r with candy from the Northeast； but he had directed them to an empty moun—tain valley。 Finally； these men； mostly Mongol outsiders from Manchu—rian farms； had found the grassland Mongols’ weakness—liquor。 They had gotten the shepherd Sanjai drunk and learned the location of the gazelles。 Moving quickly； they had beat the wolf pack and Gao Jian—zhong by arriving just as the gazelles were breaking through the surface of the snow。 They had pitched a camp nearby and； within a single day； retrieved every last animal； big and small； good and bad。 They had then loaded them onto carts and transported them overnight to the purchas—ing station at the Bayan Gobi mune。
Over the next several nights； the horse herders heard the plaintive； angry howls of hungry wolves echo up and down the valley。 They grew tense； keeping close watch over their horses； never letting them stray from their sight。 The lovers they’d left behind in yurts； knowing that there would be a high price to pay for the wolves’ hunger； beat their live—stock out of anger and sang sad songs； bitter melodies of frustration。
Soon after； a formal notice arrived from headquarters reinstating the once annual tradition of stealing wolf cubs。 The rewards were to be higher than in previous years； thanks to the personal intervention of Bao Shungui； the military representative。 Word had it that the wolf—cub pelts would bring in a better price than ever。 Those pelts； soft and shiny； rare and expensive； were used for women’s leather jackets； and were cherished items of the wives of northern officials； they also pro—vided hard currency for lower…ranking officials willing to do business out the back door。
Bilgee was silent； smoking one pipeful after another。 Chen overheard him mutter； “The wolves will soon have their revenge。”
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