Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Water Spinach
Di Yun ran wildly in Jiangling City.He knew that holding Ding Dian's body like this would not allow him to run fast, and he would be found by others at any moment.But he would rather be arrested and imprisoned again, would rather be tortured, and would rather be executed immediately, but he would never abandon Big Brother Ding. After running for tens of feet, he saw a small door slantingly closed on the left, rushed in immediately, and kicked the door closed with his back foot.I saw a huge vegetable garden inside, full of rapeseed, radish, eggplant, loofah and the like.Di Yun has been farming since he was a child, and it has been five years since he saw these melons and vegetables. When he suddenly saw them again, he couldn't help but feel a warm and friendly feeling in his heart.Looking around, I saw a firewood house on the northeast corner, and from the window, I could see the piles of pine, firewood and straw.He leaned over and pulled out some radishes, hugged Ding Dian's body, and rushed into the woodshed. He heard no one around, so he removed the firewood, put the body away, and covered it lightly with straw.In his heart, there is still hope: "Maybe, Brother Ding will suddenly wake up." Peeled the radish and took a big bite.The sweet and pungent juice of raw radish flows down the throat.I haven't tasted it for more than five years. I think of the countryside in Hunan. I don't know how many times I have pulled out raw radishes with Qi Shimei and walked in the fields to peel and eat... He ate one after another, his eye sockets became a little wet again, and suddenly, he heard a voice.His whole body shook violently, and half of the carrot in his hand fell to the ground.The snow-white radish is covered with mud and straw debris. He heard the crisp and gentle voice calling: "Shangkong, Shuikong, where are you?" Immediately, he wanted to say loudly: "I'm here!" But the word "I" was only half uttered, and it choked in his throat.He stretched out his hand to hold his mouth, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. Because "Water Spinach" is his nickname, only he and Qi Fang know it, not even Master.Qi Fang said that he has no brains, honestly, he has no thoughts at all, except for practicing martial arts, he doesn't think about anything, and he doesn't understand anything. He said that his heart is like spinach, empty. Di Yun smiled and didn't make any excuses, he was happy that his junior sister called him "water spinach, water spinach".Every time I hear the name "water spinach", I always feel an indescribable tenderness and sweetness in my heart.Because when there is a third person present, the junior sister will never call him that.If "Water Spinach" is called, he and she are always alone together. When he was alone with her, whether she was happy or angry, Di Yun always felt indescribably happy.He is a silly boy who can't speak, and sometimes Qi Fang gets very angry with his silly look, but when he yells "Water spinach, Water spinach" a few times, the two of them usually grin. I remember the time when Bu Yuan came to Master's house to submit a letter, the junior sister cooked vegetables for the guests, including chicken, fish, radish and tofu, and a big bowl of water spinach.That night, Bu Yuan and his master were