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一股突如其來的暖流入侵了沉沉的夢境。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ruKQvDnss
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtgCfqqDOe
周圍的溫度似乎越來越高，彷彿置身於浴場的蒸氣室一樣悶熱。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDn8Z7ggP2
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCiCx0BdYE
沒過多久，一層黏膩的汗意逐漸包裹住身子。這層汗就像是個不透風的罩子似的，使得體內的溫度越來越高，直到讓人受不了為止。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkxIP3dvMq
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXynTYtL3E8
「嗚嗯......好熱......！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ8IXbcz0e
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPT4VbrZ58
烏爾莉卡.西蒙納多蒂爾(Ulrika Símonardóttir)正是在如此不適的情況下被熱醒過來。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEadnN35R6z
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q7ctDnAmd
幾乎是同一時間，她驚覺周遭的景色和物品全變了樣！1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcRozURirv
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ik1Hi005F
裝潢奢華的寬敞臥房——消失了，映入眼簾的是個坪數不大的幽暗小空間。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZIMJnscpq
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE71CW47jqq
高級絲綢所製成的床鋪——也不見了，反而變成一張觸感陌生的羊毛地毯。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d3yyGC0Y4
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUXXYUOMCg
窗外大雪紛飛的銀白色世界——更是消逝得無影無蹤，取而代之的是一顆熾熱的黃色火球掛在天上，滾燙的正午陽光直接透過窗口撒在她身上。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsgXTlKzo6
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0djSse4fk
天翻地覆的改變，讓烏爾莉卡的腦袋一時反應不過來。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa7lzyfwEE
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJgIf4Z7yh
「我是誰？我在哪？我在幹甚麼？」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjDFN3lFqp
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49xBGRPRdR
烏爾莉卡感到口乾舌燥、呼吸急促，有點換不過氣來。她的手緊緊的抓住胸口的衣服，想減輕痛苦，但酷暑般的天氣令她感到渾身都不對勁，更別說穿在身上的羊毛衣都被汗水給浸濕了。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlq5VMLPFz
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe11IqZHNR6
「我......這裡是......在哪裡？」她低聲呢喃著。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s5piNSapv
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmiAg82fIM
烏爾莉卡一隻手撫著額頭，一隻手撐起身子，並感受到從指尖傳來羊毛地毯舒適柔軟的觸感。這張毛毯的顏色又紅又花，不論樣式或織法皆是她所沒見過的。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR1XYXI3y9
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgkrO1hwXG
「嗚嗯，身子怎麼會酸成這樣！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcKRsyxHXO
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIKsmbFi0u
不過還沒來得及佩服編織者精緻的技藝，烏爾莉卡隨即感覺到背和腰傳來陣陣痠痛，這大概是因為她還未適應睡地板上的緣故。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HOKDi0lD3
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQufsb39mVC
為了減緩身體上的疼痛，她環顧四周觀察環境來分散注意力。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1FJzf9AqF
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EAYgTY1On
烏爾莉卡發覺自己正躺在一間只有幾坪大的矮房內，房子本身是由光滑的石頭和泥土所打造。房間內沒有椅子，只有幾顆枕頭和一張圓形的木製矮桌。而且這棟矮房的窗戶沒有窗扇或窗簾，基本上沒有任何遮蔽功能。這和烏爾莉卡家鄉為了保暖和阻擋寒氣，而將幾乎都窗戶的設計封死相差甚遠；顯然是跟此地炎熱的天氣有關。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPXyWRT6iy
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4js1hvLra
也因為如此，陽光毫無阻礙地透入這一間低矮的土房，照在烏爾莉卡身上。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD8leHtXkx
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBotTXVoui8
身處於遙遠的異地，無論氣溫或氣味都極為陌生。唯獨從窗外飄來的海風帶來一點鹹味為烏爾莉卡帶來一絲慰藉，因為那是和她家鄉唯一的相似之物。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GO85En3wv
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsscbBOmwAh
然而，烏爾莉卡人生中最重要的聯繫——她的女兒——竟在當下完全不知去向。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvKb8fq7ff
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigqX1gbaz9
「莎薇？莎薇怎麼不見了！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpd9xK1lnM
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNFG1sPdak
烏爾莉卡的女兒——名叫莎薇的十歲女兒——她本來應該睡在她身邊。可是醒來後，她竟然卻完全不知去向，房間內也不見她的身影。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ41qBFyAQ
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClWhdQuE5r
「這孩子跑哪兒去了？莎薇！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5UYXspCgr
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkkjXrbwYh
烏爾莉卡立刻衝到房外，來不及穿鞋的她仍打著赤腳，身上也僅僅穿著一件極為貼身的室內用羊毛衣。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOMM6yb4t1
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig73iv8JGJ
首先映入眼簾的，是坐落於山腳下的巨大海灣，數百艘大大小小的船隻停泊於海灣之中，它們或駛入、或離港，看起來好不忙碌。緊接著的是一望無際的海洋在眼前展開，一直延伸至連結著廣裘無際藍天的視野盡頭。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iwzMdyh9H
