第7部分(第2/7 页)

never　they　could；　for　which　Gasmai　would　let　him　earn　the　appropriate　work　points。　Chen　and　one　of　the　other　herders；　Yang　Ke；　yoked　up　a　light　cart　and　headed　to　Bil…gee’s　yurt。

Yang；　a　classmate　who　lived　in　Chen　Zhen’s　yurt；　was　the　son　of　a　famous　professor　at　one　of　Beijing’s　most　prestigious　universities。　They　had　as　many　books　at　home　as　a　small　library。　In　high　school；　Chen　and　he　had　often　traded　books。　They’d　exchange　views　when　they　finished；　and　were　best　friends。　In　Beijing；　Yang　had　been　a　shy；　mild…mannered　boy　who　blushed　whenever　he　met　a　stranger。　No　one　could　have　pre—dicted　that　after　two　years　of　eating　lamb　and　beefsteaks　and　cheese；　after　baking　in　the　strong　rays　of　the　Mongolian　sun　season　after　sea—son；　he　would　be　transformed　into　a　brawny　son　of　the　grassland；　with　a　face　as　sunburned　as　the　native　herdsmen　and　none　of　the　bookish　manners　he’d　brought　with　him。

Yang　was　more　excited　than　Chen；　and　as　he　whipped　the　back　of　the　ox　he　said；　“I　didn’t　sleep　at　all　last　night。　The　next　time　Bilgee　takes　you　hunting；　be　sure　to　let　me　go　along；　even　if　I　have　to　lie　there　for　two　whole　days。　This　is　the　first　time　I’ve　heard　of　wolves　performing　good　deeds　for　people；　and　I　won’t　believe　it　until　I　personally　drag　one　of　the　gazelle　carcasses　out　of　the　snow。　Can　we　really　take　a　cartload　of　them　back　with　us？”

“Would　I　lie　to　you？”　Chen　smiled。　“Papa　said　that　no　matter　how　hard　it　is　to　dig　them　out；　we’re　guaranteed　a　cartful；　which　we　can　s　for　other　things；　like　New　Year’s　items　and　some　large　pieces　of　felt　for　our　yurt。”

Yang　was　so　pleased　he　whipped　the　back　of　the　ox　until　it　glared　angrily。　“It　looks　like　your　two…year　fascination　with　wolves　is　begin—ning　to　pay　off；”　he　said。　“I’ll　have　to　start　studying　th