drinking and discussing recent events in the two lakes martial arts. He listened in a daze, and inadvertently met Qi Fang's eyes. but not into the mouth.With her soft red lips, she gently touched the water spinach, her eyes were full of smiles.She is not eating the dishes, but kissing those few dishes.At that time, Di Yun only knew: "Junior sister is laughing at me as spinach." At this moment in the firewood room, a flash of inspiration flashed in my mind, and I suddenly realized the meaning of her soft kiss with red lips. Now the person calling for "Water Spinach" is obviously the voice of junior sister Qi Fang, that's not bad at all, it's definitely not that I was insane and misheard. "Water Spinach, Water Spinach, where are you?" These few calls generally contained countless tenderness and consideration, and countless tenderness and love.No, it's more than that. When I was with her in my hometown, there were friendly, kind, caring, but also self-willed, angry, and reproachful calls from my junior sister. Today's "water spinach" calls are all My deepest sympathy. "She knows my injustice and suffering in the past few years, and treats me better, doesn't she?" He couldn't believe his ears. "I'm dreaming, why did Junior Sister come here? She's already married to Wan Gui, so how can she come to me again?" However, the voice rang again, and this time it was closer: "Wang Spinach, where are you hiding? Do you think I can catch you?" There was so much love and pity in the voice. Di Yun felt that every blood vessel in his body was swollen, he couldn't help panting, his hands and palms were covered with sweat, he stood up quietly, hid behind the straw, looked out from the window, and saw a woman His back turned to him, looking for someone.That's right, with slashed shoulders, slender waist, tall and thin figure, she is exactly my junior sister. She only heard her laughing and shouting: "Water Spinach, are you still not coming out?" Suddenly, she turned around. Di Yun's eyes flickered, and he felt dizzy. The woman in front of him was Qi Fang.Black and smooth eyeballs, slightly upturned nose, pale complexion, not as rosy as in the Hunan countryside, but she is indeed a junior sister, and he is indeed the one who remembers and loves thousands of times in the prison cell Over and over, and annoyed my junior sister a thousand times. With such a smile on her face, she called out, "Water Spinach, are you still coming out?" Hearing her calling him so affectionately, he was overjoyed, and wanted to meet the junior sister whom he missed all the time, but just as he took a step, he suddenly remembered: "Brother Ding often Said that I was too honest and honest, so easy to be fooled by others. Junior sister is married to the son of the Wan family, Zhou Qi died under my hands today, how do you know she didn't deliberately trick me out?" Thinking of this, he immediately stopped. I only heard Qi Fang call out again, "Water spinach, water spinach!" Di Yun shook his heart, thinking: "She called me that. The affection is true, and it is absolutely true. Besides, if she wants my life, I will die." It's under her hands." Feeling sore in my heart, I suddenly had the idea of giving up on myself, and wanted to go out for the second time. Suddenly, I heard a little girl's laughter, resounding crisply, and said: "Mom, Mom, I'm