2157年6月24日,下午四點,仙境大樓,二層621Please respect copyright.PENANA8joVnFG4fY
621Please respect copyright.PENANA6kdhAEXJaX
621Please respect copyright.PENANApyobhkAS2F
跟赫密士要到聯絡方式後,尼可拉斯成功和那個女人聯繫上,但她不在家,說好兩個禮拜後碰面。到時,她會將貓親手交給尼可拉斯。621Please respect copyright.PENANAppfkod4RMT
621Please respect copyright.PENANAXfpKKKytDV
任務還算順利。閒來無事,尼可拉斯在醫務室看書,沒多久,雪檸突然衝進來,抓住尼可拉斯的手臂。621Please respect copyright.PENANAzyiKnLrFNP
621Please respect copyright.PENANA1o7bvZSpGZ
「尼可!!!」621Please respect copyright.PENANApfbRs5uh4D
621Please respect copyright.PENANAJdVziHkoBm
雪檸跟他說:「尼可!情況緊急,我需要你幫忙!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAgXXrAhODER
621Please respect copyright.PENANA8LHIrA7lfl
「啊?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAqxlc7rqkIo
621Please respect copyright.PENANAlPEwv5ZohF
尼可拉斯覺得莫名其妙,下一秒,一名意想不到的人從門口走進來。因為天氣變熱,里奧今天穿著短袖的黑色上衣,這是尼可拉斯第一次看到他露手臂。621Please respect copyright.PENANAmcYhcVILua
621Please respect copyright.PENANAYrgWjJ9o0c
「我今天不知道為什麼,超級想吃蝦子!可是……可是……!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAjGD56sWZQp
621Please respect copyright.PENANAz3ItqEZa5h
雪檸指著站在門口的里奧,生氣地說:「他說孕婦不能吃海鮮,會害寶寶過敏!可是我上網查,過敏只跟基因有關,但他不相信我!尼可,快用你的專業知識說他是錯的!!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAxQ3VLKm536
621Please respect copyright.PENANA7crrSRlmFO
雪檸抓著尼可拉斯的肩膀搖啊搖、搖啊搖,尼可拉斯的頭越來越暈。不愧是Knight隊長,力氣不是普通地大。621Please respect copyright.PENANAV7FNfClCo4
621Please respect copyright.PENANAL1oTnr7wVN
「冷靜點!我不是婦產科醫師!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAOyB8zyQMD0
621Please respect copyright.PENANAWxCY9YlrmO
「不管啦!這裡只有你是醫生,他只聽你的話!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAbrlkwpq5Eh
621Please respect copyright.PENANAhTITnumYhQ
如果尼可拉斯是孕婦,他已經被雪檸搖到流產了。里奧從後面把雪檸抱走,再這樣下去,他覺得尼可拉斯會死。621Please respect copyright.PENANAwWe6hIC4d8
621Please respect copyright.PENANAFu03QJD9FA
還在希波克拉底時,尼可拉斯被歸類在外科,也是他最擅長的領域。至於內科、兒科、婦產科、精神科其它領域,雖然不是專業,懂的也比一般人多,解答雪檸的疑問不是問題。621Please respect copyright.PENANAR87VzeCGoK
621Please respect copyright.PENANAL7b7LR6Fcl
「就像妳說的:過敏主要取決於基因,孕婦可以吃海鮮。」尼可拉斯說。621Please respect copyright.PENANAu6GPkWfJ27
621Please respect copyright.PENANAFWQCTfa7M9
「你看吧!」雪檸朝里奧露出勝利的表情。621Please respect copyright.PENANAVk2lqhDAX7
621Please respect copyright.PENANAIUMdjZHaO0
「但是!」尼可拉斯加但書:「食材要新鮮、料理過程要衛生、完全煮熟才能食用,最重要的──不能一次攝取太多。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAsOhfnTAzpZ
621Please respect copyright.PENANA0m8mTGMLuS
雪檸鼓嘴,她打算去水產火鍋超市大吃特吃,被尼可拉斯看穿計謀,肯定是不行了。621Please respect copyright.PENANApjf1JCbwOQ
