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ngle　of　the　slope。　It　was　a　bloodbath；　a　punishment　by　the　wise　on　the　stupid　and　care—less。　In　Bilgee’s　view；　this　was　a　sacred　cleansing　of　the　grassland；　a　good　and　benevolent　deed。
　　Ignoring　those　fallen　gazelles　who　had　eaten　so　much　they　could　not　run；　the　wolves　went　straight　for　the　standing　clusters　of　animals。　The　larger　wolves　quickly　brought　down　victims　and　bit　through　their　throats；　sending　crimson　streams　gushing　into　the　air　and　staining　the　snow。　The　frigid　air　suddenly　filled　with　the　heavy　stink　of　blood。　The　gazelles；　with　their　keen　sight　and　smell；　were　so　terrified　by　this　strategy—killing　the　chickens　to　frighten　the　monkeys—they　broke　for　the　mountain。　Sev—eral　large　bucks　led　families　of　gazelles　up　to　the　top　of　the　slope；　where　they　stopped　and　ran　around　in　circles；　unwilling　to　go　down　the　other　side。　Obviously；　the　lead　animals　had　discovered　the　danger　in　the　white　snowdrift；　where　not　a　single　stalk　of　grass　was　visible；　the　older　animals；　who　were　familiar　with　the　landscape；　had　seen　through　the　wolves’　strategy。
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（11）
All　of　a　sudden；　the　closely　packed　group　of　gazelles　turned　and　came　back　down；　like　a　landslide；　as　a　dozen　or　so　large　males　weighed　the　dangers　they　faced。　They　decided　on　the　least　risky　choice　by　turn—ing　to　break　through　the　encirclement。
　　The　bucks　knew　that　their　fate　hung　in　the　balance。　In　groups　of　four　or　five；　shoulder　to　shoulder；　they　lowered　their　heads　to　create　a　phalanx　of　deadly　horns　and　charged　the　wolves。　Other　gazelles　that　could　still　run　fell　in　behind　them。
　　Chen　knew　the　damage　those　horns　could　do。　On　the　grassland；　herdsmen　used　them　as　leatherworking　needles；　so　sharp　they　could　penetrate　cowhide；　wolf　skin　would　be　no　problem。　The　counterattack　worked　as　they　tore　a　hole　in　the　encirclement；　through　which　a　yellow　flood　poured。　Chen　Zhen　tensed；　afraid　that　this　rent　in　the　line　would　ruin　the　wolf　pack’s　plans。
　　But　then　he　discovered　the　pack　leader　standing　near　the　break　in　the　line；　looking　untroubled；　like　a　man　opening　the　dam　to　release　floodwaters。　As　soon　as　the　gazelles　that　had　maintained　their　running　speed　and　kept　their　horns　out　in　front　had　passed　through　the　open　dam；　he　led　his　troops　in　closing　the　breach。　Now　the　encirclement　con—tained　only　gazelles　that　could　not　run　fast；　had　no　weapons；　and　were　not　very　smart。　A　ragtag　pack　of　them；　now　that　their　leaders　and　more　powerful　males　were　outside　the　circle；　terrified　to　face　the　charging　wolves；　ran　up　the　slope　and　then　down　into　the　deep　snowdrifts。　Chen　knew　at　once　how　the　pursued　animals—with　their　pointed　hooves；　thick　legs；　and　bellies　filled　with　grass—would　end　up。
　　Both　gazelles　and　wolves　disappeared　where　the　mountain　met　the　horizon。　As　a　thousand　gazelles　ran　for　their　lives；　the　blood…　soaked　encirclement　area　went　quiet。　Seven　or　eight　carcasses　lay　on　the　grassy　slope；　other　injured　members　of　the　herd　struggled　weakly。　No　more　than　ten　minutes　had　passed　from　the　moment　the　attack　was　launched　until　the　battle　was　over。　It　seemed　to　Chen　that　he　had　held　his　breath　the　whole　time；　his　heart　was　racing。
