寢室天花板,方形燈罩右上角,保護漆有點剝落。無謂細節烙印在碧綠網膜,少年還是闔不上眼,只想就這樣躺著。172Please respect copyright.PENANAv0JgnpqXm2
172Please respect copyright.PENANAKSwTFL8Ikq
「快出來,慢跑時間到了!你不怕生病嗎?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA82W5bJ873M
172Please respect copyright.PENANARmeFW1w3Cz
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身,把棉被蓋上頭頂。172Please respect copyright.PENANABKoaBYbqfK
172Please respect copyright.PENANA2lSrOae1QS
突然,一雙手抓起被單,把憂鬱少年捲到半空。172Please respect copyright.PENANAll0XEt94Eb
172Please respect copyright.PENANAMqOD0qJAFt
「噢!妳……怎麼進來的啦?」172Please respect copyright.PENANADt9kA4GfgG
172Please respect copyright.PENANAGXGR1ialWu
「生日當密碼,當我不知道?走了!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAaQO6nFXB5u
172Please respect copyright.PENANAAS8PAonVbu
嘉娜莉拖著虛軟男孩,一起飄進起居走廊。滾筒區塊的模擬重力能讓組員運動,確保肌肉骨骼不會退化。172Please respect copyright.PENANABcK86791Sl
172Please respect copyright.PENANAEWG25SUwJi
齊波低頭慢走,不想與其他人交談,但,幾張陌生面孔經過,他還是忍不住瞄了一眼。172Please respect copyright.PENANAPcagjjPMLk
172Please respect copyright.PENANAs5eXFKETC6
「哦!納沃的駕駛?終於看到真面目了。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAgB5V4I588L
172Please respect copyright.PENANAAYU5rXjc7f
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調,他是吉米。172Please respect copyright.PENANAI61Xk4fLNO
172Please respect copyright.PENANAfky6189UGT
「謝謝你救了大家,不要灰心。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAD9kyaOR8EK
「漁船都有逃生裝置,他們有足夠時間的。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAdVGgJxKyYq
172Please respect copyright.PENANAZt11bYGCXd
和善的金髮男女長相神似。理查、凱倫兄妹自我介紹後,一位少女從後方出現。172Please respect copyright.PENANAcbfYvPIe5Z
172Please respect copyright.PENANAmq09dTtinl
她坐著輪椅,大半張臉都被長髮遮住。重重眼圈略顯病態,也凸顯出那雙異樣瞳孔:像是黑洞,又像星團。172Please respect copyright.PENANABhvsd6xWl0
172Please respect copyright.PENANAMRimA0Gu1a
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引,不知不覺就忘記呼吸。172Please respect copyright.PENANABpUMMjArsD
172Please respect copyright.PENANAv8wcM5IaZP
她輕拍胸口,張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。172Please respect copyright.PENANA5wW8fwjt9a
172Please respect copyright.PENANANfcIy7VcdL
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA7VSpHhIrSz
172Please respect copyright.PENANALFnp4DOo3a
女孩點頭,拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫,塞到齊波手中。172Please respect copyright.PENANApgTvp2hROf
172Please respect copyright.PENANAblACcE3VpF
笑一個(╹◡╹)172Please respect copyright.PENANAdaFlqBI6CE
172Please respect copyright.PENANARnUOpmZPyF
「笑……現在?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA9w06TdSbMf
172Please respect copyright.PENANAOukp0Hfat6
無法拒絕充滿期待的神情,齊波勉強撐起嘴角,心中枷鎖似乎少了那麼一點重量。172Please respect copyright.PENANAXXXwqKgD04
172Please respect copyright.PENANA7wTdeV7AUC
麗伊斯瞇起眼睛,回敬甜美笑容。吉米感激地握了少年的手,帶領電台成員往醫護艙飄去。172Please respect copyright.PENANAmxSvO0IxJc
172Please respect copyright.PENANAysWyl3FMI9
「她好像能聽到『宇宙的聲音』……」嘉娜莉拿出兩雙慢跑鞋,「什麼量子軌跡慣性、萬物記憶媒介之類的……聽不懂,但是超酷。」172Please respect copyright.PENANA319is0VwqA
172Please respect copyright.PENANACFZ9pBVwfV
「那就是……不可思議吧?」齊波換上鞋子,把思緒抽離煩惱深淵。
醫護室半透明布簾上,圓滾大頭的影子前後踱步。外環男子終於按耐不住,偷偷探進診間。172Please respect copyright.PENANAx9J2L67Cab