621Please respect copyright.PENANAkqv0KOcWBl
「妳現在最重要的是營養均衡,孕婦手冊說不能碰的東西就不要碰。這都是為了嬰兒著想,忍忍吧。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAGwiDBavfGQ
621Please respect copyright.PENANALKOwpdwvlM
尼可拉斯瞥了里奧一眼。雖然不想跟他講話,尼可拉斯還是叮嚀:「她再過幾周會開始害喜,到時會出現各種症狀。嗜睡、孕吐、頭痛頭暈……可能完全吃不下,也可能只想吃某種東西,或心理狀況不穩定,這時爸爸的角色很重要。可以的話,你盡量別出任務,多待在她旁邊,畢竟讓她懷孕的是你,這是你的責任。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAcWMOFGUr4Q
621Please respect copyright.PENANAlEMWdnAHwr
里奧點頭。昨天他才和高宇維通話,里奧和雪檸的任務都轉給了別人,他們這陣子會待在仙境大樓,產假的概念。621Please respect copyright.PENANA6TRq1rQoKX
621Please respect copyright.PENANAFfr5eHCmZd
「……謝謝。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAIjnSZYKtwN
621Please respect copyright.PENANAWX5A34XfS4
有尼可拉斯在,里奧很放心,也發自內心、感激尼可拉斯沒有因為私人恩怨,無視雪檸肚子裡的孩子。621Please respect copyright.PENANAXM8nzmnsNS
621Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ2lTFW2jH
「對了,我有事要問你。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAwRRr0APBLo
621Please respect copyright.PENANABClDLQK8I6
既然里奧在這,兩人也說上話,尼可拉斯不會放過這個機會。621Please respect copyright.PENANAvQEz2I7Ju2
621Please respect copyright.PENANAcBjsDVHTI6
「既然天賦是透過遺傳得來,」尼可拉斯問:「我媽她,是不是也有天賦?」621Please respect copyright.PENANA3QqjdqUsVb
621Please respect copyright.PENANAxAlz5FY5X0
里奧點頭。尼可拉斯接著問:「是什麼?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAEiH0lqeqoR
621Please respect copyright.PENANAOLUYh35koO
「『香菇』。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAjGaTLKn8R0
621Please respect copyright.PENANAARtSf6kHwZ
「啊?」尼可拉斯挑眉,「你在耍我嗎?」621Please respect copyright.PENANA1A0n4VjKkQ
621Please respect copyright.PENANAixKuOAXB8d
「尼可,里奧說的是實話。」雪檸說:「葛蕾絲真的是香菇。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAbALjgF3lVj
621Please respect copyright.PENANA8nAMHCIfvX
「妳乾脆說我媽會孢子繁殖算了。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAfwYUOK9ZAJ
621Please respect copyright.PENANAEFyn8z5Ii4
尼可拉斯這話是亂講,結果雪檸回答:「嗯,不愧是尼可,反應真快!」621Please respect copyright.PENANA8iIbJQdpHj
621Please respect copyright.PENANAHqWKfGNJi6
「……。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAzpUnpgCmwH
621Please respect copyright.PENANAYNUC3r4lDg
尼可拉斯滿頭問號,「我跟不上你們的節奏。」他整理剛才的對話,「我媽的天賦是香菇,她會孢子繁殖?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAzklciJ1XN6
621Please respect copyright.PENANAhHq2VEp6pp
里奧和雪檸一起點頭。活這麼大,從別人口中聽到媽媽是蕈類,尼可拉斯的頭好痛。621Please respect copyright.PENANAid9q682Wuk
621Please respect copyright.PENANAqpWe48pFm5