　　The　old　man　stood　up　and　stretched；　then　sat　　cross…legged　in　the　tall　grass　on　the　edge　of　the　snow　cave；　where　he　took　a　pipe　with　a　jade　mouthpiece　out　of　his　felt　boot。　He　filled　it　with　tobacco；　lit　it；　and；　covering　the　opening　with　a　lid　made　of　an　old　silver　coin；　inhaled　a　mouthful　of　smoke。
　　Chen　knew　that　as　a　young　man；　Bilgee　had　given　a　Han　Chinese　trader　from　Zhangjiakou　twenty　fox　pelts　for　this　pipe；　the　students　considered　it　a　bad　deal；　but　the　pipe　was　one　of　the　old　man’s　prized　possessions；　and　he　had　sympathized　with　the　trader；　who’d　had　to　travel　all　the　way　to　Mongolia　to　do　business；　risking　death　at　the　hands　of　highwaymen　along　the　way。
　　The　old　man　kept　smoking。　“We　can　head　back　after　this　pipe；”　he　said。
　　But　Chen　was　still　on　a　hunting　high。　“Aren’t　we　going　to　take　a　look　on　the　other　side？”　he　asked　anxiously。　“I’d　like　to　see　how　many　gazelles　the　wolves　trapped。”
　　。　最好的txt下载网

狼图腾（英文版）　2（12）
“That’s　too　dangerous。　Anyway；　I　know　without　looking。　There　will　be　hundreds　of　them。　Outside　of　the　young　animals；　plus　the　thin　ones　and　the　lucky　ones　that　can　somehow　make　it　out　of　the　snowdrift；　the　rest　are　all　fated　to　go　to　Tengger。　You　needn’t　worry。　This　pack　of　wolves　won’t　be　able　to　eat　all　their　kills；　and　even　after　our　group　goes　out　and　brings　back　all　we　can；　there’ll　still　be　plenty　left　out　there。”
　　“The　young　animals；　and　the　thin　ones；　how　do　they　manage　to　get　away？”
　　The　old　man’s　eyes　crinkled　in　a　smile　as　he　said；　“Young　animals　are　thin；　which　makes　their　bodies　light；　so　they　don’t　go　deep　into　the　snow。　They　can　usually　find　a　way　out；　and　the　wolves　won’t　go　after　them。”　He　beamed。　“My　boy；　today　you’ve　witnessed　the　virtues　of　wolves。　Not　only　do　they　watch　and　preserve　the　grassland；　but　they’ve　delivered　New　Year’s　gifts　to　us。　Thanks　to　them；　it’s　going　to　be　a　good　year。　There’s　a　grassland　rule　here　that　the　spoils　of　a　hunt　belong　to　whoever　sees　them　first。　Since　you　and　I　are　the　witnesses；　we’ll　make　sure　your　yurt　gets　a　bit　extra。　We　Mongols　place　much　importance　on　repaying　debts　of　gratitude。　In　the　future；　don’t　waste　your　time　talking　about　the　wolf　hunt　with　other　Chinese　or　outsiders。”
　　Chen　Zhen　could　barely　contain　his　excitement；　he　was　impatient　to　fill　a　wagon　with　gazelle　carcasses　and　take　them　back　to　the　yurt。　“In　the　two　years　I’ve　been　here；”　he　said；　“the　wolves　have　caused　me　nothing　but　trouble。　I　never　expected　that　one　day　I’d　benefit　from　their　efforts。”
　　“We　Mongols　benefit　from　their　efforts　all　the　time；”　the　old　man　said。　He　raised　his　herding　club　and　pointed　to　a　mountain　range　behind　them。　“There’s　another　range　of　mountains　behind　that　one。　It’s　not　part　of　our　pastureland；　but　it’s　famous　around　here。　The　old　people　say　that　Genghis　Khan’s　great　general　Muqali　fought　a　battle　there。　He　drove　several　thousand　mounted　Jurchen　warriors　of　the　great　Jin　dynasty　into　a　snowdrift；　and　the　following　spring　he　sent　men　back　to　collect　the　spoils　of　war。　There　were　mountains　of　swords　and　spears　and　bows　and　arrows；　plus　helmets　and　armor；　and　saddles　and　lan—terns。　Where　else　could　he　have　learned　that　but　from　wolves？　If　you　add　up　all　the　major　battles　involving　Mongols；　more　than　half　were　fought　with　skills　learned　from　the　wolves。”
