土地寓言 X 政治現實

一則借屍還魂的鄉野奇談，一條河流的死亡

這個村子裡的每一個人都知道溪王的傳說。

傳說中，溪王掌管這條河流，也掌管了依河流而生的人們。河流時而兇猛、時而溫馴，時而帶來豐慶或者死亡，時而沉默。直到現在，祂成為了一則遙遠的神話，成為了他與她兒時回憶的其中一頁。

2014年，以雲林麥寮朱秀華的借屍還魂故事作為發展基底，2016年改編成為都市人回鄉，掙扎開發與否的故事。關於河流的死亡，唱著一首逐漸消逝的歌：

天地無情，萬物不仁。雙腳站地，孤苦無依。
溪王啊，總有一天，不會再有人叫你的名。
離開這個田庄的孩子，不會再回來。
總有一天，會有人問起，是先有溪水，還是先有溪王？
天地無情，萬物不仁。雙腳站地，孤苦無依。
總有一天，返來的孩子，已經不會認得自己的厝。
返來的時候，田庄起大厝，田水變做溝仔水。
天地無情，萬物不仁。雙腳站地，返來故鄉。
那個時候，請你保庇。讓返來的孩子，會記得自己的名

A local fable mixed with political reality.

A strange tale of a dead one reviving in a new guise.

The death of a river.

Everyone knows the tale of River God in this village.

In the tale, River God is in charge of not only the river itself but also people who make a living by it. Sometimes the river is fierce while sometimes docile. Sometimes it brings bumper harvest or death, sometimes it does nothing. Now, it becomes a myth that happened long long time ago, buried deeply in a part of his and her memories.

In 2014, Come back from River was based on the tale of Xiu-Hua Zhu, who resurrected her soul in Mailiao, Yunlin. Later in 2016, it was adapted into the story of citizens going back from city, and struggling with making decisions to exploit their hometown or not.

They sang this song, which gradually withered, about the death of the river:

Nature is merciless; everything is ruthless.

Standing on the ground, we have nothing to depend on.

Oh River God, someday no-one will remember your name.

Children will never come back, once they leave this cropland.

One day, one may ask about the River God and River conundrum.

Nature has no mercy; everything is ruthless.

Standing on the ground, we have nothing to depend on.

Someday the kids return, no-one will recognize their houses.

Only can they see skyscrapers on farm and irrigation ditch covered by gutter.

Nature has no mercy; everything is ruthless.

Standing on the ground, we return to our hometown.

Wish your bless on the homecoming children, to remember their own name.