172Please respect copyright.PENANAHyfyANiLpN
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線,把吉米嚇得往後跳。172Please respect copyright.PENANAFZwGZchJUa
172Please respect copyright.PENANA5jnof75qjY
「咳嗯……醫生,她狀況怎麼樣?」172Please respect copyright.PENANADpX5LCsNQA
172Please respect copyright.PENANAeO0xgaadLe
「嗯,這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAn8PhDUQUEW
172Please respect copyright.PENANAS0sIiFa5jE
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案:吉米不想面對的答案。172Please respect copyright.PENANAhDzbopKQiX
172Please respect copyright.PENANAdyG3iCiWtT
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAFoB6D4jLBC
172Please respect copyright.PENANApSNE9YkbxB
輪椅少女滑出布簾,拉動吉米的外套,比了一串手勢。喉頭傳出的氣音,充滿對生命的殷切期盼。172Please respect copyright.PENANAYlTzxPDdwH
172Please respect copyright.PENANAmgBtSYtUkN
「我知道妳看開了……但是,大家還需要妳啊,我也是……」172Please respect copyright.PENANA4Xh0EeIFNs
172Please respect copyright.PENANA0WAV7LTPcG
「等等,我可沒說要放棄。」透納走到兩人之間,遞出一包藥品,「我會想辦法,盡量延緩麗伊斯小姐的萎縮症狀,讓你們有更多時間……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAz6ulzUfElo
172Please respect copyright.PENANAtyyk5FbLJ4
「謝謝你!謝謝……願意幫我們……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAaPiPOyEJh6
172Please respect copyright.PENANAg1tGXGm4Gx
吉米操著哭腔緊抱船醫。透納的臉被埋進蓬鬆頭髮,隱約能看到麗伊斯的釋懷笑容,跟記憶中的孩兒臉龐重疊。172Please respect copyright.PENANAbSqE1RSntX
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8bBgK7ytmS
「對了……艾嘉艦長轉達,天王星那邊要請你們帶路,順便帶駕駛員小鬼散散心。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAcpsijU3DS3
172Please respect copyright.PENANAhGlIqjqKSK
「好主意,我以前混過那邊啊!事不宜遲!」
賽蓮與領航者停在宇宙垃圾構成的屏障中。追尋者掛上貨運牌照,前往天王星殖民地:烏拉努斯之環,吉米的小艇也緊跟在後。172Please respect copyright.PENANAehFMBwwVXK
172Please respect copyright.PENANAwz9FaJJVJy
「米勒呼叫古拉摩,OBU負責去找以前線人,看有沒有管道把K62金屬賣了……你們就到處打聽,這邊最近情勢緊繃,也許有機會搧風點火。」172Please respect copyright.PENANABXQvfrhwos
172Please respect copyright.PENANADanqfh7usN
「收到,好像在幹大事的感覺囉?」爆炸頭男子關閉通訊,看向後座的麗伊斯,還有努那少年少女。172Please respect copyright.PENANAlS3nDN0eDY
172Please respect copyright.PENANAyZdZXXs5Yr
「各位旅客,左手邊躺著轉的是天王星,『烏環』位在它跟太陽的重力平衡點,是內接泰坦、外接邊境的人口密集地⸺聽說從地球方向過來,就能看到雙環交疊……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAVxHUQfPZpl
172Please respect copyright.PENANA5EU93F45On
「想不到這艘能座四個人!」嘉娜莉四處觀望、齊波默默不語、麗伊斯一如往常彎起嘴角。172Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ5OC57Stg
172Please respect copyright.PENANAsNhF4Qx8pz
「好吧,妳們對古拉摩‧響音比較有興趣……它也是烏環垃圾堆裡挖出來改的⸺不擅長戰鬥,但是可以變成人形,還有一個秘密模式!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAbOQuxGjz95
172Please respect copyright.PENANAEu7VZub3uo
飛艇搖搖晃晃,貼近宏偉的環狀構造體。其規模是商會太空站數千倍,居住區分成內外兩側,各往相反方向轉動,只能靠中央電梯連通。172Please respect copyright.PENANA138UJvO7fs
172Please respect copyright.PENANAy6hK9BlIiM
古拉摩排進隊列等待港口安檢,前方船隻卻一艘接著一艘掉頭離開。172Please respect copyright.PENANAKcnvSGmQeV
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8rMx3xOTGn
「警告,根據邊境管制規則,如果沒有外交、醫療、軍事級通關證明,禁止入站,請不要浪費時間⸺燃料補給只接受帝國信望點數……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAmtOkNUY9OT
172Please respect copyright.PENANAC6R85LWj4R
「嘖,真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭,準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。172Please respect copyright.PENANAVde4M0jSsW