　　The　two　men　walked　back　to　the　ravine　behind　them；　and　when　the　dark　horse　saw　its　master；　it　jerked　its　head　up　and　down　excitedly。　Every　time　Chen　saw　this　horse；　which　had　once　saved　his　life；　he　pat—ted　it　on　the　head　to　once　more　show　his　gratitude。　The　horse　accepted　his　thanks　by　nudging　him　on　the　shoulder。　This　time；　however；　Chen　felt　a　powerful　impulse　to　somehow　pat　a　wolf　on　the　head。
　　They　removed　the　cowhide　fetters　from　the　horses’　hooves；　mounted　up；　and　rode　off　at　an　easy　canter　toward　home。
　　The　old　man　looked　up　at　the　sky；　“Tengger　is　protecting　us；”　he　said。　“The　weather　will　hold　tomorrow。　If　a　blizzard　came　tonight；　we　wouldn’t　wind　up　with　a　single　gazelle。”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）3（1）
Fine　weather　greeted　them　the　following　morning。　Kitchen　smoke　rose　from　the　yurts　like　slim　white　birches；　the　tips　of　their　high—est　branches　boring　into　the　heavens；　into　Tengger。　The　cows　and　sheep　were　ruminating　leisurely；　the　sun　had　driven　off　the　cold　night　air；　and　frost　on　the　animals’　hides　was　just　then　turning　to　dew；　to　eventually　rise　from　their　bodies　as　mist。
　　Chen　Zhen　asked　his　neighbor　Gombu　to　tend　his　sheep　that　day。　As　a　onetime　herd　owner；　Gombu　was　kept　under　surveillance；　and　his　right　to　tend　sheep　had　been　taken　from　him；　but　the　four　Beijing　stu—dents　asked　him　to　watch　their　animals　whenever　they　could；　for　which　Gasmai　would　let　him　earn　the　appropriate　work　points。　Chen　and　one　of　the　other　herders；　Yang　Ke；　yoked　up　a　light　cart　and　headed　to　Bil…gee’s　yurt。
　　Yang；　a　classmate　who　lived　in　Chen　Zhen’s　yurt；　was　the　son　of　a　famous　professor　at　one　of　Beijing’s　most　prestigious　universities。　They　had　as　many　books　at　home　as　a　small　library。　In　high　school；　Chen　and　he　had　often　traded　books。　They’d　exchange　views　when　they　finished；　and　were　best　friends。　In　Beijing；　Yang　had　been　a　shy；　mild…mannered　boy　who　blushed　whenever　he　met　a　stranger。　No　one　could　have　pre—dicted　that　after　two　years　of　eating　lamb　and　beefsteaks　and　cheese；　after　baking　in　the　strong　rays　of　the　Mongolian　sun　season　after　sea—son；　he　would　be　transformed　into　a　brawny　son　of　the　grassland；　with　a　face　as　sunburned　as　the　native　herdsmen　and　none　of　the　bookish　manners　he’d　brought　with　him。
　　Yang　was　more　excited　than　Chen；　and　as　he　whipped　the　back　of　the　ox　he　said；　“I　didn’t　sleep　at　all　last　night。　The　next　time　Bilgee　takes　you　hunting；　be　sure　to　let　me　go　along；　even　if　I　have　to　lie　there　for　two　whole　days。　This　is　the　first　time　I’ve　heard　of　wolves　performing　good　deeds　for　people；　and　I　won’t　believe　it　until　I　personally　drag　one　of　the　gazelle　carcasses　out　of　the　snow。　Can　we　really　take　a　cartload　of　them　back　with　us？”
