Wolf Totem: A Novel (64 page)

Should he secretly set the cub free, returning him to the cruel but open grassland and giving him back the life of a wolf? He didn’t dare. The cub had lost the weapon he needed to survive on the grassland when Chen snipped off the tips of his fangs. They were no longer sharp like awls, but round and blunt, worse than dogs’ teeth.

What pained Chen most was the crack the pincer had caused in one of the teeth. He’d been careful not to damage the roots, but the crack, though tiny, went all the way down. A short while later, he realized that the tooth was infected; it had turned black, like the diseased tooth of an old wolf. Whenever he saw that black tooth, his heart ached. It might fall out within a year. Teeth are the source of life for grassland wolves. If the cub only had three blunt teeth left, he couldn’t even tear at meat, let alone hunt and kill.

As time went on, Chen’s despair deepened when he saw the consequences of his reckless decision. He could never return the cub to the grassland, nor could he ever travel deep into the grassland to visit his wolf friend. He regretted not freeing the cub weeks earlier, when the mother wolf had come for it. Scientific research was not for him, for he had neither the temperament nor the qualifications to conduct it. The cub was not a lab rat raised for medical dissection, but his friend and teacher.

The grassland inhabitants were waiting anxiously for the arrival of the Inner Mongolian Production and Construction Corps. The letter signed by Bilgee, Uljii, and other elders had achieved its purpose; the corps decided that the Olonbulag would be used for herding, but that the Olonbaolige Pasture would be converted to a herding regiment, with a portion of the land given over to farming. The remaining pastures and all the other communes would be turned over to agricultural production. The Majuzi River area, where the famous Ujimchin warhorses were raised, would be a large-scale farmland, leaving a small area for both farming and herding.

The corps’ grand design had already incorporated the ancient Olonbulag. The main idea was to quickly end the primitive nomadic herding style of production that had dominated the area for thousands of years, and create settlements. The corps would supply money and equipment, along with engineering teams, to build brick houses with tiled roofs and sturdy animal pens made of cement and stone; it would also dig wells, pave highways, and build schools, hospitals, post offices, auditoriums, shops, and movie theaters. The teams would also reclaim the fertile land to plant grass and grain for animal feed, and vegetable crops. They would set up mechanized harvesting and transport teams, and tractor stations. They would eradicate the damage caused by wolves, disease, insects, and rodents. They would strengthen the grassland’s ability to fight commonly occurring natural disasters. They wanted to ensure that herders, who had lived for thousands of years under the most inhospitable and difficult conditions, could gradually settle down and lead stable, happy lives.

The students and young herders, as well as most of the women and children, looked forward to the arrival of the corps, anticipating the beautiful future described by Bao Shungui and the corps cadres. Most of the older and middle-aged herdsmen, on the other hand, were quiet. Chen Zhen went to talk to the old man. Bilgee sighed and said, “We’ve always wanted a school for our children, and hoped we no longer had to take our sick to the banner hospital by oxcart or horse-drawn wagon. We don’t have a hospital, and many people have died who needn’t have. But what will happen to the grassland? It’s already too fragile to support the heavy load of livestock. It’s like an oxcart that can carry only a limited number of people and animals. More people and their machines will tip the cart over, and when that happens, you Han Chinese will just go home. But what about us?”

What worried Chen the most was the future of the wolves. Once the farmers came, the swans, ducks, and wild geese would either be eaten or fly away. But wolves aren’t birds. Would they, after generations on the grassland, be exterminated or chased out of China, their home?

After downing two bowls of cool tea, Yang said to Chen, “Who’d have thought that the corps would be here so soon? I hated the military life during peacetime, and I barely managed to avoid being sent to the Heilongjiang Production and Construction Corps. Who’d have thought I’d one day be under the control of its Inner Mongolian counterpart? I don’t know what’s going to happen to the Olonbulag, but we have to figure out something for the wolves, and soon.”

As they talked, a fast horse sped toward them along the oxcart path, trailing a long cloud of yellow dust. One look told them that Zhang Jiyuan was back to get some rest.

They sat down to eat some steamed and boiled millet, mutton stewed with mushrooms, and pickled wild leek flowers.

