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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA4N7QfpwjPx
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvibwnzuAXa
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fd1bae0i3
414Please respect copyright.PENANAFgTLl65ULK
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAy8NRyBVmIn
414Please respect copyright.PENANAsiZfE8IXbk
以上,是白堊城的日常風景。414Please respect copyright.PENANAZqrXXhx3g6
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3ndWkIEymx
「抓小偷!」414Please respect copyright.PENANATByZgfSZgk
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzB09d6YySi
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAHmjfrMviIA
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMGSEnTCVXi
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAKJGXyhA1zQ
414Please respect copyright.PENANASOHWTfNvS1
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAAragZlnNGT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAsXfcfnQT5A
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAOuiB2yUKZb
414Please respect copyright.PENANA9fSji0Iaem
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA30KecLz2FH
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3Fy9YQWVul
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA0gre87B0pc
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzUZe2pc4O0
「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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAzI5ooxIGpY
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmtAzNFgINo
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAYBJKtGrKl3
414Please respect copyright.PENANAHSYwAXkAQG
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANASZlWIWSacA
414Please respect copyright.PENANAArTy9JO4lN
回到甜蜜的家,薇艾卻突然警戒起來。414Please respect copyright.PENANAcGb7bmxuAQ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAK3MuCJ9lSR
陌生的氣味。414Please respect copyright.PENANAdkU39CWCLw
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqHcPZho2yw
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAAswmXKppUl
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7PV8U5eOap
氣味從棄置的大水管裡傳來,陽光照不到的陰影中有動靜!414Please respect copyright.PENANAZrIW2IstGF
414Please respect copyright.PENANAgNAE9FJjGg
「現在滾出來我還能饒了你!」414Please respect copyright.PENANAmByxhPb20X
414Please respect copyright.PENANAKlWxVzgFiT
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANACXTRFlBKmU
414Please respect copyright.PENANA933t1xbVYM
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANALhDHe17gmW
414Please respect copyright.PENANAQn07UMXvkI
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA75jZbnPVLQ
414Please respect copyright.PENANATTT8Cpnktx
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANArnumegAZrS
414Please respect copyright.PENANAXc911cVkyj
四肢動彈不得,壓迫感強烈得呼吸都要窒息。414Please respect copyright.PENANAugatTSERAO
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7vclG7uvN
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANANOW1WhTRua
414Please respect copyright.PENANAQcH9CcYvJ2
「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。414Please respect copyright.PENANApNmtmKfotT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJLxHYyJ2LI
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAjSTj5On5xu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAi3ha76mVft
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAXBugBu6qf5
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdCelr8a8wD
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!」414Please respect copyright.PENANARhG9eit6SV
414Please respect copyright.PENANAUxKHSMVpqK
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAxuKf0A93Lk
414Please respect copyright.PENANArgmHmKcc93
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAlB2MNS7eh9
414Please respect copyright.PENANA5EdNZl1Nr4
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAy0z2hdUmdK
414Please respect copyright.PENANAbJwztQ2pef
「你到底是甚麼?」薇艾的好奇心衝口而出。414Please respect copyright.PENANAOXh23OavqN
414Please respect copyright.PENANAkdCfSa8DRC
「天蛾族,全名黑羽蛾。」女人說。414Please respect copyright.PENANAsZC4oGQcZo
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqP7rrDX3nU
「你的翅膀都爛了,沒關係嗎?」414Please respect copyright.PENANAGKqSFoade6
414Please respect copyright.PENANAELrTiR03To
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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANA15amBQshYG
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdcmIkTYLu2
「你真的受傷了,這是兩碼子事。」414Please respect copyright.PENANArgZ3gXa6fr
414Please respect copyright.PENANAtiEtuS06hs
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAr0os6D2Xmu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeDucPRBGs5
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAUiLSpc5MKY
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7jPQJws6Ce
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?」414Please respect copyright.PENANAMfm5ABIJ1n
414Please respect copyright.PENANAr163fe05vT
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANA5xBASFg0aM
414Please respect copyright.PENANAN7EAejB5z5
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAyEqI0qHQ74
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxba1t35Y1H
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAytHnkw206Q
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAFEBKMUQhTE
414Please respect copyright.PENANArAa1NErFpU
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANA1bjLqUpuIR
414Please respect copyright.PENANAaqy9Rr7OoN
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAKbBgXd6ivv
414Please respect copyright.PENANANTQCpdXPB9
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』。414Please respect copyright.PENANAH3iGM20fBJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ7BpQv7hk
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAtTPmvxw45z
414Please respect copyright.PENANAGlBzFVI2nA
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAYdQ9dPYQCs
414Please respect copyright.PENANAljxWSLJ5py
黑羽和地面的三個人站在一起,回頭,望向手足無措的薇艾。414Please respect copyright.PENANA9nyFWuFs8V
414Please respect copyright.PENANAeDhqyxQJpi
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?」414Please respect copyright.PENANANBtq2x0P3i
414Please respect copyright.PENANA6SJP5N0ts3
她點頭,「謝謝你的照料。」414Please respect copyright.PENANA1YHh38u829
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8U4pwZynxo
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANACb0eDpTjPk
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8uHFRpfeGo
「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。414Please respect copyright.PENANATfFM8FY5Lo
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWehUHF8j3q
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAD9fFC0laGP
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfHwn9ko6EV
滴到身上的雨點,是藍色的……414Please respect copyright.PENANAdkBTuz1Zti
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvf92VFXdf1
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANApczZ7WRIVo
414Please respect copyright.PENANA9wo4zf5hGg
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAxIoIwCNwQa
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfLA5y0r3sz
「鳥人族!」414Please respect copyright.PENANAFqIYGeApKI
414Please respect copyright.PENANAf1WkYXAkp3
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANABukW5i7P2W
414Please respect copyright.PENANAnKeTR1QkzH
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANATDF4NulqMl
414Please respect copyright.PENANAoRsgsDN9xL
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAAJ9wcyy3Cx
414Please respect copyright.PENANAs9zfoGOKZN
鳥人們待了一會,找不到兩人,便拍動大翼揚長而去。414Please respect copyright.PENANAqFJcvJWW6I
414Please respect copyright.PENANAnO0cicWhO9
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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAMtESO5k8F2
414Please respect copyright.PENANAbFEx2gT66N
「對不起,把你的家弄髒了。」414Please respect copyright.PENANADaxRA0HZDJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAk3qEQpHYqn
「你才不用道歉吶,謝謝你救了我。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAWbFn0ij1cO
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmNIG62U69d
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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANAFNSj6S76oc
414Please respect copyright.PENANA80c0IJ2Rsh
「為甚麼他們要殺你?難道,黑羽是天蛾族中很重要的人嗎?」414Please respect copyright.PENANArh8yANg141
414Please respect copyright.PENANAniepi7an1u
「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。414Please respect copyright.PENANAmC4IcYAdXL
414Please respect copyright.PENANAK75vz0HPhv
「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——」414Please respect copyright.PENANAxcnjLltMpW
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJLdCmPH9AK
薇艾抱住黑羽,太過突然,害她有點嚇到。414Please respect copyright.PENANA2f3kMQ5F11
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmzR6k80LWX
「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。」414Please respect copyright.PENANARkoUAVk8Z4
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0omSOia6eV
是心理作用嗎?也許只是一廂情願,黑羽的嘴角好像上翹了。414Please respect copyright.PENANAH8AHiDu686
414Please respect copyright.PENANAp7QO7xGpZt
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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