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第11部分（第1页）

content　to　be　his　friend’s　muscle。　All　in　all；　Yang　hooked　three　gazelles　and　got　so　addicted　to　what　he　was　doing　that　he　didn’t　want　to　head　back　to　shore。　With　a　wicked　smile；　he　said；　“Let’s　drag　some　more　out　and　take　them　back　all　at　once。　More　efficient　that　way。”　Without　a　second　thought；　he　laid　the　frozen　carcasses　flat　on　top　of　the　hardened　snow。

Back　on　the　shore；　Bilgee　had　finished　a　pipeful　of　tobacco　and　was　telling　people　to　clear　a　wide　space；　where　women　from　each　family　piled　up　broken　boards；　wooden　axles；　and　the　like　as　kindling。　Then　old　felt　was　spread　around　and　piled　high　with　insulated　bottles　of　milk　tea　and　liquor；　wooden　utensils；　and　salt　cellars。　Sanjai　and　one　of　the　boys　slaughtered　a　pair　of　half…dead　gazelles；　both　with　broken　legs。　People　on　the　Olonbulag　only　eat　meat　from　freshly　slaughtered　ani—mals；　so　these　would　serve　as　the　hunters’　noonday　meal。　The　dogs；　who　had　stuffed　themselves　with　kills　left　behind　by　the　wolves；　gazed　on　the　two　skinned；　gutted；　steaming　gazelles　with　indifference。　Bilgee　and　the　women　and　children　speared　chunks　of　fresh；　still…　twitching　meat　onto　metal　and　wooden　skewers；　added　salt；　and　held　them　over　the　blazing　bonfire。　Then　they　sat　back　to　eat　the　meat　and　drink　tea；　its　seductive　fragrance；　along　with　that　of　the　liquor　and　the　meat；　spread　across　the　lake　and　drew　the　hunters　back　to　eat　and　rest。

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狼图腾（英文版）　4（4）

By　midday；　all　the　rafts　had　made　two　or　three　trips　to　shore　to　unload　their　quarry；　and　each　family’s　cart　was　piled　high　with　six　or　seven　frozen　gazelles。　It　was　time　for　the　men　to　turn　the　work　over　to　the　　well…fed　women　and　children；　who　climbed　aboard　the　felt　rafts　and　went　out　onto　the　snow　lake　to　bring　up　more　animals。

Freshly　roasted　gazelle　is　a　delicacy　of　the　Mongolian　grassland；　especially　after　a　hunt；　when　the　meat　is　roasted　and　eaten　on　the　spot。　Historically；　it　was　a　favorite　of　the　khans　and　royalty；　and　an　essential　ponent　of　gatherings　of　ordinary　hunters。　As　newly　acknowledged　hunters；　Chen　Zhen　and　Yang　Ke　were　invited　to　participate　in　the　feast。　The　thrill　of　the　hunt；　along　with　sheer　exhaustion；　had　given　Chen　such　an　appetite　that　he　felt　he　appreciated　the　event　more　than　any　Mongol　khan　ever　could；　it　was　an　outdoor　feast　for　humans　fol—lowing　an　outdoor　feast　by　a　pack　of　wild　wolves。　Chen　and　Yang；　who　at　that　moment　felt　as　free　and　powerful　as　any　Mongol；　impulsively　grabbed　flasks　from　the　hands　of　fellow　hunters　who　were　drinking　and　eating　and　singing　with　fervor　and　passion；　and　gulped　down　great　mouthfuls　of　liquor。

With　a　burst　of　laughter；　Bilgee　said；　“I’d　be　afraid　to　go　see　your　parents　in　Beijing　a　year　from　now；　since　by　then　I’ll　have　turned　you　into　Mongol　savages。”

“We　Han　could　use　a　heavy　dose　of　Mongol　spirit；”　Yang　Ke　said；　the　smell　of　liquor　strong　on　his　breath。

At　the　top　of　his　lungs；　Chen　Zhen　shouted　“Papa”　three　times；　raised　the　flask　in　his　hand　above　his　head；　and　toasted　the　“Venerable　Tribal　Leader。”　The　old　man　took　three　drinks　from　his　fl　ask　and　responded；　“Minihu；　minihu；　minisaihu”　（My　child；　my　child；　my　good　child）。

Batu；　giddily　drunk；　slapped　Chen　on　the　back　and　said；　“You　。　。　。　you　are　only　half　a　Mongol；　wh　。　。　。　when　you；　you　marry　a　Mongol　girl　。　。　。　a　woman；　father　a　。　。　。　a　Mongol　brat；　then　you’ll　be　a　true　Mongol。　You；　you’re　on　the　weak　side；　no　good；　not　good；　not　good　enough。　Mongol　women　under　。　。　。　under　the　bedcovers；　make　you　work；　worse　than　wolf　。　。　。　wolves。　Mongol　men；　most　of　us；　are　scared　of　them；　like　sheep。”

“At　night；”　Sanjai　piped　in；　“men　are　sheep；　women　are　wolves。　Espe—cially　Gasmai。”