「……她的孢子不是用來繁殖。」里奧突然說。621Please respect copyright.PENANALdmSstgQS5
621Please respect copyright.PENANAteQyqzQbHM
「不然尼可也會是香菇喔。」雪檸開玩笑地說:「聽起來很可愛。」621Please respect copyright.PENANA0hyFa3XbLC
621Please respect copyright.PENANAtv7vWl33Lj
「一點也不。」尼可拉斯翻白眼,問里奧:「用來做什麼?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAhOULBCcSjp
621Please respect copyright.PENANAG8zD6ajxOC
「復活。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAhiHmZGonat
621Please respect copyright.PENANAchU1ka2FpK
尼可拉斯的眼睛睜大了一圈。621Please respect copyright.PENANApasAsN3Hbg
621Please respect copyright.PENANA27zKhU6Rrp
「她死亡的當下,身體會射出肉眼無法看見的孢子。」里奧說:「當孢子獲得足夠的能量,她就會復活。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAXuq27bqNDp
621Please respect copyright.PENANABpOHAVhCUM
「……!」621Please respect copyright.PENANA98vf2JfV1M
621Please respect copyright.PENANArlh2fjTrfB
尼可拉斯激動到站起來,「你為什麼不早說!宇維少爺為什麼不復活她?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAxaBQU27Bva
621Please respect copyright.PENANAlu4XBHW9c3
里奧搖頭,「葛蕾絲警告過,不能那樣做。」621Please respect copyright.PENANA3z1ukpWUVL
621Please respect copyright.PENANAC6lisBCvLt
「為什麼?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAQn646xNjHS
621Please respect copyright.PENANAa5RMOJpNku
「……會死很多人。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAXg2pr09erX
621Please respect copyright.PENANAWV7HpCFFgX
看里奧的表情就知道,他的想法和尼可拉斯一致、也希望葛蕾絲回來,但葛蕾絲本人不允許,他才沒採取行動。621Please respect copyright.PENANAgX2i3LVwg6
621Please respect copyright.PENANAI1vIvm3cOY
「尼可,你先坐下來,詳細情形由我來說。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAyWhOMPv9OK
621Please respect copyright.PENANAH8iSerdUa6
雪檸安撫尼可拉斯的情緒、讓他坐回椅子上,也跟尼可拉斯借紙筆,用圖畫來說明。621Please respect copyright.PENANAC3Rtz7LBXD
621Please respect copyright.PENANAbA9LCDZ0A2
「葛蕾絲的孢子飛散出去後,會寄身在活體生物上。除非被寄生者死亡,否則孢子不會消失。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAxDGWvCgwsT
621Please respect copyright.PENANAFScKRU1c4D
雪檸在紙上畫了五個圈圈,也在五個圈圈底下,各畫上一個人。621Please respect copyright.PENANAmV9rkce416
621Please respect copyright.PENANAkhn3aZuyJC
「其中,所有孢子裡,有個最重要的『母體』。其它孢子的被寄生者死亡後,會把獲得的能量傳送給母體。只要母體獲得足夠能量,葛蕾絲就能利用母體的被寄身者復活,就像這樣子。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAxmGrGnrVYo
621Please respect copyright.PENANAApdF1Se8Us
雪檸在第一個圈圈旁,寫上「母體」。621Please respect copyright.PENANA0YOe20A4PZ
621Please respect copyright.PENANAhfRNIySBBp
「假設,總共有ABCDE五個孢子,分別寄身在12345號被寄身者上,其中A孢子是母體。今天,假設2號寄生者死亡,B孢子會把獲得的能量,傳給母體A。」621Please respect copyright.PENANASGdvhz28x2