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW2bAkUZxf
這座城市本身位於一個海灣的西岸，城市內所有的建築物沿著山坡上升，密密麻麻、層層疊疊的地分布著各個房屋和街區。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvUYY6Pa7x
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRXSNs3OMD
至於烏爾莉卡所居住的這棟低矮民房，就跟其他數百棟房屋一樣比鄰而居地蓋在山坡上頭。它們皆通通皆是由純白色的石塊建造而成，耀眼的白色石塊推砌於山坡上，錯落層疊的幢幢白屋、片片白牆、塊塊白屋頂，白牆鑲嵌雕花鐵窗，白屋裝飾雕花大鐵門，呈現出迴異於烏爾莉卡家鄉的異國風情。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnYXbzqKFN
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkfU2ADm9p
只不過在這個當下，烏爾莉卡完全沒將這幅獨特的美景放在眼裡——心急如焚的她心中只有女兒，那也是她人生中唯一在乎的事情。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFCIuligWz
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0xb5lxl6g
「莎薇？莎薇！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxOfJPHnNv
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyqzRzUuaz
她環顧四周，只差沒出聲高喊出女兒的名字。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpRsCcnhn3
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi2W6XtVHs
「啊，您已經睡醒了嗎？」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ENDBkuoSC
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFR2OORiu5
正當烏爾莉卡心亂如麻之際，清脆的男孩嗓音自她背後傳來。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDUguao7MS
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsASnbPPS1
轉過身，她看見一名少年；甚至稱之為男孩都不為過。他雙手各提著一桶水，望著烏爾莉卡的臉上露出些許驚訝。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYPkCsFiF8
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRHOX1tFvY
少年的年紀絕對不超過十二歲，肌膚色呈小麥色，搭配瘦小卻精壯的身子，散發出一絲野性氛圍。帶有亮澤烏黑的自然捲頭髮下，點綴著端正清秀的五官。雙烏黑明亮的雙目，像是從夜空墜落凡間的兩顆星星。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2zAwZqw9t
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefO0yyezgI
不過最引人注目的，或許是他頭頂上一對橢圓狀的大獸耳、一根臀部上方探出來如掃帚般的長尾巴，默默訴說初他身為一隻『斑點鬣狗獸人』的事實；烏爾莉卡這輩子沒見過斑點鬣狗這種動物，但她猜想這種『狗』的耳朵和尾巴大概就長得一個樣吧？1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlu3akREnq
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp8Z84bLO7
「嗯，怎麼了嗎？」鬣狗少年問。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6Z3wBQo6p
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbrSwQpZR0
「你是......」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkmb8mMdFH
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQGLkW0ePj
「我是艾塔奇(Aytaç)，您是不是睡昏頭了？」自稱為艾塔奇的鬣狗少年邊說邊露出靦腆的微笑，他道：「請稍等一下，我馬上就去燒水做午飯。」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG3IbEBrGa
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdbpn8kBI0
「......不對，莎薇呢？」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutpxHQXdGN
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeOLfE3DSX
「咦？」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDsRRKzW9F
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPlQhnV6i4
「你把我女兒藏到哪去了！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNCIAp8pcY
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wBomCcXyl
「等、等一下，您是不是搞錯什麼了？」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiJKEWCLjQ
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaB03SwrX7
這時烏爾莉卡衝上前，雙手掐住艾塔奇的衣領，以用壓倒性的氣勢將對方扯了過來。他手中的桶子隨之翻倒，水桶內的水也全撒了出來。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5e6Up8L43
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI9LkGQNmR
「莎薇人呢？快點告訴我！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLprZc52g4
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2n9INaBrT
烏爾莉卡並沒有對著少年大聲嘶吼或咆哮——不管是出於她天生穩重的個性所致，抑或是後天貴族教育的成果——但這名年輕的母親一字一句，咬牙切齒的清晰發聲充分表達出內心的怒意。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IImVjJSse
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ax1hLrCz
與此同時，被烏爾莉卡抓住的少年憋紅了臉，他的雙腳些微離地，無處使力。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaOki0MMLa
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KkeX8hcf3
「咳喝......好痛苦，不能呼吸.....」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdv9MldFvo
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQp2ntYPRN
「莎薇在哪裡！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8892BWoixP
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZYRZQUfIg
「她......莎薇就在後面跟......」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfM0KBfa7I
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPCxZ69f9R
「你對莎薇做了什麼？你是不是偷偷把她賣掉了！」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dpfXzXIpT
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1HajquQUM
「沒有、絕對......我不會......」1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjbO6zzkXU
1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVtA1pag2q
正當艾塔奇的臉色逐由紅轉白之際，一聲稚嫩的嗓音拯救了他。1527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk3CKUXO56