here!" With a thought in his mind, Di Yun looked out of the pane again, and saw a girl in a bright red shirt running quickly from the east.She was so young that she stumbled and was unsteady when she ran.I only heard Qi Fang's soft voice with a smile say: "Water spinach, where are you hiding? Mom can't find you everywhere." The little girl said proudly: "Water spinach is in the garden! Water spinach looks like ants!" There was a buzzing in Di Yun's ears, as if someone had punched him hard in the heart.Could it be that the junior sister has given birth to a daughter?Is her daughter called "Spinach"?Her name is "Water Spinach", which means her daughter, not me?Could it be that he came to Wan Zhenshan's house by mistake? Over the past few years, he had secretly harbored a hope in his heart, always hoping that one day he would suddenly find out that his junior sister was not actually married to Wan Gui, and Shen Cheng's words turned out to be lies.He never dared to mention this thought to Ding Dian, but kept it deep in his heart, sometimes he would dream about it in the middle of the night, and suddenly he would jump up for joy.But at this time, he finally saw and heard with his own eyes, a little girl calling her "Mom". Tears welled up in his eyes, he vaguely looked out from the window pane of the woodshed, and saw Qi Fang squatting on the ground with her arms outstretched, the little girl threw herself into her arms with a smile.Qi Fang kissed the little girl's cheek again and again, and laughed softly: "Spinach can play by itself, so good!" Di Yun only saw Qi Fang's side profile, her slender eyebrows, the curved corners of her mouth, her face was plump compared to a few years ago, and she was more white, tender and beautiful.He felt sore again: "Being the young mistress of the Wan family for the past few years, I don't have to work in the fields, and I don't have to be exposed to the sun and rain, so my body will naturally take care of me." I only heard Qi Fang say: "Don't play here with water spinach, go back to the room with mother." The girl said: "It's fun here, and the water spinach has to watch the ants." Qi Fang said: "No, there are bad people outside today, and they want to catch children. Water spinach should go back Go to the room." The girl said: "What kind of villain? Why are you catching children?" Qi Fang stood up, took her daughter's hand, and said, "Two very vicious villains escaped from the prison. Dad Go catch the bad guys. When the bad guys come here, go catch the water spinach. The water spinach listens to mother and goes back to the room to play. Mom will make you a doll, okay?" The girl was very stubborn, saying: "No doll. Water Spinach helps Dad catch bad guys." Di Yun's heart sank more and more when he heard Qi Fang repeatedly claiming that he was a "bad person". At this moment, there was a loud sound of hooves outside the vegetable garden, and several horses galloped past.Qi Fang drew the long sword from her waist and grabbed it to the gate of the back garden. Di Yun stood by the window, not daring to move a little, for fear of making a slight noise and alarming Qi Fang.No matter what, he didn't want to see his junior sister again, and the grief and anger in his chest gradually became uncontrollable. He had never done anything bad, but suffered the worst suffering in