621Please respect copyright.PENANAs3wRi3gU5Z
雪檸在2、3、4、5號寄生者身上,都打上叉叉,再個別畫了箭頭、連到母體A的位置。621Please respect copyright.PENANAlMcGQKiT5R
621Please respect copyright.PENANAgODzEZI6gu
「以此類推,母體A吸收來自各孢子的能量。等吸收到一定程度,葛蕾絲會用1號寄身者的身體復活。但這過程非常長,而且,必須確保母體安危,1號寄身者要活得比其它寄身者久。成功率很低,何況,葛蕾絲本人不想這麼做。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAW79ZbMF3ni
621Please respect copyright.PENANAGd9T2v7RZC
「為什麼?」621Please respect copyright.PENANALJwN251N0w
621Please respect copyright.PENANA6GhCvpFgev
「看圖就知道了。」621Please respect copyright.PENANApl7xnWwC8G
621Please respect copyright.PENANAdiNi9nZhJH
雪檸用筆,指著被畫叉叉的被寄身者。621Please respect copyright.PENANAGVNexynHrq
621Please respect copyright.PENANAyjr8SFf3m3
「首先,母體要獲得足夠的能量,這些被孢子寄身的人都得死;再來,葛蕾絲用1號寄身者的身體復活,1號寄身者的意識將不復存在,1號寄身者也會死。」621Please respect copyright.PENANADXm6juB0pt
621Please respect copyright.PENANAdDRLBPy3XA
雪檸嘆了口氣。621Please respect copyright.PENANAlS70DkShvI
621Please respect copyright.PENANAR2a9D4mtpE
「葛蕾絲的能力,來自第一代水果塔『書蟲(Caterpillar)』。說穿了,這是場獻祭儀式,用上百人的性命換她一人。尼可,你覺得依葛蕾絲的個性,她會同意這種作法嗎?」621Please respect copyright.PENANACeEZtg1RbY
621Please respect copyright.PENANAi3XqYck6C9
「……。」621Please respect copyright.PENANA9lHmNyFwh2
621Please respect copyright.PENANAoOlOKCt4SR
當然不會。621Please respect copyright.PENANAdCYoqTFFWA
621Please respect copyright.PENANAJF8WUPsQY8
尼可拉斯想都不用想。621Please respect copyright.PENANAgX5elQiHSv
621Please respect copyright.PENANALughcoViNp
他那個媽媽,三不五時把受傷的小貓小狗撿回家,會把家裡的食物分給附近的流浪漢。連螞蟻都捨不得殺死的人,怎麼可能允許那種事?621Please respect copyright.PENANAfRfHSt3C1b
621Please respect copyright.PENANAwym6IaxeiQ
「……你們回去吧。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAUPduo30b4T
621Please respect copyright.PENANA9BNhDV83Lb
他後悔問了問題、燃起無聊的希望。尼可拉斯下了逐客令,暫時不想見任何人,尤其是里奧。621Please respect copyright.PENANAcBndSjoVZS
621Please respect copyright.PENANAtGpWIr1QPR
「我不想影響到孕婦的心情。」尼可拉斯別過頭,「快走,別逼我發脾氣。」621Please respect copyright.PENANATW0J9wqcAc
621Please respect copyright.PENANA3UQ2W21WZO
雪檸原本想說什麼,手卻先被里奧拉住。621Please respect copyright.PENANANIDfK8m7Mt
621Please respect copyright.PENANApN45yRTCrz
「……走吧。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAPQtLE6ousT
621Please respect copyright.PENANAUCpb3Wlvqr
里奧很清楚,尼可拉斯需要時間習慣心裡的傷口,不是一句不負責任的道歉。那不是「對不起」三個字可以彌補,何況,是沒有感情基礎的對不起。621Please respect copyright.PENANAiYA7Ra5OTl
621Please respect copyright.PENANATHZlv2CVoS
他需要人陪伴、需要人安慰──那個人絕對不是里奧。他牽起雪檸的手,離開醫務室。621Please respect copyright.PENANA52yzpX6cT4
