
工廠的噪音不絕於耳,無論在城市的那個角落都聽到那如心臟脈動的悶響。476Please respect copyright.PENANAe72aUrTe9D
476Please respect copyright.PENANAhEjcsH26bM
煙囪排出的黑煙與烏雲攪和混合,好不容易穿過雲層的陽光,使天空形成一片污穢的土黃。476Please respect copyright.PENANA01gILg58oX
476Please respect copyright.PENANAaPryPX60Bz
繁華街道熙來攘往,人人死瞪著眼,拖著腳走路,猶如行屍組成的大軍。空氣中飄散著靈魂腐爛的臭味。476Please respect copyright.PENANA3rM6zqG3y5
476Please respect copyright.PENANAHXgFGWvJqq
以上,是白堊城的日常風景。476Please respect copyright.PENANAC3TwdUZlA0
476Please respect copyright.PENANAbUpaeYa9Ei
「抓小偷!」476Please respect copyright.PENANAIptIXch4fg
476Please respect copyright.PENANAE43bpzOjT8
擁擠的街道上,數個彪形大漢推開途人前進,個個怒氣沖沖,頂上冒煙。路人們為他們粗魯的行為而白眼,誰都沒注意到,一個瘦小的身影在人群裡穿梭。476Please respect copyright.PENANAmcuCtPR4aA
476Please respect copyright.PENANA4K0CexrUan
那人的兜帽壓得很低,看不見臉。壯漢們鍥而不捨,在街道上横衝直撞追趕。小偷竄進窄巷裡,以為能夠脫身,豈料壯漢之中有人眼利,無人的小巷内反而更快追上了。476Please respect copyright.PENANAN2TsXcUWq9
476Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ6eWIfwgr
窮巷盡頭是一道黑色高牆,小偷再無前路。壯漢們圍了過來,一擁而上。
窮途末路,只能拚死一戰嗎?非也,小偷居然衝向牆壁,蹬牆起跳,纖巧的手指伸出利爪,抓住磚塊之間的狹縫,一跳一跳的往上逃離地面。476Please respect copyright.PENANA4hcwMUpJM5
476Please respect copyright.PENANAigof0BLPfG
兜帽甩開,底下竟是一張俏麗可人的臉。豎瞳黃眼,黑髮,頂著一雙獸耳。她是白堊城惡名昭彰的貓族小偷——薇艾。476Please respect copyright.PENANA7y6yLSwIEe
476Please respect copyright.PENANAlljYrdPxvw
地面的壯漢們只能乾瞪眼和罵髒話,眼白白看著小偷貓的身影從視線中消失。476Please respect copyright.PENANApRL5exCA5H
476Please respect copyright.PENANAMycUbjN0ty
在天台自由奔跑,靈活地閃避各種障礙物,輕易躍過大樓之間的狹縫,在城市頂層來去自如的身影。這就是薇艾的日常。476Please respect copyright.PENANArFqwD8RRW9
476Please respect copyright.PENANAoe6EDThKHI
「真是的,為了這丁點錢窮追不捨,叔叔們真吝嗇吶!」說罷把空空如也的錢包扔到街上。476Please respect copyright.PENANAMHnLggmNCm
476Please respect copyright.PENANA6IuGc98h2U
從高處放眼開去,整個城鎮都是黑壓壓一片。然而,薇艾仍然能認出歸家的路。當小偷就像集郵,不過,收集的不是鈔票,而是仇家。所以,一個隱密而安全的賊窩是薇艾最寶貴的資產。476Please respect copyright.PENANAbWYt5IUaoq
476Please respect copyright.PENANAayxdXvq4Ky
也許是高速發展的關係,白堊城的城市規劃極差,有空地就拼命蓋房子,亂七八糟的建築高樓之間留著錯綜複雜的巷道,結果就成了罪犯的温床。
而最離譜的,是四幢高樓中間居然空出了一片500呎的空地。原本是擺放建築材料的,後來埋沒在高樓之中不了了之。猶如垃圾山中的綠洲,外頭無法發現的無人之境,只有薇艾這種身手才能出入,一個絕對安全,可以倒頭大睡的安樂窩。476Please respect copyright.PENANAViBBvEO2Rk
476Please respect copyright.PENANAAHlusUsm6O
