狼图腾(英文版)-第5部分

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　　Chen　parted　the　door　curtains；　thick　felt　sewn　into　auspicious　pat—terns　with　camel　hair；　and　joined　Bilgee　in　a　cup　of　butter　tea。
　　“Don’t　envy　people　just　because　they’ve　bagged　gazelles。　Tomorrow　I’ll　take　you　out　and　you　can　get　a　wagonload　of　your　own。　I’ve　been　up　in　the　mountains　the　past　few　days；　and　I　know　where　to　fi　nd　them。　This　will　be　the　perfect　opportunity　to　get　firsthand　knowledge　of　a　wolf　pack。　That’s　what　you’ve　been　wanting；　isn’t　it？　You　Chinese　have　the　courage　of　sheep；　who　survive　by　foraging　grass。　We　Mongols　are　meat…eating　wolves；　and　you　could　use　a　bit　of　wolf　courage。”
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狼图腾（英文版）　2（6）
Early　the　next　morning；　they　traveled　to　a　southwestern　mountain　slope；　hiding　themselves　to　watch。　The　old　man　had　brought　neither　a　rifle　nor　a　dog　along；　only　his　telescopes。　Chen　had　hunted　with　Bil—gee　before；　but　only　for　fox；　and　this　was　the　first　time　he’d　gone　out　empty…handed。　“We’re　not　going　to　try　to　bring　down　a　gazelle　with　a　telescope；　are　we？”
　　The　old　man　smiled　and　said　nothing。　He　was　always　happy　when　his　apprentices　came　loaded　with　curiosity　and　doubts。
　　Finally；　when　Chen　spotted　the　wolf　encirclement　through　his　tele—scope；　the　old　man’s　hunting　plan　became　clear；　and　Chen　was　delighted。　Bilgee　flashed　a　crafty　smile。　Chen　forgot　the　cold　the　moment　he　spot—ted　the　wolves；　blood　seemed　to　race　through　his　veins；　and　the　terror　he’d　experienced　the　first　time　he　saw　the　big　wolves　vanished。
　　There　wasn’t　a　breath　of　wind　deep　in　the　mountains；　the　air　was　cold　and　dry；　and　Chen　Zhen’s　feet　were　nearly　frozen。　The　blasts　of　cold　air　were　getting　stronger。　If　only　he　had　a　wolf　pelt　to　lie　on！　He　turned　to　the　old　man　and　whispered　something　that　had　been　bother—ing　him：　“Everyone　says　that　wolf　pelts　make　the　warmest　bedding　you　can　find　anywhere；　and　the　people　around　here；　hunters　and　herdsmen；　kill　plenty　of　wolves。　But　I’ve　never　seen　them　in　a　herdsman’s　home。　Why　is　that？　The　only　pelts　I’ve　seen　are　a　　wolf…　skin　mat　in　the　home　of　Dorji　and　a　pair　of　chaps　his　father　wears　over　his　sheepskin　pants；　with　fur　on　the　outside。”
　　The　old　man　replied；　“Dorji　is　a　northeastern　Mongol。　They’re　farmers　who　own　a　few　cows　and　sheep；　but　they’ve　been　around　Chi—nese　so　long　they’ve　begun　following　Han　customs。　People　who　e　here　from　the　outside　have　forgotten　the　Mongol　gods　and　their　own　origins。　When　someone　in　their　family　dies；　they　put　him　in　a　box　and　bury　him　in　the　ground；　instead　of　feeding　him　to　the　wolves；　so　of　course　they　don’t　see　anything　wrong　with　using　wolf　pelts　as　chaps。　Here　on　the　grassland；　wolf　pelts　are　the　thickest　and　the　densest；　so　there’s　nothing　better　for　keeping　out　the　cold。　Two　sheepskins　put　together　won’t　keep　you　as　warm　as　a　single　wolf　pelt。　But　we　don’t　use　them　as　bedding。　We　respect　the　wolves　too　much。　Any　Mongol　who　doesn’t　isn’t　a　true　Mongol。　Out　here；　a　Mongol　would　freeze　to　death　before　he　slept　on　a　wolf　pelt；　since　doing　so　would　offend　the　Mongol　gods；　and　their　souls　would　never　go　to　Tengger。　Why　do　you　think　Tengger　bestows　its　favors　on　wolves？”
　　“Didn’t　you　say　that　wolves　are　the　protective　spirits　of　the　grass—land？”　Chen　Zhen　asked。
　　“Right；”　the　old　man　said；　his　wide　smile　slitting　his　eyes。　“That’s　it　exactly。　Tengger　is　the　father；　the　grassland　is　the　mother；　and　the　wolves　kill　only　animals　that　harm　the　grassland。　How　could　Tengger　not　bestow　its　favors　on　wolves？”
　　There　was　movement　in　the　wolf　pack；　and　the　two　men　trained　their　telescopes　on　a　pair　of　wolves　that　had　looked　up。　The　animals　quickly　lowered　their　heads。　Chen　searched　through　the　tall　grass　but　saw　no　more　movement　by　the　wolves。
