第12部分(第1/7 頁)

imbed　aboard　the　carts　and　headed　back　to　camp。

Chen　Zhen　felt　the　sweat　on　his　body　chilling。　He　could　not　stop　shivering。　Everywhere—on　the　lake　and　off；　on　the　ridges　and　the　paths　through　the　snow—the　humans　had　left　their　imprint：　bonfire　ashes；　cigarette　butts；　and　liquor　bottles；　plus　tire　ruts　all　the　way　back　to　camp。　Chen　kneed　his　horse　to　ride　up　to　Bilgee。　“Papa；　this　time　the　wolves　lost。　Will　they　seek　revenge？　You’re　always　saying　they　have　long　memories。　They　remember　their　food　and　their　fights—how　about　their　enemies？”

“We　dug　out　a　lot　of　gazelles；　but　left　more　than　half　the　number　for　the　wolves。　Next　spring　the　wolves　will　feast　on　frozen　gazelle　and　won’t　stick　around　to　trouble　us。　Besides；　they　did　us　a　favor；　so　we　should　leave　them　something。　Don’t　worry；　the　wolf　leader　knows　what　to　do。”

A　blizzard　swept　the　area　that　night；　and　the　students’　yurt　sweltered。　Chen　Zhen　put　away　his　copy　of　The　Secret　History　of　the　Mongols　and　said　to　Yang　Ke；　“The　man　Bilgee　mentioned；　the　one　who　picked　over　the　food　left　by　the　wolves　was　Budoncher；　Genghis　Khan’s　great— great…　grandfather’s　great… great…　grandfather。　Genghis　Khan’s　family　was　part　of　the　Borjigin　tribe；　whose　historical　founder　was　Budoncher。　Subsequent　generations　would　witness　monumental　changes。”

“That　must　mean　that　if　there’d　been　no　wolves；　those　great　war　counselors　and　leaders；　there’d　have　been　no　Genghis　Khan；　no　golden　tribe；　and　of　course　no　wise　and　brave　Mongol　fighting　horsemen；”　Yang　said。　“Wolves　have　certainly　played　a　prominent　role　in　the　his—tory　of　the　Mongol　people。”

“Why　stop　there？　They’ve　played　a　prominent　role　in　the　lives　of　the　Chinese；　in　the　lives　of　all　the　world’s　people。　The　arrival　of　Genghis　Khan　and　his　Mongol