANAtsAnohnIvf
「師父,剛剛那女人真的好漂亮呀!是要出嫁了嗎?不過白石村不早就是杳無人煙的廢村了才是?」495Please respect copyright.PENANAUgUAx1Ywat
495Please respect copyright.PENANAZQYh4PI7KL
「是啊,以後或許妳就能明白了。」伸手輕揉孩子柔軟青絲,道還沒有將所見說白--但這樣的故事,也許一輩子也不要明白才是件好事。495Please respect copyright.PENANAeDh7eAowgI
495Please respect copyright.PENANAOnwKA4mbV5
關於一名即使生前備受凌辱、僅存白骨的曼妙女子,披裹著精心繪製的人皮,尋覓於好幾世前被迫分離;那已故之愛人的故事。495Please respect copyright.PENANAr2DNecSjXv
495Please respect copyright.PENANACc7amqBZQb
據說,當她距離他的所在越近,骨髓間隙便會開出朵朵夕陽般盛放之紅花,而後在彼此相聚之時,連同一身屍骸幻化成灰。495Please respect copyright.PENANAJPrIqkwfT9
495Please respect copyright.PENANAIU0ZCZXxhO
「......也願您早日與愛人團聚。」道還回望了眼身後遠去的大紅身影低聲喃喃,隨後低頭任斗笠輕掩面容,濃黑如夜的色彩似是弔唁。495Please respect copyright.PENANAhUFYxiFfDj
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而這故事,也將於下個拍案響起,隨之傳唱。495Please respect copyright.PENANAdkOh0zigZf
495Please respect copyright.PENANAa73nUGEgVP
『說書,說的並非僅是故事。』495Please respect copyright.PENANAPiiYBIyIOe
『更多的,是誰僅有的一生。』495Please respect copyright.PENANAEHTHxPkiYB
495Please respect copyright.PENANAYNvdiTk3DY
END.
#附圖繪師:河原(かわら)
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