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（7）
The　old　man　handed　his　glass　to　Chen　so　that　he　could　observe　the　situation　with　a　full　pair　of　binoculars。　The　original　double…tube　glass　was　Soviet　military　issue。　Bilgee　had　found　it　on　the　Olonbulag　twenty　years　earlier；　on　an　old　battlefield　from　the　Soviet…Japanese　war。　During　World　War　II；　a　major　battle　between　the　Russians　and　the　Japanese　had　occurred　nearby　to　the　north。　Toward　the　end　of　the　war；　the　Olon—bulag　had　been　the　primary　military　artery　for　the　　Russo…Mongolian　army　into　Manchuria。　Even　now　there　were　deep　ruts　left　by　tanks；　as　well　as　the　hulks　of　Russian　and　Japanese　tanks　and　armored　vehicles。
　　Nearly　all　the　old　herders　owned　Russian　or　Japanese　bayonets；　can—teens；　spades；　helmets；　binoculars；　and　other　military　equipment。　The　long　chain　Gasmai　used　to　tether　calves　came　from　a　Russian　army　truck。　But　of　all　the　military　equipment　left　behind　by　the　Russians　and　the　Japanese；　binoculars　were　the　herders’　favorite　and　had　bee　an　important　tool　for　production。
　　The　herdsmen；　who　treasured　things　they　could　not　produce　them—selves；　usually　took　the　binoculars　apart　to　make　a　pair　of　“telescopes；”　for　the　reduced　size　made　them　easy　to　carry　and　doubled　their　usage。　“These　have　helped　us　in　hunting；”　Bilgee　said；　“and　have　made　it　easier　to　find　lost　horses。　But　the　wolves’　eyesight　seems　to　have　improved；　and　if　you　observe　a　wolf　through　one　of　these　things；　sometimes　you’ll　see　that　the　he’s　looking　right　back　at　you。”
　　One　day　after　Chen　had　been　living　in　the　old　man’s　yurt　for　six　months；　Bilgee　took　a　telescope　out　of　the　wagon　box　and　handed　it　to　him。
　　The　Russian　telescope　was　old　and　the　copper　nonskid　surface　had　been　worn　smooth　in　places；　but　the　powerful　lens　was　of　the　highest　quality。　Chen　treasured　the　gift；　which　he　wrapped　in　red　silk；　using　it　only　when　he　was　helping　cowherds　run　down　strays　or　horse　herders　find　lost　horses；　or　when　he　went　hunting　with　Bilgee。
　　Chen　surveyed　the　area　through　his　telescope；　his　latent　hunting　instincts　were　awakened　as　he　looked　through　his　“hunter’s　eye。”　These　hunting　instincts　had　awakened　too　late　in　his　life；　he　felt；　and　he　was　saddened　to　have　been　born　into　a　line　of　farmers。　Farmers　had　bee　as　timid　as　sheep　after　dozens；　even　hundreds；　of　generations　of　being　raised　on　grains　and　greens；　the　products　of　farming　munities；　they　had　lost　the　virility　of　their　nomadic　ancestors；　going　back　to　the　legendary　Yellow　Emperor。　No　longer　hunters；　they　had　bee　the　hunted。
　　The　wolf　pack　still　showed　no　signs　of　attacking；　and　Chen　was　beginning　to　lose　patience　over　their　extraordinary　ability　to　hold　back。
　　“Are　they　going　to　plete　the　encirclement　today？”　he　asked。　“Are　they　waiting　until　it　gets　dark　to　attack？”
　　“War　demands　patience；”　the　old　man　replied　softly。　“Opportuni—ties　present　themselves　only　to　the　patient；　man　and　beast；　and　only　they　take　advantage　of　those　opportunities。　How　do　you　think　Gen—ghis　Khan　was　able　to　defeat　the　great　armies　of　the　Jin　with　so　few　mounted　warriors？　And　all　the　nations　that　fell　to　him？　Displaying　only　the　power　of　wolves　isn’t　enough。　You　must　also　display　patience。　Even　the　largest　and　mightiest　armies　can　stumble。　If　a　mighty　horse　stum—bles；　it　is　at　the　mercy　of　even　a　small　wolf。　Without　patience；　you　are　not　a　wolf；　you　are　not　a　hunter；　and　you　are　not　Genghis　Khan。　You　are　always　saying　you　want　to　get　an　understanding　of　wolves　and　of　Genghis　Khan。　Well；　then；　lie　there　and　be　patient。”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（8）
