泥地上留下數排鞋印,昌姐領頭帶著一行深入樹林。豔陽被樹冠遮擋,在地上留下點點光印。樹葉沙沙作響,吹來一陣舒服的涼風。243Please respect copyright.PENANA8tZNjL2XOc
243Please respect copyright.PENANAeY5l6xd6wz
「醜話先說在頭,如果有大灰熊還是甚麼野獸出現,我會抛下你們逃走。因為我是被強迫的,所以沒有義務要保護你們,之後亦不會有罪惡感。」櫻對著安德魯說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAZHeLE0W60v
243Please respect copyright.PENANAFJPwfY0uLQ
「那有這麼容易遇到。別耍嘴皮了,我們已經同坐一條船,請做好自己的本份。」安德魯說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAU7Gf0ah42p
243Please respect copyright.PENANA5BQX53lWek
「總之,勢色不對我就跑,你們不能怪我。」櫻望向祐嘉,好像要徵求她的認同。243Please respect copyright.PENANAyiYbMtbLo6
243Please respect copyright.PENANAXk2cBhoOzc
安德魯也望過去,用眼神要求她表示否定。243Please respect copyright.PENANAdoUrmNspVA
243Please respect copyright.PENANA3JoEJ55HaH
祐嘉低頭避開兩對螫人的視線,「對不起,把你們捲進來都是我的錯。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAtZIx8I22g0
243Please respect copyright.PENANAinGJYj0AVr
「不不不!你不用道歉!這些都是不可抗力!」櫻慌忙說道。
「沒錯,所以這傢伙才講悔氣話。」安德魯拉長眼睛的望著櫻,「你—說—是—吧—? 」243Please respect copyright.PENANAKaOlo5Lr00
243Please respect copyright.PENANA3pbKzPMrwb
櫻咬著下唇,她摸摸脖子,終於耐不住安德魯的目光,「是啦!我在發牢騷啦!」243Please respect copyright.PENANAP2Q37KW2RS
243Please respect copyright.PENANAeTndOhcAMr
祐嘉不禁咯咯笑,「安德魯很有大姐姐的風範。」243Please respect copyright.PENANA39YccC3aay
243Please respect copyright.PENANABM0RSzi02x
「真的嗎?嘻嘻!」安德魯搔搔頭,「我以前是雙胞胎的姐姐,因為爸爸早逝,所以從少就要幫忙照顧妹妹。」243Please respect copyright.PENANA2mI1JIh5cr
243Please respect copyright.PENANA060QXfMGpg
「你也是單親家庭長大的?看來我們是同路人了。」櫻豎起姆指指著心口,「我是阿爸帶大的,雖然連他的樣子也想不起來,但是對阿爸的尊敬從未減退。」243Please respect copyright.PENANArTP58RMtpT
243Please respect copyright.PENANASreugMJH6d
「安德魯,有件事想拜託你。」祐嘉欲言又止,安德魯點頭讓她說下去,「可以拜託你照顧小熊嗎?Hina不在了,我想,交給有經驗的人會比較好……」243Please respect copyright.PENANAwRnkGzkRlf
243Please respect copyright.PENANAcrMEwhemKd
「交給我吧,我會把小熊當作第二個妹妹地照料。」見祐嘉放下心頭大石的微笑,安德魯亦笑逐顏開,「不是吹牛,多虧我的悉心照顧,我妹妹長成了一位大美人,她甚至得過選美冠軍!說起來,我都忘記她的名字了,仿真人的記憶有時頗鬆散的。但我記得爸爸也叫安德魯,因為我的名字就是為了紀念他。」243Please respect copyright.PENANASemHXjA1Pd
243Please respect copyright.PENANADL3v0ZyODU
「所以才會有男性化的名字,我懂了。」祐嘉說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAnAnAsc46TY
243Please respect copyright.PENANAQdG9BmHHY9
「明明是女孩子,卻叫安德魯,超~古怪的。」陌生的尖悦聲音說道。243Please respect copyright.PENANA5UgB1DmGPa
243Please respect copyright.PENANAXkuaesVhbN
眾人被嚇得大叫,不明來歷的女性突然出現在隊伍中,各人四散走避。昌姐聲於洪鐘,大聲喊道:「別鬧了,初秋!」243Please respect copyright.PENANAwL3sMlPSwA
243Please respect copyright.PENANA7M5CCoTIkA