　　“Would　I　lie　to　you？”　Chen　smiled。　“Papa　said　that　no　matter　how　hard　it　is　to　dig　them　out；　we’re　guaranteed　a　cartful；　which　we　can　s　for　other　things；　like　New　Year’s　items　and　some　large　pieces　of　felt　for　our　yurt。”
　　Yang　was　so　pleased　he　whipped　the　back　of　the　ox　until　it　glared　angrily。　“It　looks　like　your　two…year　fascination　with　wolves　is　begin—ning　to　pay　off；”　he　said。　“I’ll　have　to　start　studying　their　hunting　techniques　myself。　Who　knows；　it　might　e　in　handy　in　a　real　fight　one　day　。　。　。　What　you　said　could　be　a　pattern。　Living　on　the　grassland　over　the　long　haul　as　a　nomad；　it　makes　no　difference　which　ethnic　group　you　belong　to；　since　sooner　or　later　you’ll　start　worshipping　wolves　and　treating　them　as　mentors。　That’s　what　happened　with　the　Huns；　the　Wusun；　the　Turks；　the　Mongols；　and　other　nationalities。　Or　so　it　says　in　books。　But　the　Chinese　are　an　exception。　I　guarantee　you；　we　Chinese　could　live　out　here　for　generations　without　worshipping　a　wolf　totem。”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）3（2）
“Maybe；　maybe　not；”　Chen　said　as　he　reined　in　his　horse。　“Take　me；　for　instance。　The　wolves　have　won　me　over　in　a　little　more　than　two　years。”
　　“But　the　vast　majority　of　Chinese　are　peasants；”　Yang　countered；　“or　were　born　to　peasants。　The　Han　have　a　peasant　mentality　that’s　impossible　to　break　down；　and　if　they　were　transported　out　here；　I’d　be　surprised　if　they　didn’t　skin　every　last　wolf　on　the　grassland。　We’re　a　farming　race；　and　a　fear　and　hatred　of　wolves　is　in　our　bones。　How　could　we　venerate　a　wolf　totem？　We　Han　worship　the　Dragon　King；　the　one　in　charge　of　our　agrarian　lifeline—our　dragon　totem；　the　one　we　pay　homage　to；　the　one　to　whom　we　meekly　submit。　How　can　you　expect　people　like　that　to　learn　from　wolves；　to　protect　them；　to　wor—ship　and　yet　kill　them；　like　the　Mongols？　Only　a　people’s　totem　can　truly　rouse　their　ethnic　spirit　and　character；　whether　it’s　a　dragon　or　a　wolf。　The　differences　between　farming　and　nomadic　peoples　are　simply　too　great。　In　the　past；　when　we　were　immersed　in　the　vast　Han　Chi—nese　ocean；　we　had　no　sense　of　those　differences；　but　ing　out　here　has　made　the　inherent　weaknesses　of　our　farming　background　obvious。　Sure；　my　father　is　a　renowned　professor；　but　his　grandfather　and　my　mother’s　grandmother　were　peasants。”
　　“In　ancient　times；”　Chen　said；　picking　up　the　thread；　“the　impact　of　Mongols　on　the　world　was　far　greater　than　that　of　the　Han；　who　out—numbered　them　a　hundred　to　one。　Even　now；　people　in　the　West　call　us　members　of　a　Mongol　race；　and　we　accept　that。　But　back　when　the　Qin　and　Han　dynasties　unified　China；　the　word　Mongol　didn’t　exist。　I　tell　you；　I　feel　sorry　for　the　Han　Chinese。　We　built　the　Great　Wall　and　crowed　about　what　an　achievement　it　was；　considering　ourselves　to　be　the　center　of　the　world；　the　central　kingdom。　But　in　the　eyes　of　early　Western　people；　China　was　only　a　‘silk　country；’　a　‘ceramic　country；’　a　‘tea　country。’　The　Russians　even　thought　that　the　little　Khitan　tribe　was　China；　and　to　t