The　hunters　all　roared　with　laughter。

Lamjav　was　in　such　high　spirits　that　he　flipped　Yang　Ke　heavily　onto　a　snowdrift。　“When　。　。　。　when　you　can　do　that　to　me；”　he　stammered；　“that’s　when　you　。　。　。　the　day　you’re　a　Mongol。”　Yang　grabbed　hold　of　Lamjav　and　tried　to　wrestle　him　to　the　ground；　only　to　be　flipped　head　over　heels　three　more　times。　Lamjav　laughed。　“You　。　。　。　you　Han　Chinese　are　　grass…eaters；　like　sheep。　We　Mongols　are　　meat…eaters；　like　wolves。”

As　he　brushed　the　snow　from　his　clothes；　Yang　said；　“Just　you　wait。　Next　year　I’m　going　to　buy　a　　full…　grown　ox　and　eat　every　bite　of　it　myself。　I　plan　to　keep　growing　till　I’m　a　head　taller　than　you；　and　then　you’ll　be　like　a　sheep。”

狼图腾（英文版）　4（5）

“Yes！”　the　other　hunters　shouted　approvingly。　“Good　eback！”

Grassland　Mongols　are　known　more　for　their　capacity　for　liquor　than　for　their　appetite　for　meat。　After　a　few　rounds；　all　seven　or　eight　flasks　were　empty。　Seeing　that　there　was　no　more　liquor；　Yang　boldly　proclaimed　to　Lamjav；　“You　can　outwrestle　me；　but　let’s　see　who　can　outdrink　who。”

“Playing　the　fox；　are　you？”　Lamjav　retorted。　“Well；　out　here；　wolves　are　cleverer　than　foxes。　Wait　here。　I’ve　got　more　liquor。”　He　ran　over　to　where　his　horse　was　standing　and　took　a　bottle　of　clear　liquor　out　of　his　felt　saddlebag；　that　and　two　cups。　Waving　the　bottle　in　front　of　Yang；　he　said；　“I　was　saving　this　for　。　。　。　for　guests；　but　now　I’m　going　to　use　it　to　punish　you。”

“Punish！”　the　hunters　shouted。　“Punish　him！　Give　him　what　he　deserves！”

With　an　embarrassed　smile；　Yang　Ke　said；　“It　looks　like　this　fox　is　no　match　for　a　wolf。　I’ll　take　my　punishment。”

“Listen　。　。　。　listen　closely；”　Lamjav　said。　“To　follow　our　custom；　you　。　。　。　you　must　drink　as　many　cups　as　I　say。　I　misspoke　myself　once　and　was　outdrunk　by　a　journalist　who　knew　both　Mongol　and　Han　customs。　This　time　I’m　going　to　make　sure　you　taste　defeat。”　He　poured　a　cup　and；　in　halfway　decent　Chinese；　intoned；　“Meadowlarks　fl　y　in　pairs；　two　cups　from　a　single　wing。”

Yang　Ke　blanched。　“Four　wings　times　two　cups；　ah！　That’s　eight　cups！　How　about　one　cup　from　each　wing？”

“If　you　don’t　play　by　the　rules；”　Lamjav　replied；　“I’ll　make　it　three；　I　mean　。　。　。　three　cups　from　a　single　wing。”

The　crowd　of　hunters；　Chen　Zhen　included；　shouted　in　unison；　“Drink！　You　must　drink！”

Seeing　no　way　out；　Yang　belted　down　eight　cups；　one　after　the　other。　The　old　man　laughed。　“Trying　to　trick　a　friend　out　here　gets　you　into　trouble　every　time；”　he　said。

Chen　and　Yang　took　skewers　of　cooked　meat　from　the　old　man　and；　with　bloody　grease　dripping　down　their　chins；　ate　with　gusto。

“Papa；”　Chen　said；　“this　is　the　first　time　I’ve　eaten　wolf　food；　and　it’s　the　best　thing　I’ve　eaten　in　my　life；　the　best　meat　I’ve　ever　tasted。　Now　I　know　why　so　many　emperors　and　their　sons　were　avid　hunters。　Taizong　of　the　Tang；　China’s　greatest　emperor；　loved　to　hunt。　His　son；　his　heir；　used　to　e　to　the　grassland　with　his　Turkish　bodyguards　to　ride　and　hunt。　He　even　set　up　a　　grassland…style　tent　in　the　palace　courtyard；　where；　like　you；　he　slaughtered　sheep　and　ate；　slicing　the　meat　off　the　bones　with　his　own　knife。　For　him；　life　on　the　grassland　was　better　than　being　emperor。　All　he　wanted　was　to　hunt　with　his　Turkish　bodyguards　under　his　own　Turkish　wolf　flag；　to　live　like　a　Turk　on　the　grassland。

Eventually；　he　lost　his　claim　to　the　throne　and　his　father　picked　his　brother　as　heir。　Life　out　here　can　even　win　over　an　emperor。”

