第1部分(第1/7 页)

狼图腾（英文版）　1（1）

As　Chen　Zhen　looked　through　the　telescope　from　his　hiding　place　in　the　snow　cave；　he　saw　the　steely　gaze　of　a　Mongolian　grassland　wolf。　The　fine　hairs　on　his　body　rose　up　like　porcupine　quills；　virtually　pulling　his　shirt　away　from　his　skin。　Old　Man　Bilgee　was　there　beside　him。　This　time　Chen　did　not　feel　as　if　his　soul　had　been　driven　out　of　his　body；　but　sweat　oozed　from　his　pores。　He　had　been　on　the　grassland　two　years　but　still　had　not　lost　his　fear　of　Mongolian　wolves；　especially　in　packs。　Now　he　was　face　to　face　with　a　large　pack　deep　in　the　mountains；　far　from　camp；　his　misty　breath　quivering　in　the　air。　Neither　he　nor　Bilgee　was　armed—no　rifles；　no　knives；　no　lasso　poles；　not　even　something　as　simple　as　a　pair　of　metal　stirrups。　All　they　had　were　two　herding　clubs；　and　if　the　wolves　picked　up　their　scent；　their　sky　burial　would　e　early。

Chen　exhaled　nervously　as　he　turned　to　look　at　the　old　man；　who　was　watching　the　wolf　encirclement　through　the　other　telescope。　“You’re　going　to　need　more　courage　than　that；”　Bilgee　said　softly。　“You’re　like　a　sheep。　A　fear　of　wolves　is　in　your　Chinese　bones。　That’s　the　only　expla—nation　for　why　you　people　have　never　won　a　fight　out　here。”　Getting　no　response；　he　leaned　over　and　whispered；　“Get　a　grip　on　yourself。　If　they　spot　any　movement　from　us；　we’ll　be　in　real　trouble。”　Chen　nodded　and　scooped　up　a　handful　of　snow；　which　he　squeezed　into　a　ball　of　ice。

The　herd　of　Mongolian　gazelles　was　grazing　on　a　nearby　slope；　unaware　of　the　wolf　pack；　which　was　tightening　the　noose；　drawing　closer　to　the　men’s　snow　cave。　Not　daring　to　move；　Chen　felt　frozen　in　place；　like　an　ice　sculpture。　This　was　Chen’s　second　encounter　with　a　wolf　pack　since　ing　to　the　grassland。　A　palpitating　fear　from　his　first