"You have a fast horse, and you’re up to speed on news,” Yang said to Zhang, “so tell us about the corps.”

“Well, the brigade office is now the corps office, with the arrival of the first group of cadres, half Mongols, the other half Han. Their first task may be to exterminate the wolves. They were outraged when they learned how many young horses they killed. They said the first thing the army traditionally did when they arrived on the grassland was to wipe out the bandits. This time they’ll kill the wolves first. They’ve sent their best men. They say they’re doing it for our good, but it’s put the old Mongols in a tight spot. Trying to explain the benefits of wolves to farm boys in uniform would be like playing music to an ox. The wolves’ coats are full now, so their pelts will fetch a good price. The corps cadres aren’t well paid; even the staff officers and clerks get only about sixty or seventy yuan a month. A wolf pelt can bring in twenty yuan, plus an award. That’s why they’re so eager to get started.”

Yang Ke sighed. “Mongolian wolves,” he said, “the end is near for you. The situation has changed; the age of heroes is over. Hurry up and flee to Outer Mongolia.”

31

Early one morning, two open-topped military vehicles stopped by Chen Zhen’s yurt. Seeing the giant objects and smelling gasoline for the first time, the cub shot into his hole. The dogs, on the other hand, surrounded the vehicles, barking madly. Chen and Yang ran out to stop the dogs and chase them away.

The doors opened to reveal Bao Shungui and four soldiers, who headed straight for the cub’s hole. Not knowing what was happening, Chen, Yang, and Gao rushed over to them. Chen tried to remain calm. “Director Bao, you’ve brought someone to see the cub.”

Bao smiled. “Let me make the introductions.” He pointed to two officers in their thirties. “These men are with the corps advance party, Staff Officer Xu and Staff Officer Batel.” Then he pointed to the two drivers, “This is Old Liu and this is Little Wang. They’re going to put down roots out here and bring their families over when the houses are finished on the corps office site. They’ve been sent to help us kill the wolves.”

Chen shook hands, his heart beating wildly. He invited them inside for tea.

“No need,” said Bao. “We’ll see the cub first. Bring it out; these staff officers made a special trip to see it.”

Chen forced a smile. “So you’re interested in wolves, are you?”

In a thick Shaanxi accent, Xu said cordially, “Wolves are bloodthirsty killers, so the division and corps leaders have sent us out to exterminate them. We’ve never seen grassland wolves, which is why Old Bao brought us here.”

Batel, who spoke with a Shandong accent, added, “Old Bao says you and the others know a lot about wolves, that you’re good at killing them and taking their cubs, one of which you’re raising so you can study the wolf’s nature. A smart, bold move. We’ll need your help when we go after them.”

The men were cordial and personable, and Chen felt better after learning that they hadn’t come to kill the cub. “Wolf... wolves are complex animals,” he stammered. “It would take days to tell you all about them. Let’s go see the cub. Stay back; don’t step inside the pen. He bites strangers. He almost bit a league cadre once.”

Chen took two pieces of meat out of a bag and picked up an old chopping board before walking quietly toward the cave opening. He laid the board down on the ground and shouted, “Little Wolf, Little Wolf, time to eat.” The cub flew out the cave and pounced on the meat. Chen quickly pushed the board over to block the entrance before jumping out of the pen. The cub was usually fed in the morning and afternoon. This was the first time he’d been fed so soon after noon, which made him very happy; he tore at the meat. Bao and the others backed away.

The observers crouched in a semicircle. With the arrival of these men and their unfamiliar scents, the cub behaved strangely. Instead of charging them threateningly, as he normally did, he tucked his tail between his legs and made himself small as he carried a piece of meat to the far end of the pen, where he laid it down and then went back to get the second piece. With his hackles standing up, he went ahead and ate, but he was unhappy about being surrounded by so many people. After a couple of bites, he changed his demeanor, wrinkling his nose and baring his fangs as he rushed the soldiers. His savage look and his speed caught them by surprise, and all five frightened men fell backward. Even with the chain, the cub came within three feet.

Staff Officer Batel sat up and dusted off his hands. “That’s some wild animal, a lot meaner than our wolfhounds. That chain saved us.”

