第5部分(第2/7 頁)

one　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