回到甜蜜的家,薇艾卻突然警戒起來。476Please respect copyright.PENANAxLVEYYpvz8
476Please respect copyright.PENANA9LHct0rIt3
陌生的氣味。476Please respect copyright.PENANAs5tIAlF4kv
476Please respect copyright.PENANASac1LCmLLQ
指尖伸出利爪,墊起腳尖,沿氣味步近。是仇家找上門了吧?不對,這味道從來沒有聞過,說不出的古怪,只肯定絕不是人類的味道。476Please respect copyright.PENANAOcUJ1qOxMd
476Please respect copyright.PENANAvAMChyixCQ
氣味從棄置的大水管裡傳來,陽光照不到的陰影中有動靜!476Please respect copyright.PENANAmHw47l4w8Z
476Please respect copyright.PENANAiuA3uPdKcM
「現在滾出來我還能饒了你!」476Please respect copyright.PENANAvpIbiruUKX
476Please respect copyright.PENANAhxQFDda54d
水管裡沒有回應。貓眼漸漸適應黑暗,她繃緊神經,上前一探究竟。首先看到的是一雙腳,真的是腳嗎?腳掌很長,末端分叉成兩趾。小腿表面是一種光滑無痕的黑色。雙腿纖幼而修長,線條優雅,關節有分節,像華麗的儀式盔甲。476Please respect copyright.PENANArrxcA7kH7d
476Please respect copyright.PENANAeUfzYdPf2n
薇艾禁不住好奇,豎起指尖向小腿刮下去。第一個感想是『好硬』,觸感跟金屬相似,卻帶一種有生命的冰涼。476Please respect copyright.PENANATSeFgXFEz5
476Please respect copyright.PENANA6ham5OIAfJ
雙腿往裡面縮,收進布團裡。薇艾的視線跟著走,看到了雙腿的主人。一個裹在破布中的纖瘦女人。黑髮,藍瞳,黑皮膚。頭上長著兩根『羽毛』,不對,是觸角嗎?薇艾從未見過這樣的人。476Please respect copyright.PENANAU1jCH5jwHx
476Please respect copyright.PENANAwNaJ010VXG
女人突然沖前,嚇到薇艾慌忙後退。女人走出水管,在薇艾面前肅立。破布緊緊包覆全身,散發著不祥氣息的黑色身影。好高,這身高絕對超過兩米!薇艾頭頂只到其半胸。女人彎腰,臉都快要貼上薇艾鼻頭。476Please respect copyright.PENANABnD9buH5t9
476Please respect copyright.PENANAgFZocQoo8z
四肢動彈不得,壓迫感強烈得呼吸都要窒息。476Please respect copyright.PENANAwOIVrwBdeg
476Please respect copyright.PENANAP8N9L4PFIF
女人重新直起腰,後退,在水管邊緣坐下。薇艾按住胸口,用力喘氣,像被捏住脖子後又被饒了一命。476Please respect copyright.PENANAVroLn4nbm8
476Please respect copyright.PENANAE3itD5aXYB
「這裡…是我家!」薇艾裝出兇相,但是內心驚魂未定,氣喘吁吁的,根本毫無氣勢。476Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7nUFnoXHe
476Please respect copyright.PENANAwk4WylKzvE
「對不起。」女人的語氣出乎意料地帶著誠心,「我受傷了,休息一會便走。」476Please respect copyright.PENANANfau5RxyG2
476Please respect copyright.PENANAxfz8HNgl3K
薇艾打量女人,周圍沒有血跡,剛才的動作也很流暢,恐怕不是甚麼重大損傷。476Please respect copyright.PENANApnDQJqBcTu
476Please respect copyright.PENANAwCX9p6YaX3
她豎起尖爪指住女人,厲聲道,「馬上滾!不然就把你大卸八塊丟去餵魚!」476Please respect copyright.PENANA5uTHQohSVK
476Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ60Kv3Uaz