the world for no reason, and she actually called herself a "bad person". He saw the little girl approaching the door of the firewood room, he only hoped that she would not come in, but the girl didn't know what kind of thought was in her mind, so she strode into the firewood room.Di Yun hid his face behind the pile of straw, and said to himself, "Get out, get out!" All of a sudden, the little girl saw him, and she was stunned when she saw this terrible look with disheveled hair and beard. She opened her big round eyes and wanted to cry, but she didn't dare. Di Yun knew it was going to be bad, as soon as the girl cried, Qi Fang would notice his whereabouts immediately, so he rushed up, picked her up with his left hand, and pressed her mouth with his right hand.But finally, after a while, the little girl cried out with an "ah".It's just that the crying stopped abruptly, and Di Yun held down the second half. Qi Fang looked out of the garden, her heart was always tied to her daughter, she suddenly heard her voice strange, turned her head, and she was gone, followed by the rustling of straw in the woodshed, she hurriedly took two strides , rushed to the door of the firewood room, and saw a man with a shaggy beard and blood stains hugging her daughter and pressing one hand on her mouth.Qi Fang's shock was truly dismayed, she thrust out her long sword, and stabbed Di Yun's face, shouting: "Put the child down!" Di Yun felt sore, and thought of giving up on himself again: "If you want to kill me, then kill me!" Seeing her stabbing with the long sword, he did not dodge or dodge.Qi Fang froze for a moment, afraid of hurting her daughter, quickly retracted her long sword, and shouted: "Put down my child!" Hearing that she kept telling him to let go of her child, Di Yun was so angry that he didn't let go of her child without any trace of old friendship.With his left hand, he pulled a piece of firewood from the firewood pile, struck her long sword, and took a step back. Qi Fang saw that the vicious man was still hugging her daughter, her heart became more and more frightened, her knees suddenly felt sore, she took a breath, and stabbed Di Yun's right shoulder sharply with her sword.Di Yun stepped aside, using the firewood in his right hand as a swordsman, he slashed down from his left shoulder, and then stabbed backwards.Qi Fang gasped in surprise, she felt that this sword technique was very familiar.It was the stance her father taught her, "My elder brother shouted up", she didn't have time to think about it, she lowered her head and dodged it, and the long sword in her hand was the two stances "Kick the tiger and run into the startling wind, fleeing like a mountain". This firewood room was originally narrow, after it was filled with firewood, the remaining space was just big enough for two people to maneuver around, this time it was removed, it got in the way everywhere. Since childhood, Di Yun and Qi Fang have been studying under the same teacher, and they have been practicing swordsmanship every day. They are very familiar with each other's sword moves. When it was disassembled, it could be said that "the old mud recruits the eldest sister, and the horse fates the little wind", the firewood in his hand was opened and closed, and with a long whistle in his mouth, he cut three strokes horizontally. Back