第5部分(第1/7 頁)

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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狼圖騰（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：　“Every