The　old　man　listened　　wide…eyed。　“You　never　told　me　that；”　he　said。　“It’s　a　good　story。　It　would　be　wonderful　if　all　you　Han　could　appreci—ate　the　grassland　like　that　prince　did；　but　it　would　have　been　better　if　he　hadn’t　lost　the　throne。　The　Qing　emperors　often　came　out　here　to　hunt　and　to　find　Mongol　girls　to　marry。　And　they　didn’t　allow　their　Han　subjects　to　open　the　grassland　to　raising　crops。　Back　then；　there　was　no　fighting　between　the　Mongols　and　the　Chinese；　we　were　at　peace。”

狼图腾（英文版）　4（6）

Bilgee　loved　listening　to　Chen’s　historical　tales；　and　repaid　the　debt　with　tales　of　Mongolia。　“Anyone　who　doesn’t　eat　wolves’　food　is　not　a　true　grassland　Mongol。　There　would　probably　be　no　Mongols　without　it。　In　days　past；　when　Mongols　were　driven　to　the　brink　of　destruction；　they　survived　by　eating　wolves’　food。　One　of　Genghis　Khan’s　ancestors；　who　was　driven　deep　into　the　mountains；　was　on　the　verge　of　starva—tion；　like　a　mon　savage。　He　was　reduced　to　following　the　path　of　wolves；　whenever　they　had　a　kill；　he　would　wait　until　they’d　eaten　their　fill　and　moved　on；　then　he’d　eat　what　they　left。　He　lived　like　that；　alone　in　the　mountains；　for　years；　until　his　brother　found　him　and　took　him　home。　Wolves　are　the　Mongols’　benefactors；　sometimes　their　saviors。　Without　them　there　would　have　been　no　Genghis　Khan；　and　no　Mon—gols。　Wolf　food　is　delicious。　See　what　the　wolves　have　given　us　for　our　New　Year’s　celebration　。　。　。　though　it　doesn’t　e　that　easily　most　of　the　time。　That’s　something　you’ll　learn　someday。”

The　two　gazelles　were　picked　clean　and　the　bonfire　began　to　sputter。　Bilgee　had　the　people　smother　the　fire　with　snow。

The　cloud　cover　thickened；　and　blowing　snow　began　to　reach　them　from　the　mountaintops；　creating　a　gauzy　veil。　The　brawniest　hunt—ers　boarded　their　snow　rafts　again　and　headed　out　to　the　snow　lake。　It　was　essential　to　fill　the　carts　before　the　blowing　snow　filled　in　the　depressions。　Each　gazelle　hooked　and　brought　up　meant　six　or　seven　bricks　of　Sichuan　tea　or　a　dozen　or　so　cartons　of　Haihe　cigarettes　from　Tianjin；　or　fifteen　or　sixteen　bottles　of　Mongolian　clear　liquor。　Under　Bilgee’s　mand；　all　the　rafts　were　maneuvered　by　the　hunters　from　the　　deepest　section　of　the　lake　to　shallower　spots；　where　it　was　easier　to　hook　the　frozen　gazelles。　The　old　man　also　divided　the　people　into　teams；　the　most　adept　users　of　the　poles　concentrating　on　hooking　ani—mals；　and　those　better　at　manipulating　the　rafts　focusing　on　transport—ing　the　animals　back。　As　the　rafts　neared　the　shore；　ropes　were　put　to　use；　with　several　men　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　lake　flinging　them　like　mooring　lines　to　the　　carcass…laden　rafts；　where　hunters　tied　one　end　to　the　raft　and　flung　the　other　end　back　so　that　the　men　there　could　pull　them　back　to　shore。　The　process　was　repeated　over　and　over。

By　the　time　all　human　shadows　on　the　snow　lake　had　been　swal—lowed　up　by　mountain　shadows；　the　carts　were　piled　high；　but　there　were　a　few　men　who　wanted　to　hunt　into　the　night　by　lamplight；　piling　the　surplus　gazelles　on　the　lakeshore；　with　armed　guards；　to　be　picked　up　the　following　morning。　Bilgee　stopped　them。　“Tengger　has　given　us　a　good　day；”　he　chastised　them。　“Tengger　is　fair。　Since　wolves　have　eaten　our　sheep　and　horses；　these　are　the　reparations。　Now　Tengger　has　started　the　winds　blowing；　telling　us　to　leave　the　remaining　gazelles　for　the　wolves。　Which　of　you　is　willing　to　disobey　Tengger？　Which　of　you　is　willing　to　stay　behind　in　this　snowdrift？　If　the　wolves　came　out　with　a　blizzard　tonight；　I　wonder　who　among　you　would　still　be　around　tomorrow　morning。”

狼图腾（英文版）　4（7）

His　ments　were　met　with　silence。　He　gave　the　mand　to　head　back。　The　exhausted　but　happy　people　pushed　the　heavy；　overloaded　carts　to　help　the　drivers　navigate　the　hills　and　ridges；　then　mounted　their　horses　or　climbed　aboard　the　carts　and　headed　back　to　camp。

Chen　Zhen　felt　the　sweat　on　his　body　chilling。

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