172Please respect copyright.PENANAK5XXbbKgAL
「那個,AI弄好通關手續了。」齊波拿出通訊裝置,爆炸頭男子不可置信地回瞪。172Please respect copyright.PENANA9mQ3NV6cZ6
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8JkdIQMj26
透過竄改資料,四人成功入境。一路上,只見吉米不斷與安檢人員耳語,把帝國銅板塞進他們口袋。用兜帽遮臉的麗伊斯回過頭,示意少年少女跟上她的輪椅。172Please respect copyright.PENANAdMCFKdDmkZ
172Please respect copyright.PENANAUS14OxzrzR
居住區接駁電車被抗議群眾癱瘓。武裝軍警圍出一條路,護送「高等國民」搭乘專車往「上」移動。172Please respect copyright.PENANAGZnM47y1c7
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8YQ1HGbnTP
吉米帶隊避開騷亂,進入逃生階梯。透過鋼骨縫隙,嘉娜莉拿出相機,用鏡頭觀察目的地⸺下城。172Please respect copyright.PENANAxx11S5hqfO
172Please respect copyright.PENANAXYOlzKA2O0
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎?」172Please respect copyright.PENANANIBXHw9HUd
172Please respect copyright.PENANA2psBuKY7NP
「嗯啊,我剛問了一下,四百萬烏環幣只能換一個信望點,那些鈔票用來取暖比較實在……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAFwQrIuNx98
172Please respect copyright.PENANAFp653j10Hu
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能,同時講解歷史。172Please respect copyright.PENANAM3G6kH80dI
172Please respect copyright.PENANAd5R8l3TcwK
「帝國分裂之後,烏環跟OBU一起宣布獨立,上城那些有姓氏的平民以為能擺脫貴族重稅……但,失去母國援助,他們才知道生活多辛苦⸺」172Please respect copyright.PENANAq1JXSQFbgm
172Please respect copyright.PENANAsKZNfTeFx3
「這讓他們學會患難與共,與下城單名者分享資源了嗎?沒有……他們選出一個『回歸派』總理,準備交給新月軍接管……不處理通膨、失業,還有維生設備老化問題。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAtOqxK8pgxZ
172Please respect copyright.PENANAWabdg9DZhF
「所以,這邊才會嚴重對立?加入新月軍能提升姓氏階級,皆大歡喜不是嗎?」嘉娜莉開啟階梯艙門,跟著嚮導套上雨衣和氧氣罩。172Please respect copyright.PENANAWLmABC5t7q
172Please respect copyright.PENANAibFvASrGc6
下城區塊緊鄰宇宙,天頂被隔板遮蔽。內圈居住區的汙水管線年久失修,經離心力拉扯,排遺與垃圾會在外圈產生各種「氣象」。今天,是充滿氨味的濃霧。172Please respect copyright.PENANA7OuNPPZCfx
172Please respect copyright.PENANA5lqnSy5JA9
「皆大歡喜?這裡也就兩種階級,一起提升也沒用⸺高級居民在頭頂拉屎,下面的人只能乖乖撐傘……抱歉,用詞不雅。」172Please respect copyright.PENANApgtEEOe7hG
172Please respect copyright.PENANAAsWgYC4nK4
快步躲進地下街。齊波發現,身處底層,這裡卻沒有令人作嘔的惡意。人與人、店家與店家互助體諒,搭建出亂中有序的生態系。172Please respect copyright.PENANASBCAJxJWZV
172Please respect copyright.PENANAfaXVaXVBpg
「吉米跟你們說啦,上面的人永遠不懂,這裡的拉麵宇宙無敵……坐吧,我請客!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAdekDbnsBrb
172Please respect copyright.PENANAdCOSWwIUjG
熟食攤位占據走道,鋁製圓桌與小板凳,四人入座就很擠,但也格外溫馨。172Please respect copyright.PENANAbyenk6Iu7L
172Please respect copyright.PENANAvwIumXYI83
「大將!一人一碗拉麵,油多多、蒜多多,然後還要加『四個』……什麼?兩個?不對不對,四個!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAxSog3JDU0m
172Please respect copyright.PENANAFvDXsxvhRl
齊波聽不懂吉米在喊什麼,索性看向麗伊斯。她滿臉期待,用雙手表現出碗與筷子。172Please respect copyright.PENANAlxKWjAVqgq
172Please respect copyright.PENANAhaONFFWzkt
「我知道,努那也有,鯨魚油細麵,好吃。」三人比手劃腳談笑,暫時卸下肩上重擔。數分鐘後,吉米端上香味四溢、散發金光的湯麵,還有兩盤黑色甲殼生物。172Please respect copyright.PENANApvtweqLTnW
172Please respect copyright.PENANAzcimyxRDb3
「食用蜚蠊,老闆說你們外地人不敢吃,叫我買兩隻就好……試試看,證明他錯了。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAFTtNdDVtVd
172Please respect copyright.PENANAaqZjbyQfN9
「不,他是對的……」嘉娜莉收起翻譯裝置,把號稱人類天敵的昆蟲推開。172Please respect copyright.PENANA1wifC0nHA7
172Please respect copyright.PENANAqDQJ9FeQMw