「逗你們玩的啦,跟蹤了足足三十秒都沒有發現,真是遲頓啊,喵~」女性敏捷的轉身,一下就攀上旁邊的一塊大石,她趴在石上,得瑟的兩手托腮咯咯笑。243Please respect copyright.PENANAB0jOjoXKW5
243Please respect copyright.PENANAbAzFXkFcqT
大小姐面向驚魂未定的三人,舉手比向大石上的女性說:「這位是派往調查的——」243Please respect copyright.PENANAc62Q1iQPy6
243Please respect copyright.PENANAJh2D9uzTPf
不等大小姐說完,女性打斷道:「剛才的女版高腳七已經說了,我叫初秋,是治癒你心靈的護士,喵~」243Please respect copyright.PENANAguPsJnUwJ3
243Please respect copyright.PENANARhyKaJfC8r
她的身型矮小,白色的護士打扮,還有一對貓耳,完全是活脫脫地從漫畫裡蹦出來的角色。
243Please respect copyright.PENANADJiX8RWpY0
斗大的汗珠由額上滑落,碩大的問號反而從頭上升起。安德魯、櫻、祐嘉三人除了目定口呆不懂反應。而昌姐則像嗅到難聞的氣味,臉色像燒焦一樣黑。243Please respect copyright.PENANAlUVxaKp2dk
243Please respect copyright.PENANAwnOHYIn4fS
「那個,是真的嗎?」櫻指著頭頂比了比。243Please respect copyright.PENANAHdwai51UxF
243Please respect copyright.PENANAppvQofa9fm
初秋撩動耳尖,眼睛瞇成細線,「想摸嗎?」243Please respect copyright.PENANAWxEMToJEVs
243Please respect copyright.PENANAW4nKZ6d4dc
「可以嗎?!」櫻以奇怪的手勢扭捏空氣。243Please respect copyright.PENANAcAogasQasc
243Please respect copyright.PENANADxE0mMwXGV
「逗你玩的啦,喵~」243Please respect copyright.PENANAWuwAsz77Wx
243Please respect copyright.PENANA0kUGklzSkt
大小姐拍手打斷無營養的對話,「玩鬧時間結束。初秋,你在樹林裡發現了甚麼?」243Please respect copyright.PENANAJTeZt7rsem
243Please respect copyright.PENANAzF61FgCzak
「喵~你都把幫手們找來了,一定不會滿足於口頭報告後便散隊吧。跟著來,驚喜要留在最後一刻揭曉才是驚喜,喵~接住——」243Please respect copyright.PENANAkicGM45zkz
243Please respect copyright.PENANAb2XNfjRDVl
初秋冷不防向大小姐抛出一個物體,她未反應得及,昌姐搶先一手接住。眾人圍上前,一窺這個眼熟的東西。243Please respect copyright.PENANA5acJp53UoN
243Please respect copyright.PENANA0cKFYB9zqV
「罐裝能量飲品?你是從那裡找來的?」大小姐說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAZWydrjsVjV
243Please respect copyright.PENANAmkK2Guvfxr
「那裡。」初秋往身後一指,她跳下大石,從草叢裡拉出一個塞滿的塑料袋,「喜歡甚麼口味?隨便來拿。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAa49sdcJmJB
243Please respect copyright.PENANAV2IicYFcoy
昌姐拉開易拉環,把空氣扇向鼻子。243Please respect copyright.PENANAU1JmyUA1m5
243Please respect copyright.PENANA9SOXXtu8p7
「昌能夠分析氣味,你們懂的,高等仿真人。」大小姐說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAQiSBPSVZfZ
243Please respect copyright.PENANAvad6xkOVrD
「沒問題的啦,在等你們時我已經喝了兩罐。味道有點怪怪的,但是嘛,就不要計較太多,喵~」243Please respect copyright.PENANAo5mY2uQdnz
243Please respect copyright.PENANAyJseQofdfK
昌姐點點頭,像交通燈亮起綠燈,櫻和安德魯上前翻找袋子。243Please respect copyright.PENANAi0iCQJVfBt
243Please respect copyright.PENANAupl70kI5mP
「我要櫻桃味的,跟我叫櫻或是髮色沒有關係,我本來就喜歡櫻桃汽水。」243Please respect copyright.PENANArFTb59X8GJ