621Please respect copyright.PENANApplcU5hwji
另一方面,從三樓走樓梯到二樓,MIO遇見從醫務室離開的里奧夫婦,但沒有跟他們說到話,只聽到一句:「果然,不該告訴尼可的。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAgVkVASmCFD
621Please respect copyright.PENANAm34BHbks6o
「……?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAhYYny46z7i
621Please respect copyright.PENANAIKMd8SalxL
電梯門闔上後,MIO才從樓梯間探出頭來。因為尼可拉斯最近很累,MIO抱著便當盒,裡面有她親手捏的飯糰,希望能讓尼可拉斯打起精神。621Please respect copyright.PENANA8AwqemVuYY
621Please respect copyright.PENANAAq0jeoO9jB
殊不知被她聽見這句。621Please respect copyright.PENANA5mxyepyDQy
621Please respect copyright.PENANAkAo0W3T1MN
MIO眨眨眼睛,雖然不知道發生什麼,但見到里奧,尼可拉斯的心情一定不好,需要飯糰打起精神。MIO沒想太多,繼續朝醫務室前進。621Please respect copyright.PENANAZyvb2S5eHC
621Please respect copyright.PENANAm4qIVu9XqV
「尼可?」621Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mv8PO1nNf
621Please respect copyright.PENANAveoBvrHTE0
推開醫務室的門。尼可拉斯坐在辦公椅上,表情冷漠,看起來和平常一樣──但MIO覺得不正常。621Please respect copyright.PENANAq1BzIBsKQx
621Please respect copyright.PENANAme1Bq2RJt5
第一,什麼事也沒發生;第二,他遭受巨大的打擊,變得只能思考一件事,淪為詭譎的冷靜。621Please respect copyright.PENANAHbHswlGbIo
621Please respect copyright.PENANAjKnSzuzx3Q
「……怎麼了?MIO。」621Please respect copyright.PENANACrLjdiVj6F
621Please respect copyright.PENANAMnZMv2EWx1
空氣瀰漫異常的氣氛。MIO看著尼可拉斯友善又詭異的笑容,有些躊躇、有些遲疑,但她假裝什麼都不知道,把便當盒放到尼可拉斯桌上。621Please respect copyright.PENANAuUce5NvVU3
621Please respect copyright.PENANAMf4BEfl4pk
「MIO做了飯糰給尼可喔!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAL0ds9i46r6
621Please respect copyright.PENANAE53YdzpdjQ
MIO站到尼可拉斯面前,一副要尼可拉斯稱讚的表情。621Please respect copyright.PENANActlTabt7Cw
621Please respect copyright.PENANA1MBUsCitSe
「……謝謝。」621Please respect copyright.PENANAkLE0txySm8
621Please respect copyright.PENANAXAUL7yPs2K
MIO接收到尼可拉斯異樣的眼神,下一秒,尼可拉斯的手放到MIO頭上,臉湊了過來。621Please respect copyright.PENANAtseW9WyoE8
621Please respect copyright.PENANAQPpzQNCMLZ
「哪,MIO。」621Please respect copyright.PENANArF1S2IB59O
621Please respect copyright.PENANA7vFB4N3jsu
尼可拉斯睜大眼睛,嘴角上揚,整張臉沒有半點笑意。621Please respect copyright.PENANA2C01I0RSxK
621Please respect copyright.PENANAcYm356Otgh
621Please respect copyright.PENANA8OlLd0L6zC
「還記得──我上次說的『願望』嗎?」621Please respect copyright.PENANAmfVwT14NaV
621Please respect copyright.PENANA6urEHaRWSr
621Please respect copyright.PENANACZcPtJwUUl
「……!」621Please respect copyright.PENANAOIqLYUDNLP
621Please respect copyright.PENANAtpnqW6O2Yb
MIO沒有回話。那一瞬間,她感覺尼可拉斯心裡,有什麼東西正在裂開。支撐神與畜的東西正在衰敗,MIO自己也裂得七零八落,彷彿──回到遇見李博洋前的自己。