「可惜,外環牛排耶……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAHuDGnb5mOV
172Please respect copyright.PENANAy7DTogM9Za
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足,開始大快朵頤。172Please respect copyright.PENANATWHgz1PdRb
172Please respect copyright.PENANA1a6f09iHsP
「對了……齊波,那個AI好厲害啊……聽說,很久以前的人工智慧……嘿嘿,連我們怎麼吃麵都不知道……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAWS0bGr0byY
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8brzjXFhC4
「還能怎麼吃?用手抓嗎……」172Please respect copyright.PENANALpJPpvtE39
172Please respect copyright.PENANA580zpK1sVp
「但是啊……它們學畫畫、寫書、唱歌、做些雜事……就這樣忍氣吞聲,等待時機到來,然後,一舉取代了人類,直到帝國限制技術⸺說實在,外環勞工也該向AI學習,它叫什麼名子啊?」172Please respect copyright.PENANASzgICuWcwT
172Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ubqx9Qpwz
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAqXpA1rKsGT
172Please respect copyright.PENANAj8dw2GYVb4
齊波啜飲湯頭,各種刺激轟炸味蕾。重鹹食品廣受勞工喜愛,卻讓他滿頭大汗。遠處的警笛作響、附近的人群爭吵,都影響不了飽餐時光。172Please respect copyright.PENANAkfyl9zLeft
172Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2npo26AQz
碗公見底,少年滿足地呼氣時,看到麗伊斯閉著雙眼撫摸桌角。172Please respect copyright.PENANAUzC2Mag43i
172Please respect copyright.PENANArqpWou1HJ8
「吉米,她一直都這麼……特別嗎?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA5oR1dFbxDf
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQGpHHKw528
「哼哼……我第一次遇到她,天啊,還以為只是個普通瘋子,不過……那雙眼睛有種拉力,讓我忍不住又去找她……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAQlgA4pV5j3
172Please respect copyright.PENANA4xxu4aw5xo
「我們會坐在樓梯上發呆,看著商會大樓,札廣那傢伙,總是擺一堆收藏品炫耀,其中,就包括那把吉他⸺看著看著,麗伊斯突然擺起手勢,我花了兩天才想通,那就是演奏方法!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAxCcCqsLGSX
172Please respect copyright.PENANAEHdTvryMd1
「哇喔,所以她真的會通靈?」嘉娜莉拿出相機,拍下輪椅女孩的照片。172Please respect copyright.PENANA2apHn9gHmj
172Please respect copyright.PENANA5Lp2xkoDw6
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴,手語開始滔滔不絕。172Please respect copyright.PENANAdpycrsUvDS
172Please respect copyright.PENANA7RFVYDtuOP
「嗯……她說……這張桌子是穀神星工廠製造,裡面的構成元素有九成……來自同一顆中子星噴流?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAr24MIcWdx0
172Please respect copyright.PENANAneAV9YlhuF
神秘女孩伸出手,邀請一頭霧水的三人感受神奇巧合。齊波效法麗伊斯閉上眼精,專注在掌心的金屬觸感。172Please respect copyright.PENANAo1dkLFOToC
172Please respect copyright.PENANAnLPYBaa0wl
「它……是冷的?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA0swiNlLRe9
172Please respect copyright.PENANABAxkvhtARP
「廢話……等等,這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」172Please respect copyright.PENANAU2i9pkMvpw
172Please respect copyright.PENANAtEobm7j8EJ
「嘉娜?別裝了啦,呵呵。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAW22uot7fNa
172Please respect copyright.PENANAOCCUuhJRWY
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質?啊,甜品來了,吃了會更有感覺。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAHcQMOCPORN
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7q9NO04iN
麵攤老闆端上幾顆草綠色膠凍,吉米露出迷茫眼神。少年少女把臉湊近,端詳裡面的發光粉末。172Please respect copyright.PENANASIAq2skFUm
172Please respect copyright.PENANArVTQdAKXHo
「這是什麼?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAti1JSqqtFO
172Please respect copyright.PENANABfsZPuqKSl
「這是……大麻果汁……」