then when brothers and sisters practiced swords, Qi Fang couldn't stand it when they got here.But when Di Yun slashed the firewood horizontally for the third time, his wrist suddenly felt sore, and with a slap, the firewood fell to the ground.He was startled, and then realized: "The finger of my right hand was cut off, and I can no longer use a sword for the rest of my life. I will forget about it." When she raised her head, she saw that the tip of the long sword in Qi Fang's hand was less than an inch away from her chest, the blade was trembling, and the astonishment on her face was really indescribable. You looked at me and I looked at you in a daze, although neither could speak.After a long while, Qi Fang said: "Is...is that you?" Her voice was dry and hoarse, barely able to make a sound. Di Yun nodded, and handed over the little girl in his left arm.Qi Fang threw down the long sword and hurriedly took her daughter over, not knowing what to say.The girl was so frightened that she couldn't even cry, she hid her little face in her mother's arms, and never dared to look at Di Yunduo again.Qi Fang said: "I... I didn't know it was you. Over the years..." Suddenly a man's voice called out: "Fangmei, Fangmei! Where are you?" It was Wan Gui, who was approaching the vegetable garden with his voice getting closer.Qi Fang's face suddenly changed, and she whispered in her daughter's ear: "Wang Kongcai, this uncle is not a bad person, don't tell Daddy. Do you understand?" The little girl raised her head, glanced at Di Yun, and saw him With a terrifying look on his face, he suddenly let out a wow and burst into tears. The man outside heard the girl's cry, followed the sound, and shouted: "Spinach, don't cry. Daddy is here!" Qi Fang glanced at Di Yun, turned around and went out, took the chaimen behind her back, hugged her daughter, and went up to her husband. Di Yun stood there blankly, as if a voice kept ringing in his ears: "It's better for me to die, it's better for me to die!" He only heard the man's voice and asked with a smile, "Why is Water Spinach crying?" ?" Di Yun wanted to go to the window to see what Wan Gui looked like at this time, but his feet were nailed to the ground and he couldn't move anymore. Hearing Qi Fang laugh and say: "Wang Spinach and I were playing at the back door, two horses galloped past, the man on horseback had a weapon and looked very fierce. Water Spinach said she was a bad person, and wanted to arrest her, so frightened that she burst into tears. "Wan Gui laughed and said: "That's the fugitive in the government office. Come, Daddy holds the water spinach. Daddy beats the bad guys to death. The water spinach is not afraid of the bad guys. Daddy beats the bad guys to death one by one." Di Yun felt cold: "Women are really good at lying. In this way, even if the girl says she saw a bad guy, her husband won't be suspicious. Hmph, why do I want you to keep it a secret? You just come and arrest me." , kill me." He rushed to the window in two steps, looked out, and saw Wan Gui in gorgeous clothes, holding the girl in his arms and walking in, Qi Fang was leaning on his side, walking side by side, with an extremely affectionate expression. Junior sister has married Wan Gui. Although Di Yun had thought about this matter tens of thousands of times before, he always hoped it was a