243Please respect copyright.PENANAdDBddAapQn
「我要咖啡味的。」安德魯看向祐嘉,「你想要甚麼?」243Please respect copyright.PENANAthGNyi4MVK
243Please respect copyright.PENANAo36VoOJFwB
「同樣咖啡味就好。」祐嘉接住抛來的罐子,黑色的罐上印著大大的咖啡杯圖案。243Please respect copyright.PENANAuh3LH2aTXA
243Please respect copyright.PENANAtY0FQRELIP
「大家都喝吧,在工作前補充能量。」大小姐說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAfOgB7s9gIZ
243Please respect copyright.PENANASMh3Y4SGeX
此起彼落的拉罐聲,接著是咕嚕咕嚕的吞嚥,眾人面面相覷,異口同聲:「好難喝!」243Please respect copyright.PENANA5bw1C0KMEW
243Please respect copyright.PENANAXSkH9yFgnC
「噁,有沙沙的東西黏在口裡……」櫻掩著嘴巴說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAPjvam2vc55
243Please respect copyright.PENANAOzRw5G4LsF
安德魯皺眉吐舌,「咸得舌頭都麻痺了……」243Please respect copyright.PENANA8639HNJart
243Please respect copyright.PENANA5SPdhRYMRc
祐嘉首次知道,原來『驚悚』可以是一種味道。243Please respect copyright.PENANAXATsUHIIvT
243Please respect copyright.PENANAnWbvSQkLph
「哈哈哈!逗你們玩啦!那簡直是味覺的大霹靂~喵噁!」初秋尷尬擦拭嘴角,「糟糕,口中還留著怪味……」243Please respect copyright.PENANAUG5QGPcKvK
243Please respect copyright.PENANAefUNgfMeiA
相對誇張反應的三人,大小姐和昌姐無動于衷,默默地把能量飲品喝光。243Please respect copyright.PENANAlfG79J8WE7
243Please respect copyright.PENANAKG6BKA9nXA
櫻不禁佩服地拍手,「真厲害,難道高等仿真人有遮斷味覺的功能嗎?」243Please respect copyright.PENANAZzyqIbYP3w
243Please respect copyright.PENANA34dPzdRREc
「其實,她們的味覺系統比我們還敏銳。」祐嘉以只有二人聽到的音量小聲低語。243Please respect copyright.PENANA5gsI1dW0as
243Please respect copyright.PENANAy1nxRzf0Fl
仔細點看,會發現昌姐握緊拳頭,肩膀微小的抖動,目光望得很遠。243Please respect copyright.PENANAYdqxq3aSDB
243Please respect copyright.PENANAmP5GlM9oTy
「我想是甜味劑變壞了。」大小姐高雅的豎起手心,「哼,電池成功充電,成份並沒有變質。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAYYVQ8KSDpX
243Please respect copyright.PENANAarRXD9Q6Rl
初秋從袋裡又拿了一罐,「續杯?」243Please respect copyright.PENANAdTF0PxopJ1
243Please respect copyright.PENANAZmrj4wOr69
「初秋小姐,感謝你的慷慨大方。我不敢獨自承受此等厚禮,容我將這份心意分享給其他有需要的女孩。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAnLx9HVB5em
243Please respect copyright.PENANAS1BgiwN7Tl
「逗你玩的啦,用不著開官腔。」初秋自討沒趣,把袋遞給昌姐。243Please respect copyright.PENANAM08ET7Rgq6
243Please respect copyright.PENANAgCaYdtiaRR
「昌,用騙的也好,讓所有人至小喝完一罐。」大小姐說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAX6ewIe4LkJ
243Please respect copyright.PENANAUAZwP3gBhG
昌姐欠身,提著袋子先行離去。243Please respect copyright.PENANAmw2mh6GI7F
243Please respect copyright.PENANApsiGc1sUps