女人沒有辯駁,只是無言的點頭,站起來。薇艾緊盯著她,豎起皮毛警戒,恐防對方有不軌舉動。476Please respect copyright.PENANAy6YWeGh2a4
476Please respect copyright.PENANA2ROO6wV2mb
女人走到開闊的平地,甩開披在身上的破布。此刻,薇艾才發現,女人用作裹身的破布,居然是一對黑色的翅膀。476Please respect copyright.PENANArGwQCLVpMX
476Please respect copyright.PENANAs203Hmuz1s
翼展五米,共分四塊。邊緣殘缺不對稱,左邊的後翅斷了半塊。女人隱藏在翅膀下的真身,是一具挑戰物理極限的瘦骨嶙峋,表面光滑有稜角,猶如穿著緊身衣般貼身的甲貫。476Please respect copyright.PENANAP5Pdj7DT4s
476Please respect copyright.PENANARmxddXAhpF
「你到底是甚麼?」薇艾的好奇心衝口而出。476Please respect copyright.PENANAdAjz34MbKO
476Please respect copyright.PENANA54Er5ywbdh
「天蛾族,全名黑羽蛾。」女人說。476Please respect copyright.PENANAp0Uidvj7ub
476Please respect copyright.PENANAgMrXUxdhVf
「你的翅膀都爛了,沒關係嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAbGlNdEUi7z
476Please respect copyright.PENANAsSAYcP1xXP
黑羽蛾回頭,神色自若,「不是你趕我走的嗎?何謂再對我白操心。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAjkQMOCXMVI
476Please respect copyright.PENANAY5IXYdyXRN
「你真的受傷了,這是兩碼子事。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAjkkbmVrzn9
476Please respect copyright.PENANAZsNEaLbfc1
「感謝關心,只是影響飛行速度罷了。我現在就走,不會再打擾你。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAdSBByg798G
476Please respect copyright.PENANAmSlVLQQNqs
「留下來吧。」薇艾說,「見死不救會讓我良心不安的。你可以一直待到翅膀康復,我來照顧你吧。」476Please respect copyright.PENANA6LCtv0GHWH
476Please respect copyright.PENANANDhHJnvZ5f
黑羽蛾面向薇艾,沉默,不語,無表情。薇艾對視線感到不自在,「怎…怎麼了?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAVntXI8WnoH
476Please respect copyright.PENANAVWrlYUkbl0
「對不起,我只是想學你們那樣微笑。」她用手指擠起嘴角,「我們蟲族連臉都是甲殼,所以很難做出表情。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAdmZM1oCK2v
476Please respect copyright.PENANAmUHbO0tl9L
「哈哈,你比我預期的幽默嘛。」她上前,伸出右手,「貓族的薇艾,職業是小偷。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAP2RjwACnJC
476Please respect copyright.PENANAAukLx8f1bG
黑羽蛾動作遲疑的伸手,她的手掌和腳掌形似,有三根像柴枝的指頭,表面長著鉤狀倒刺。薇艾主動握住她的手,友好的搖動。476Please respect copyright.PENANAJwHBx1AzIC
她小心翼翼的施力回握,「朋友都叫我黑羽。」
薇艾和黑羽甚為投契,二人成為了摯友。薇艾白天外出繼續她的小偷勾當;晚上帶食物回來與黑羽分享。476Please respect copyright.PENANAcSk9KrIX9N
476Please respect copyright.PENANAjj52NV92tL