lie. At this moment, a vivid scene finally appeared before his eyes.He opened his mouth and yelled: "I..." He bent down and wanted to pick up the long sword that Qi Fang threw on the ground, and rushed out to fight Wan Gui desperately.I was in prison, and I suffered so much, all because of the frame of the person in front of me, and the lover I loved more than my life became the wife of this person.At this time, there is no other thought in my heart, either to kill this person, or to die under his hands. But when he bent down like this, he saw Ding Dian's body in the firewood, saw Ding Dian's eyes closed, with a peaceful expression on his face, and suddenly remembered: "Brother Ding earnestly asked me to bury him with Miss Ling when he was dying. Now I go out to fight with that thief Wan Gui, it doesn’t matter if I lose my life, but Brother Ding’s wish can’t be fulfilled.” Then I thought: “I’m begging my junior sister to fulfill this matter, I’m afraid it can be done... Bah, bah! You kid, Di Yun, how do you entrust others with things that you are unwilling to take on yourself? How can you have the face to meet Brother Ding when you die in the ground? Junior sister is so heartless, how can she do anything for you? Big deal?" Once he figured this out, he finally suppressed his anger slowly. But his word "I" has alarmed Wan Gui, and he said: "It seems that there is someone in the firewood room." Qi Fang laughed and said: "Really? I saw Lao Wang go in to carry firewood just now. Brother Gui, I will give You have stewed the bird’s nest, go and eat it. Water spinach is crying all the time, let her sleep well.” Wan Gui said “Yes”, and said, “Is the cook Old Wang in the firewood room?” Holding her arms Daughter, the two husband and wife went away side by side. For a while, Di Yun's mind was empty and he couldn't think about it. After a long while, he reached out and beat his head, thinking: "After all, this firewood room can't hide for a long time. The cook, Old Wang, really came to carry firewood for cooking, so what should I do? It's better to hide Big Brother Ding secretly, sneak out by himself, and come to pick up Big Brother Ding's body at night. Well, that's it." However, after only one step, there was a voice in his heart pulling him: "Junior Sister will definitely come to see me again. Once I leave, I will never see her again." "What's so good about seeing her again? She has Husband, daughter, and the whole family are happy, how could they take me, a fugitive murderer, to heart? Wouldn’t it be in vain for me to see her again?” “Oh, I’ve been waiting in prison for so many years, thinking about ,只盼再见她一面,今日岂可错过了这机会?我难道又有甚么别的指望了?只不过是要问问,师父他老人家有讯息么?我要问她,为甚么这么喜新弃旧,我一遭灾祸,立时就对我毫不顾念?”“问这些又有甚么意思?她不是说谎,便是照实而答。谎话,有甚么可听的?她如照实说了,我只有更加伤心。” 这么思前想后,一会儿决意立刻离开,但跟着又拿不定主意。他向来爽快,原不是这般迟疑不决、三心两意之人,可是今日面临一生中最大的难题,竟不知如何决断才好。留着,明知不妥,就此一走,却又是万分的不舍。 正自这般思潮翻涌,栗六不安,忽听得菜园中脚步轻响,一个人蹑手蹑脚的悄悄走来。那人走几步,便停一下,又走几步,显然是严神戒备,唯恐有人知觉。 那人越来越近,狄云一颗心怦怦乱跳:“师妹终于找我来了。她要跟我说甚么?是求我原恕么?她还有一些念旧之意么?”又想:“我还有甚么话要跟她说的?唉,算了,算了!她有好丈夫,好女儿,过得挺开心的。我永远不要再见她了。” 突然之间,满腔复仇之心,化作冰凉:“我本来是个乡下穷小子,就算不受这场冤屈,师妹和我成了夫妻,我固然快乐,师妹却势必要辛苦劳碌一辈子,于她又有甚么好处?我要复仇,是将万圭杀了么?师妹成了寡妇,难道还能嫁我,嫁给她的杀夫仇人?她心中早就没了我这个人,从前我就比不上万圭,现下我跟他更是天差地远了。这场冤仇,就此一笔勾销,让她夫妻母女快快乐乐的过日子罢。” 想到此处,决意不再和戚芳多说甚么,俯身便去柴草堆中抱丁典的尸身,猛听得砰的一声,柴房门板给人一脚踢开。狄云吃了一惊,转过身来,只见一个高瘦男子手中长剑光芒闪烁,站在门口,却是万圭。狄云轻噫一声,不假思索,便俯身拾起戚芳遗下的长剑。 