“Not even a year old, and it’s already as big as a full-grown dog,” Xu said. “Thanks for bringing us here, Old Bao. Now I really feel like I’m on a battlefield.” He turned to Batel. “Wolves are faster and a lot sneakier than dogs. And their attacks are lightning quick.”

Batel nodded as the cub turned and leaped at the meat, gobbling it down while making hoarse, threatening growls.

The two men measured the cub’s size with their eyes and took a good look at his fur and skin. They concluded it would be best to aim at the head or the chest from the side. That would kill a wolf without damaging the pelt.

“These youngsters know their business,” Bao said, his face glowing, “All the herdsmen and most of the students were against raising this cub, but I told them to go ahead. If you know your enemy as well as you know yourself, you can’t lose. I’ve brought lots of people over to see the cub. The Chinese, who are afraid of wolves, are the most eager to see them. They all say it’s a better animal than the ones they see in the zoo. It’s a rare opportunity to see a live wolf at close range. This is the only one out here. When the corps leadership comes to inspect, I’ll make this their first stop.”

“I’m sure they’ll come when they hear about the famous Mongolian wolf cub.” Then Xu turned to Chen. “Make sure the chain and post are secure.”

Bao looked at his watch. “Now back to business. We’re here not only to see the cub but also to get one of you to come with us. These marksmen were sent to help us eliminate the wolf scourge. Staff Officer Xu shot a high-flying hawk yesterday. From the ground it looked like a pea. One shot was all it took. So which one of you will it be?”

Chen’s heart sank. The Olonbulag wolf’s mortal enemy had arrived. Following the rapid growth of the farming population, military vehicles and cavalry troops had finally pushed all the way to the border. “The horse herders know where to find the wolves,” he said glumly. “Get one of them to be your guide.”

“The old ones won’t come,” Bao said, “and the young ones are useless. All the experienced ones have gone into the mountains to tend the horses. Since these two officers have taken the trouble to come all this way, one of you has to go, just this one time.”

“Why not ask Dorji, the brigade’s most famous wolf killer?”

“The deputy commander already took him. Commander
Li
loves to hunt, especially from a moving vehicle.” He took another look at his watch. “Stop wasting time.”

Seeing they had no choice, Chen said to Yang, “Why don’t you go?”

“I don’t know the wolves as well you. It’s... it’s better that you go.”

“I’ll decide,” Bao said impatiently. “Chen, you come with us. But if you’re like Bilgee, always letting the wolves go, and we come back empty-handed, I’ll kill your cub. No more nonsense. Now let’s go.”

Chen’s face paled; he instinctively took a step to block the cub. "Okay, I’ll go. I’m ready.”

The two vehicles sped west, trailed by a pair of yellow dust dragons.

Chen had not ridden in a motor vehicle for more than two years. The rare opportunity to hunt this way would have made him feel privileged if he hadn’t become so fascinated by wolves, if he’d just arrived at the grassland, if he hadn’t been learning from the wolves. How exciting, how pleasurable to speed across the grassland like the wind in pursuit of wolves! It should have been more satisfying than fox hunting with British aristocrats, or hunting bears in a snowy forest with Russian tsars, or joining encirclement hunts with thousands of horses, like the Manchu imperial family.

But at the moment, Chen’s only wish was that the vehicle would break down. He felt like a traitor, leading an army to arrest friends. Bao knew how he felt toward wolves, and he wondered how he’d manage to protect his cub and spare the other wolves.

The corps’ wolf-extermination campaign had already begun throughout the grassland. This time, the wolves would be chased out of China and off the stage of history, condemned with a terrible reputation, while their invaluable influence and achievements would be obliterated. No one but Bilgee, the grassland devotees of the wolf totem, and his two friends back in the yurt would understand how sad he was. Chen’s sorrow was that he was simultaneously too advanced and too ancient.

On the Olonbulag, one encountered a different wind every five miles and another rain every ten. Now Chen was riding down on a wet, sandy road. The howling autumn wind helped clear his head. He concluded that they had to go to a place where they could find wolves, but one from which the wolves could easily escape.

He turned to Bao in the backseat. “I know where there are wolves, but the vehicle will be useless. It’s too hilly and too reedy.”