The Wolf of the Gobi
Diocesan Girls’ Junior School, Kwan Yui Hei Adelaide, Fiction: Group 2
B
a…” It was a sleep bleat. I woke up and quickly fumbled into the farm in the freezing
night. I sniffed and smelt the iron scent of blood.
I knew exactly what had happened. The wolves had stolen my cattle again. I
trembled with anger and looked around but could not see them, so they must be gone
and there was nothing I could do then. I went back to bed but in my mind, I was already planning
my revenge.
I needed someone to help me. My sons are the trainers and hunters of the family, and they
could not possibly be taken away from their duties. My wife was close to giving birth and must
stay home. My daughter, Bolormaa, was a young girl and would not be of much help.
So I turned to my neighbour Ghooku, who was living about half a mile away from me. He
agreed on the condition that we had to invite him over to share the feast every time we had
a celebration in the next year. That’s fair enough. In the Gobi Desert, food, not money, is of
paramount importance. Everything we do is about food - producing or safekeeping it. We are
eager to help each other, but we expect to be paid in food in return.
The next morning, our quest began.
We searched everywhere. I was very good at finding traces left behind by animals in the Gobi,
but I found nothing. We must be dealing with a very cunning wolf this time. The search on the
first day was in vain and we went to a cave nearby to spend the night.
The next morning, we got up early. Suddenly…
“Do you see the brown dot over there?” Ghooku said.
We grinned silently in delight. We aimed our guns at this brown dot. It was still very far away
but seemed to be coming in our direction, so there was no hurry for us to fire.
As the brown spot came nearer, we could see it was not a wolf. It was a man riding a brown horse
coming towards us. The rider came nearer, and we could see his face. It was my elder son Bataan!
“Dad!” he gasped, “Mom has given birth. We have a new brother!” So we hurried back home.
That night we had a big feast. Bolormaa cooked a delicious lamb and made some airag
(fermented horse milk) for dinner. Everything was very tasty. We had not had such a feast since
the birth of Bat, my second son. I was very proud of Bolormaa. She will be a marvellous wife and
mother when she grows up.
After the feast, when Ghooku was gone, my wife whispered to me, “I saw Ghooku putting
something into his bag stealthily before he left. I think he has stolen some of our bear meat. I
don’t think you should trust him anymore.”
“Nonsense! I have known Ghooku for twenty years. You are probably too tired after childbirth.
You are imagining things.” I said, rather annoyed.
Over the next few days my whole family was very busy, so I could not go out to find the
wolves, but I was on guard every night. The wolves did not come.
When the new baby was seven days old, the treacherous wolves took a camel calf. How did
the wolves know that I was exhausted and would not be on guard that night? I was overwhelmed
with rage.
The following day, Ghooku and I set off to hunt the wolves again. No traces of them could
“