黑羽也不是白吃白住,打掃清潔之類的不在話下,白堊城的空氣污染非常嚴重,只消一個上午,任何表面都會鋪上一層黑塵。另外,天蛾族有吐絲能力,枝條般幼細的爪子能將絲織成絲綢。成品交給薇艾拿去轉售,成為一筆相當可觀的收入。476Please respect copyright.PENANA4OE0ET4by4
476Please respect copyright.PENANAV0lFT6fadz
隨著時間過去,黑羽的傷勢也漸漸恢復,折斷的翅膀重新長回來。當日摟住破布的落難失足女;如今變成披著斗篷大衣的貴婦。476Please respect copyright.PENANAiHNbC3OrxP
476Please respect copyright.PENANAFNj9e98TLK
當翅膀長成的時候,就代表是二人分別的時刻。不過,正因為這段情誼有時限,她們更能無所顧忌的活在當下。薇艾十分享受這段轉眼即逝的美好生活,有人等著自己回去,真正的『家』。476Please respect copyright.PENANA6drRCNc7Ag
476Please respect copyright.PENANA8x2CdT6zlF
在一個特別寒冷的夜晚,睡夢中的薇艾被陌生的氣味驚醒。她鑽出窩子,被眼前的景象嚇得嘶聲。476Please respect copyright.PENANAJMQtR5CrH0
476Please respect copyright.PENANAZApN65MG8L
天使下凡。不知情的人也許會如此理解。
三個白色的人形在天空飛舞,又有三個站在地面。他們的外觀和黑羽一模一樣,錯不了,是她的同胞。476Please respect copyright.PENANAvz141AQ1iP
476Please respect copyright.PENANA9cMQFgC7FO
黑羽和地面的三個人站在一起,回頭,望向手足無措的薇艾。476Please respect copyright.PENANAGmHN17cCPA
476Please respect copyright.PENANAcfOAjSstqt
薇艾走上前,心裡理解狀況,但還是明知故問,「黑羽,你要走了嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANAnzMOaYJXjM
476Please respect copyright.PENANATkuySPDvvI
她點頭,「謝謝你的照料。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAOdScNFipry
476Please respect copyright.PENANAs1Nya0bxbV
黑羽步近薇艾,掀開斗篷型的翅膀,盔甲般的身體給她一個既扎人又冰涼的擁抱。476Please respect copyright.PENANAdFqSmz71qJ
476Please respect copyright.PENANAhdNaMkAcgY
「痛痛,你們蟲族真是不適合抱人吶。」嘴上不饒人,薇艾還是用力回抱對方。476Please respect copyright.PENANAHJKt62gUdX
476Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ9HKSXrYX
明明已有心理準備,卻還是按捺不住不捨。連天空也因傷感而下雨,很好,這樣就有理由哭了。476Please respect copyright.PENANA8k3ijr3JVq
476Please respect copyright.PENANAaKlBUKZ9hv
滴到身上的雨點,是藍色的……476Please respect copyright.PENANA9mjBFB7kBk
476Please respect copyright.PENANAyJBbXiBnX4
巨響,把大家的注意力都拉走,地上躺著一具肢體曲折的屍體。476Please respect copyright.PENANAriOK43w7lO
476Please respect copyright.PENANAeFubXWZ6BI
接二連三掉下死屍,眾人的視線同時朝上,看見的是遮蔽夜空的巨大羽翼。476Please respect copyright.PENANAK5qpiyDEgn
476Please respect copyright.PENANA6gAvQQScXr
「鳥人族!」476Please respect copyright.PENANAIqG8gtYhjL
476Please respect copyright.PENANA5UeoSSWGpF
混亂之中都不知道是誰喊話。五個白色的身影從天而降。地面的三人,有人展翅高飛;瞬間被撕成兩段,有人拔出匕首反抗;下刻即身首分離,最後一人還來不及做甚麼,已經化成一具穿腸破肚的屍體。476Please respect copyright.PENANALbPHFN1rey
