om the hollow stalks and the cracks in the snow。 The smell of grass drew starving gazelles across the border from the blizzard…ravaged neighbor to the north； to them the spot was a wintry oasis—they ate until their rounded bellies looked like drums； making running all but impossible。
Only the alpha male and Bilgee knew that the gazelles had made a tragic mistake。
It was not a particularly large herd。 During his first year on the grassland； Chen had often seen herds of ten thousand or more。 A cadre at brigade headquarters had said that during the three difficult years in the 1960s； soldiers from northern military regions had e in vehicles and mowed down vast numbers of gazelles with machine guns to sup—ply food to their troops； as a result； they drove the surviving gazelles out of the area。 But in recent years； given the tense military situation in the border regions； large… scale hunts had ceased； and the Olonbulag had witnessed the return of gazelles in spectacular numbers。 Chen fre—quently encountered large herds when he tended his flock； a vast sea of yellow close to the ground； passing by his sheep； relaxed and carefree； but causing his animals to huddle together in fear； watching bug…eyed with a mixture of alarm and envy as their wild cousins raced past； free as the wind。
Mongolian gazelles ignore unarmed humans。 On one occasion； Chen Zhen had ridden down the middle of a dense herd with the idea of roping one to get a taste of gazelle meat。 He failed。 The fastest four—legged animal on the grassland； the gazelle can outrun hunting dogs； even wolves。 Chen whipped his horse and charged the herd； but they kept passing on both sides； no more than ten or twelve yards away； then flowed back together ahead of him and continued on their way。 He co