狼圖騰(英文版)

第6部分 (第6/7頁)

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。”

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狼圖騰（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　t