祐嘉耐著口腔不適和味覺系統的地毯式轟炸,終於把手上的能量飲品喝完。她不由得張開嘴巴,嘗試大口吸氣來中和口中怪味。她看向手心,電量顯示由80%提升到85%。243Please respect copyright.PENANAsDcFsxg3xE
243Please respect copyright.PENANADDxF9Jd3Sp
「我想到一個方法!」櫻搭著祐嘉肩膀亢奮的叫道,「這些飲品可以用來讓Hina充電!」243Please respect copyright.PENANA2pCjnpziqt
243Please respect copyright.PENANA7n6ygt0lqG
安德魯拍手附和,「太好了!你這傢伙頭腦還不錯嘛!」243Please respect copyright.PENANAYoQm6zfHmZ
「喂,你的稱讚好像帶刺的。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAP69nNaJGBo
243Please respect copyright.PENANA79x7n47FDI
然而,祐嘉樣子表現得很為難,好像不願意開口回話。
大小姐見狀解說道:「這種程度不足以仿真人重新驅動,再說下去就太不識相了。初秋,帶路。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAuxoeJu7lt2
243Please respect copyright.PENANABFbMYSUVvF
「三分鐘的路程,喵。」初秋說。243Please respect copyright.PENANAiuqx7JCALt
243Please respect copyright.PENANAY1D9V36Moq
祐嘉默不作聲的跟著走,櫻像當機似的呆在原地恍神。安德魯拍她的背,她才走上前追到祐嘉旁邊。
「對不起,是我太自以為是。」櫻自責的敲打後腦勺。243Please respect copyright.PENANAFRiCnbx944
243Please respect copyright.PENANASkHHw2rNUI
「沒關係,我們走吧。」
不多不小,剛剛好是三分鐘的腳程,一行五人走進森林,一座鋼筋森林。243Please respect copyright.PENANA2TqPLqZxfM
243Please respect copyright.PENANAxIfPCLBfKG
『有人住的地方』,何其隱晦的形容,眼前的根本是一座城市,準確來說是帶著暑假氣息的鄉村小鎮。綠草填滿磚塊之間的隙縫,藤蔓攀著壁面扶搖直上。243Please respect copyright.PENANAugYwpouzxd
243Please respect copyright.PENANAI9XFmdM3nh
屋頂嚴重崩塌的房子;因鏽蝕而斷裂,靠電纜危險地吊在半空的電線桿;裝滿雨水形成了池塘的路邊汽車。
各種日常和非日常的交錯,衝擊眼球視覺和大腦認知的景像,像跑進了末日電影裡的驚愕感。243Please respect copyright.PENANAJmC8BhZPJD
243Please respect copyright.PENANAzlB71ysPUE
「各位,接下來是關鍵。」大小姐拍手吸引眾人注意,「我們分頭行動,兩人一組進行調查。初秋和安德魯一組往北面調查,祐嘉和櫻一組往南面調查。首先是要找到電源,其次是儘可能收集能量飲品,途中別忘記補充電力。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAQF2egKORWt
243Please respect copyright.PENANAV9NtkqsjCv
初秋舉手,「我獨個兒就好。不要誤會,啦啦隊隊長我不是討厭你。我習慣一個人。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAhJUMkBZBCt
243Please respect copyright.PENANA0mqF9vfpxe
「單獨行動很危險,我們對現況一無所知,二人行動才能互相照應,一人遇難另一人也能求救。安德魯和櫻,你們的身體很強壯,請保護好初秋和祐嘉。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAGvoClGeaqF
243Please respect copyright.PENANAxsLwkYJLcG
「哈哈,我會害羞的啦。」櫻臉紅紅的吃吃傻笑。243Please respect copyright.PENANAz6UMMd9QOZ
243Please respect copyright.PENANAjP5pilurBw
懷著不滿的初秋則在大小姐背後扮鬼臉。243Please respect copyright.PENANA0pUdoGPs8N
243Please respect copyright.PENANAq7E5coW9vD
「等等,大小姐不就落單了嗎?」祐嘉說。243Please respect copyright.PENANA3MMMocewUu
243Please respect copyright.PENANAMMGr1O2Sl4
「謝謝關心。」她說,「我會在這兒等昌回來,之後我們會尋找適合當據點的地方。等到六時我們再在這兒集合,各位記得注意時間。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAPAB2mCQ6wa