万圭满脸煞气,他早已得知狄云越狱的消息,整日便心神不定,这时一眼看到狄云手中长剑是戚芳之物,更是又妒又恨,冷冷的道:“好啊,在柴房里相会,她连自己的兵刃也给了你,想谋杀亲夫么?只怕没这么容易!” 狄云脑中一片混乱,一时也不懂万圭在说些甚么,心中只想:“怎么是他来了?他怎会知道我在这里?自然是师妹说的,叫她丈夫来捉我去请功领赏。她怎么会这般无情无义?” 万圭见狄云不答,只道他情怯害怕,挺剑便向他胸口疾刺过去。狄云挥剑挡过,自然而然的使出了昔年老丐所授的那招“刺肩式”,长剑斜转,已指向万圭肩头。这招剑法怪异之极,万圭当年招架不住,事隔五年,虽然武功已大有长进,却仍是招架不住。 万圭一惊之下,手中长剑不知如何运使才好,收剑抵挡已然不及,发剑攻敌也已落了后手,便这样微一迟疑,一条性命已全然交在对方手中,心下愤怒已极,却丝毫不敢动弹,瞧着狄云一张满脸胡子的污秽脸孔,愤怒之情渐渐变为恐惧。 狄云这一剑却也不刺过去,心中转念:“我杀他不杀?” 万圭在万分危急之际,忽然见到对方眼神中流露出惶惑之色,而持剑的手腕却又微微颤抖,灵机一动,大声叫道:“戚芳,你来!” 狄云听他大叫“戚芳”,心中一惊,微微侧头去看。不料万圭这是用计使诈,乘他略一转头,立即长剑挺上,奋力上格。狄云右手手指被削,持剑不牢,长剑脱手飞出。万圭大喜,立即挺剑刺出。狄云连闪两闪,躲在柴堆之后,顺手抽起一条硬柴,以柴当剑,奋力打去。万圭刷刷两剑,将他那段硬柴削短了一截。狄云将手中半截硬柴用力掷出,待他跃身闪避,又抽了一段硬柴,再度攻去。 万圭见他失了兵刃,自己已操必胜,就算他以柴作剑,戳中自己一下两下,也无大碍,定了定神,展开剑法缓缓进攻。数招之后,狄云一声怒吼,右腕中剑,登时血如泉涌,手指无力,抛下了硬柴。万圭跟着又是一剑刺中他大腿,飞起左足,将他踢倒。狄云挣扎着还待爬起,万圭又是一脚踢在他颧骨之上,狄云登时晕了过去。 万圭骂道:“装死吗?”在他右肩上砍了一剑,见他并不动弹,才知是真的昏晕,心想:“凌知府许下五千两银子的重赏,捉拿这两名囚犯,自然是捉活的好。反正这一次送将官里去,这人自是难以活命,我何必亲手杀他?”一瞥眼,见到柴草堆中露出一只脚来,不由得又惊又喜:“这里还有一个人!”他不知丁典已死,急忙挥剑,砍在尸体脚上。 狄云虽被踢晕,脑子中却有一个声音在大叫大喊:“我不能死,我不能死!我答应过丁大哥的,要将他尸身和凌小姐合葬。”这念头强烈之极,很快便醒了过来,迷迷糊糊的想起:“许多年之前的一天晚上,我也曾被他打倒,也曾被他在头上重重踢了几下。”缓缓睁开眼来,只见万圭正挥剑向丁典的尸身上砍了下去。他初时还未十分清醒,不知眼前之事是甚么意思,但随即见到万圭将丁典的尸身从柴草里拖了出来,他大叫一声:“丁大哥!”突然间全身精力弥漫,急纵而起,扑在万圭背上,右臂已扼住了他喉咙。 万圭大惊之下,待要反剑去刺,但手臂无法后弯,连劈几剑,都劈在硬柴堆上,而狄云扼在他喉头的手臂却越收越紧了。 狄云见他伤残丁典的尸体,怒发如狂。这人陷害自己、夺去戚芳,这怨仇尚可置之不理,但如此残害丁典,却万万不能干休,一时心中更无别的念头,只盼即刻便将敌人扼死。但觉万圭挣扎了一会,抵抗已渐渐无力,可是狄云数处受伤,伤口中流血不止,自己手臂上的力气却在更快的消失。心中不住说:“我再支持一会儿,便能扼死了他。”到后来眼前金星乱舞,脑中乱成一团,终于甚么也不知道了。 他虽然晕去,扼在万圭喉间的手臂仍是没有松开。万圭给他扼得难以呼吸,就在狄云晕去之时,同时失却了知觉。 柴草堆上躺着这一对冤家。两个人似乎都死了,但胸间都还有起伏,口鼻间仍有呼吸。 真不知冥冥间如何安排?若是狄云先醒转片刻,他拾起地下的长剑,自是一剑便将万圭杀了,倘若万圭先行醒转,他也不会再有将狄云生擒活捉的念头,那实在太过危险,势必是随手一剑,砍在他头上,立时便取了他性命。 世界上甚么事情都能发生。未必好人一定运气好,坏人一定运气坏。反过来也一样,也未必坏人运气好,好人运气坏。每个人都会死的,迟死的人也未必一定运气好些。 但对于活着的人,对于戚芳和她的小女儿,狄云先死,还是万圭先死,中间便有很大的差别。倘若这时候要戚芳来抉择,要她选一个人,让他先行醒转,不知她会选谁? 柴房中的两个人兀自昏晕不醒,有一个人的脚步声音,慢慢走近柴房。
狄云耳中听到浩浩的水声,脸上有冰凉的东西一滴滴溅上来,隐隐生疼,随即觉得身上很冷,半点也没有力气。他一有知觉,立即右臂运劲,叫道:“我扼死你!我扼死你!”但臂弯中虚空无物,跟着又发觉自己身子在不住摇晃,在不住移动。惊惶中睁开眼来,眼前黑沉沉地,只觉得一滴滴水珠打在脸上、手上、身上,原来是天在下大雨。 身子仍是不住摇晃,胸口烦恶,只想呕吐。忽然间,身旁有一艘船驶过,船上张了帆,那清清楚楚是一艘船。奇怪极了,怎么身旁会有一艘船? 只想坐起身来看个究竟,但全身酸软,连一根指头也动不了,只能这般仰天卧着,眼见得头顶有黑云飘动,那不是在柴房之中。心中突然想起:“丁大哥呢?”一想到丁典,身上蓦地里生出了一股力气,双手一按,便即坐起,身子跟着晃了几晃。 他是在一艘小舟之中。小舟正在江水滔滔的大江中顺流而下。是夜晚,天上都是黑云,正下着大雨,他向船左船右岸上凝目望去,两边都是黑沉沉地,甚么也瞧不见。他心中焦急,大叫:“丁大哥,丁大哥!”他知道丁典已经死了,但他的尸身万万不能夫去。突然之间,左足踢到软软一物,低头一看,不由得惊喜交集,叫道:“丁大哥,你在这里!”张开双臂,抱住了他。丁典的尸身,便在船舱中他的足边。 他虚弱得连喘气也没力气,连想事也没力气。只觉喉干舌燥,便张开了口,让天空中落下来的雨点湿润嘴唇和舌头。这般迷迷糊糊的似睡似醒,双臂抱着丁典的尸身,直至天色渐明,大雨却兀自不止。 晨光熹微之中,忽然见到自己大腿上有一大块布条缠着,定了定神,发觉布条是包扎着伤口,跟着发觉手臂和肩头的两处伤口上也都有布带裹住,鼻中隐隐闻到金创药的药气。一晚大雨,绷带都湿透了,但伤口已不再流血。 “是谁给我包扎了伤口?要是伤口不裹好,也不用谁来杀我,单是流血便要了我的性命。”蓦地里感到一阵难以忍耐的寂寞凄凉:“这世上还有谁来关怀我、帮助我?丁大哥已经死了,更会有谁盼望我活着?会费心来替我裹伤?”细看那几条绷带,缠得极不整齐,似乎包扎的人动手时十分心急慌忙,然而绷带不是粗布,而是上佳的缎子,缎带的一边镶着精致的花边,另一边是撕口,显然,是从衣衫上撕下来的,是女子的衣衫。 是师妹么?他心中怦然而动,胸口随即热了起来,嘴角边露出了自嘲的苦笑:“她去叫丈夫来杀我,怎么又会给我裹伤?要不是她通风,我躲在柴房里,万圭又怎会知道?” 可是自己是在一艘小舟之中,小舟是在江中飘流。不知这地方离江陵已有多远?无论如何,是暂时脱离了险境,不会再受凌知府的追拿了。 “是谁给我裹了伤口?是谁将我放在小船之中?连丁大哥也一起来了?”他对自己的生死已并不如何关怀,但丁典的尸体也和他在一起,这事却不能不令他衷心感激。 苦苦思索,想得头也痛了,始终没能想出半点端倪。他竭力追忆过去一天中所发生的事,想到万圭剑砍丁典、自己竭力扼他咽喉之后,就再也想不下去了。以后的事情,脑海中便是一片空白。 一侧头间,额角撞着了一包硬硬的东西,那是用绸布包着的一个小小包袱。他心中一喜,料得这包袱之中定有线索可寻,颤抖着双手打了开来,只见包里有五六锭碎银子,还有四件女子首饰:一朵珠花、一只金镯、一个金项圈、一只宝石戒指。另外是小孩子颈中所挂的一个金锁片,锁片上的金链是给人匆忙拉断的,链子断处还钩上了一小块衣衫的碎片,显然,那是临时从小孩颈中扯了下来,倒像是盗贼拦路打劫而得来一般。金锁片上刻着“德容双茂”四个字。狄云没读过多少书,字虽识得,却不懂这四个字是甚么意思,心想:“是那小孩的名字罢?” 他拨弄这五件首饰,较之适才未见到那包袱之时,心中反更多了几分胡涂:“银子和首饰,自然是搭救我的那人给的,以便小舟靠了岸后,我好有钱买饭吃。可是,到底是谁给的呢?首饰不是师妹的,我可从来没见她戴过。” 浩浩江水,送着一叶小舟顺流而下。这一天中,狄云只是苦苦思索:“是谁给我包扎了伤口?是谁给了我银两首饰?”