476Please respect copyright.PENANAQNWaeow84i
在襲擊者面前,那甲貫包覆的身軀和黏土一樣,不費吹灰之力徒手就將其分割。狼藉的戰場上,五人抬頭張望,搜索剩餘兩人的身影。476Please respect copyright.PENANA3XZdIym7QA
476Please respect copyright.PENANACqUHzD4s5N
薇艾咬住指頭,強忍住尖叫的衝動。眼前漆黑一片,連她自傲的貓眼都看不透的無光。血的味道濃烈到令人作嘔。大腦空白一片,唯一可以確定的是,自己正伏在黑羽身上顫抖。476Please respect copyright.PENANAwmqC9at9HS
476Please respect copyright.PENANApwh3mvOIVa
鳥人們待了一會,找不到兩人,便拍動大翼揚長而去。476Please respect copyright.PENANAIPpHL19FwU
476Please respect copyright.PENANAFYUwuL9wSp
又過了一會,確定鳥人們不會折返。漆黑的高牆上,一個極不顯眼的隆起物從牆上剝落,是黑羽和薇艾。黑色翅膀的保護色讓二人逃過一劫。476Please respect copyright.PENANAhvP9QPgI6W
476Please respect copyright.PENANAE862gPs4my
「對不起,把你的家弄髒了。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAVMyWs24iCM
476Please respect copyright.PENANASi09dKq0pR
「你才不用道歉吶,謝謝你救了我。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAlFt5p9Qp5p
476Please respect copyright.PENANAeSWna3PePm
黑羽搖頭,「鳥人族和天蛾族是世仇,他們的目標是我,是我把他們帶來了,對不起。不能再在此逗留,我必須要走。」476Please respect copyright.PENANAsw0moDwfxQ
476Please respect copyright.PENANAzd6MkWma1w
「為甚麼他們要殺你?難道,黑羽是天蛾族中很重要的人嗎?」476Please respect copyright.PENANA3byGKDJqtx
476Please respect copyright.PENANA7bop4AsnZ7
「非也,我只是凡夫俗子。原因,應是我的體色。
「你知道嗎?白堊是一種白色的礦石,以前的人會用來建房子,整個城鎮都是雪白一片。天蛾族的體色可以輕易融入建築之中,躲避鳥人族的捕獵。476Please respect copyright.PENANANXO31HX5Lc
476Please respect copyright.PENANAVo360xMS3A
「然而,工廠的廢氣將建築的外牆染成黑色,使白色的天蛾族失去保護色被大量屠殺。而我的黑色體色成為了優勢,假如我的後代也遺存我的體色,對鳥人族而言是絕對的不利。所以,我是必須撲殺的首要對象——」476Please respect copyright.PENANAu1UFyX2UaU
476Please respect copyright.PENANAlwGYl4GupD
薇艾抱住黑羽,太過突然,害她有點嚇到。476Please respect copyright.PENANAle4PCIHiUs
476Please respect copyright.PENANAjfFiIVZkBU
「黑羽活得太苦了。我沒有事情可以幫你做,唯有給你一個擁抱做鼓勵。請一定要繼續活下去。」476Please respect copyright.PENANArDcuYE2e4x
476Please respect copyright.PENANA6fyupSfamG
是心理作用嗎?也許只是一廂情願,黑羽的嘴角好像上翹了。476Please respect copyright.PENANAdogJ7zDu6i
476Please respect copyright.PENANAqA7eKsDbzP
最後的告別,不捨的放手。
黑色的天蛾飛向夜空,融進了晚色。
工業黑化現象
指的是20世紀工業革命,昆蟲因為污染物導致體色變黑的現象。
灰色樺尺蛾因為環境污染失去保護色,被天敵大量捕食。相反黑色樺尺蛾因為保護色的優勢得以繁衍。使到稀少的黑蛾數量取代了灰蛾。
工業黑化現象亦是達爾文自然選擇原則的有名體現。
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