243Please respect copyright.PENANAhDVixGFmZV
祐嘉點頭,她面向櫻……櫻不見了。243Please respect copyright.PENANA4omjiblFvs
243Please respect copyright.PENANAw8czZnPecj
「喂,快跟上!」已經往街的另一端走的櫻揮手喊道。243Please respect copyright.PENANA1rsQEE8l5H
243Please respect copyright.PENANAXU0b5OR7Bk
「看,她現在充滿幹勁。」大小姐說,「櫻是屬於被稱讚就會飛天的性格,如果待會兒又表現得消極,記得賞她數句悅耳的讚美。」243Please respect copyright.PENANAPRsPETt2n9
243Please respect copyright.PENANAom75XHrCBK
祐嘉皺眉苦笑,她舉手表示告別,小跑步跟上遠處的櫻。兩人在廢城街道上並肩而行,一打問題從腦中炸開,但是,現在不是問『為甚麼』的時機,也沒有人能解答她的『為甚麼』。243Please respect copyright.PENANA7MGM4MK9Ix
243Please respect copyright.PENANAmhyeH7ZA8c
二人來到分歧路前,祐嘉對往上的斜坡一指,「我們往高處走,看到那邊山坡上的觀景平台嗎?我想到那邊去。」243Please respect copyright.PENANArFzzao5F7D
243Please respect copyright.PENANAAmwtMQNyjo
櫻聳肩,「我是沒所謂啦,但大小姐說過優先尋找電源。」她舉手作了個拉扯的動作,「說到電源,果然是那個吧,像這樣拉一下,就會『轟轟轟』地響的發電機。」243Please respect copyright.PENANATrXfBCv9rn
243Please respect copyright.PENANAhfmnOfAcC6
「沒錯,一般來說是會聯想到柴油發電機,這意味著安德魯和初秋也會以此為尋找目標。所以我想大膽一點。」祐嘉伸手往街上指,「看那些電線桿,代表城市有供電系統,換句話說,這裡應該會有發電廠。」243Please respect copyright.PENANA9pSwydCTQs
243Please respect copyright.PENANA8nc5MNPA74
櫻的眼睛亮起來,恍然大悟的拍手,「這的確更有效率。」243Please respect copyright.PENANASrG72QurvL
243Please respect copyright.PENANAZYP4mJ478b
「我們到視野開揚的地方去,在高處就能追蹤電線的走向。」祐嘉發覺自己在對空氣說話。她左右張望,在路邊的汽水機前找到櫻。243Please respect copyright.PENANAs1tBt2GeM4
243Please respect copyright.PENANA8gUj018en9
「接著要往山上走,沿路恐怕不會有補給,最好趁現在多收集能量飲品。」櫻一邊說著一邊拍打汽水機,把所有按鈕都按過一遍。243Please respect copyright.PENANARKYDkf5j9y
243Please respect copyright.PENANAFw07wXQMmv
仲使機身已經嚴重鏽蝕,汽水機依然死守使命,牢固保護自身貨物。243Please respect copyright.PENANAerFqQsTqRo
243Please respect copyright.PENANAW6TUYyH3yM
祐嘉研究機身正面,找到一個六角形的匙孔,只要扭開鎖頭就能把匣門打開。她點著下巴沉思,現在有整座城市為資源,一定有辦法造一把六角匙出來。她盯著汽水機,漸漸感到違和感,汽水機沒有投幣孔……243Please respect copyright.PENANAYfNIkst2uP
243Please respect copyright.PENANAUzS7N4Pi4E
「啊啦!」243Please respect copyright.PENANAfA2A2e8nY6
243Please respect copyright.PENANAf7kZu2FlZm
回音在廢城迴盪,磚塊砸穿了汽水機,五顏六色的罐子滾落到地上。櫻拍拍手上的灰塵,神氣活現的叉腰挻胸。243Please respect copyright.PENANAZvDToqzuqc
243Please respect copyright.PENANAyX44cMmqZc
祐嘉看著櫻,千言萬語在人工大腦裡炸開,作業系統仿佛遭受DDoS攻擊,思想癱瘓,只留著一張無情感的臉。243Please respect copyright.PENANA0oJvoafO28
243Please respect copyright.PENANAgcRjTpgAUe
櫻好像察覺到甚麼,頭腦突然一晃。243Please respect copyright.PENANA71YUqiHDUJ
243Please respect copyright.PENANAYVHdtWPggo
「你有帶袋嗎?」