There　was　an　angry　edge　to　the　old　man’s　ment。　So　Chen　tried　to　cultivate　a　bit　of　patience。　He　trained　his　telescope　on　a　wolf　he’d　observed　several　times　already。　It　lay　there　as　if　dead。　After　a　few　moments；　the　old　man　softened　his　tone　and　said；　“After　lying　here　all　this　time；　have　you　figured　out　what　the　wolves　are　waiting　for？”
　　Chen　shook　his　head。
　　“They’re　waiting　for　the　gazelles　to　eat　their　fill　and　doze　off；”　Bilgee　said。
　　“Are　they　really　that　smart？”　Chen　asked　in　amazement。
　　“You　Chinese　don’t　know　a　thing　about　wolves。　People　aren’t　as　clever　as　they　are。　Here；　I’ll　test　you。　Do　you　think　a　single　wolf；　even　a　large　one；　can　bring　down　a　gazelle？”
　　Chen　thought　a　moment　before　answering：　“No；　you’d　need　three；　two　to　chase　it　and　the　third　lying　in　ambush。　No　wolf　could　do　it　alone。”
　　The　old　man　shook　his　head。　“Would　you　believe　that　one　ferocious　wolf　can　bring　down　a　gazelle　all　by　itself？”
　　“Really？”　Chen　said；　finding　it　hard　to　believe。　“I　can’t　imagine　how。”
　　“Wolves　have　developed　a　special　skill。　In　the　daylight；　a　wolf　will　concentrate　on　a　single　gazelle　but　do　nothing　until　nightfall；　when　the　gazelle　will　look　for　a　place　with　tall　grass　out　of　the　wind　to　lie　down　and　sleep。　That　still　isn’t　the　time　to　strike；　because　even　though　the　gazelle　is　asleep；　its　nose　and　ears　remain　alert。　At　the　first　sign　of　danger；　it　will　leap　up　and　run　off；　and　the　wolf　won’t　be　able　to　catch　it。　So　the　wolf　waits；　all　through　the　night；　lying　nearby。　At　sunrise　the　gazelle　gets　up　with　a　full　bladder；　and　now　the　wolf　is　ready　to　pounce。　A　gazelle　can’t　urinate　while　it’s　running；　so　before　it’s　gone　far；　its　blad—der　bursts；　its　rear　legs　cramp　up；　and　it　stops。　You　see；　a　gazelle　can　run　like　the　wind；　but　not　all　the　time；　and　wise　old　wolves　know　that’s　when　they　can　bring　one　down　alone。　Only　the　cleverest　gazelles　are　wise　enough　to　forsake　the　warmth　of　sleep　to　get　up　to　relieve　them—selves　at　night。　They　never　have　to　worry　about　a　wolf　running　them　down。　Olonbulag　hunters　get　up　early　in　the　morning　to　claim　gazelles　taken　down　by　wolves；　and　when　they　open　up　their　bellies；　there’s　urine　everywhere。”
　　Chen　Zhen　laughed　softly。　“I　couldn’t　have　e　up　with　that　strat—egy　under　the　threat　of　death。　That’s　remarkable。　But　Mongol　hunters　are　crafty　too！”
　　The　old　man　laughed。　“We’re　the　wolves’　apprentices；　so　we　have　to　be。”
　　Finally；　most　of　the　gazelles　looked　up。　Their　“drums”　were　tauter　than　ever；　more　than　a　night　with　a　full　bladder。　Some　were　so　full　their　legs　were　splayed　in　four　directions。　The　old　man　looked　through　his　telescope　and　said；　“They’re　so　full　they　can’t　run。　Watch　closely。　It’s　time　for　the　wolves　to　strike。”
　　Chen　tensed。　The　pack　was　slowly　tightening　the　semicircle；　there　were　now　wolves　to　the　east；　north；　and　west　of　the　gazelles。　A　line　of　mountains　lay　to　the　south。　Chen　assumed　that　wolves　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　were　waiting　for　the　main　body　to　drive　the　gazelles　toward　where　they　lay　in　wait；　and　the　slaughter　would　begin。　Herds—men　had　said　that　wolves　often　employ　this　tactic。　“Papa；”　he　said；　“how　many　wolves　are　there　behind　the　mountains？　Enough　to　close　the　circle　on　all　these　gazelles？”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（9）
“There　are　no　wolves　behind　the　mountain；”　the　old　man　replied　with　a　sly　smile。　“The　alpha　male　wouldn’t　send　any　over　there。”
　　“Then　how　will　they　close　the　circle？”　Chen　asked　doubtfully。
　　“At　this　time；　in　this　place；　they　can　get　more　with　a　　three…　sided　encirclement　than　a　full　circle。”
　　“Then　I　don’t　understand　what　they’re　doing。”
　　“One　of　the　biggest　and　best…known　snowbanks　on　the　Olonbulag　is　on　the　other　side　of　that　mountain。　The　grazing　land　here　is　a　windward　slope；　and　during　a　blizzard　the　snow　is　blown　to　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　turning　it　into　a　basin　wi