6 Last Wild Horses on Earth

Chapter 6 LAST WILD HORSES ON EARTH "What do you mean—the last wild horses on earth?" asked Jack. "I'll tell you as we walk," said Tuya. As she started down the path, Jack and Annie hurried alongside her. "For almost two hundred thousand years, the horses lived on the plains of Mongolia," said Tuya. "We call them the Takhi, which means spirit. They are not like regular horses." "Why not?" said Jack. "The Takhi are a different breed," said Tuya. "They are truly wild. They cannot be tamed. No one can ride them. But they are a big part of our history, in folktales and legends. By my great-grandparents' time, they had died out." "How did that happen?" said Annie.

第六章地球上最后的野马“你是什么意思——地球上最后的野马？”杰克问。 “我边走边告诉你。”图雅说。 当她沿着小路往前走时，杰克和安妮急忙跟在她旁边。 图雅说：“近20万年来，这些马生活在蒙古平原上。 “我们称他们为Takhi，意思是精神。 它们不像普通的马。” “为什么不？”杰克说。图亚说：“塔希人是一个不同的品种。 “它们真的很野性。它们无法被驯服。 没有人能骑它们。但它们是我们历史的重要组成部分，在民间故事和传说中。 在我曾祖父母的时代，它们已经灭绝了。” “这是怎么回事？”安妮说。

"Many reasons," said Tuya. "The country had some very bad winters, and people hunted the Takhi for food. Also, many of the Takhi died from diseases and droughts." "So where did these Takhi come from?" asked Jack. He pointed in the direction of the horse corral. "Even though the Takhi here in Mongolia were wiped out, a small number survived in zoos around the world," said Tuya. "And today, the zoos have started to return them to their native land." "Oh, man, I get it," said Jack. "In a few months, this group of wild horses will leave the corral and be free to roam the whole nature reserve," said Tuya. "Why can't they roam the whole reserve now?" asked Annie. "Because they have been living in zoos, they do not know how to find food and water in the wild," said Tuya. "They can't protect themselves from wild animals, like wolves and brown bears. So they must stay in a safe place while they get used to our land and climate." "Makes sense," said Annie.

“有很多原因，”图雅说。 “这个国家有几个非常糟糕的冬天，人们猎杀塔希人作为食物。 而且，许多塔基人死于疾病和干旱。” “那么这些塔吉是从哪里来的呢？”杰克问。 他指了指马栏的方向。 图雅说：“尽管蒙古的塔奇族灭绝了，但在世界各地的动物园里，仍有一小部分幸存下来。” “今天，动物园已经开始把它们送回它们的故乡。” “哦，伙计，我明白了，”杰克说。 图雅说：“几个月后，这群野马将离开畜栏，自由地在整个自然保护区漫游。” “为什么它们现在不能在整个保护区漫游呢？”安妮问。 “因为他们一直生活在动物园里，他们不知道如何在野外找到食物和水，”图雅说。 “他们无法保护自己免受野生动物的伤害，比如狼和棕熊。 所以在它们适应我们的土地和气候之前，它们必须呆在一个安全的地方。” “有道理，”安妮说。

"Soon others will arrive from more zoos," said Tuya. "We hope the Takhi mares will give birth and raise their foals in the wild." "Oh, that's wonderful," said Annie. "Yes," Jack agreed. Now he completely understood why this was a great day for Tuya and her country. The homecoming of the wild horses really was a miracle! By the time they arrived at Tuya's home, a full moon was rising over the distant hills. The wind

图雅说：“很快就会有更多的动物园来了。” “我们希望Takhi母马能在野外分娩并抚养它们的小马驹。” “哦，那太好了，”安妮说。 “是的，”杰克同意了。现在他完全明白了为什么今天对图雅和她的国家来说是一个伟大的日子。 野马们的归途真是一个奇迹！当他们到达图雅的家时，一轮满月正从远处的山上升起。 风

was stronger. Jack was glad to step into the cozy yurt. At least a dozen nomads, grown-ups and children, had joined Tuya's family. Everyone was celebrating the return of the wild horses. Women were putting food on the tables—small cakes, cheese, dumplings, bread, yogurt, soup, and bowls of milky tea. In the rosy candlelight, Tuya's father began playing the strange-looking fiddle with the carved horse's head. The group fell silent. Even the smallest children were still. Tuya's father played the fiddle's two strings with his fingers and a bow. He started to sing. The man's voice was like nothing Jack had ever heard before. His singing was a blend of high whistling and low, deep rumbling sounds. It was haunting and beautiful. Tuya turned to Jack and Annie. "This is Mongolian throat singing," she whispered. "The voice of the singer sounds like the whistling wind and the rumble of horses' hooves." Jack closed his eyes and imagined the Takhi running across the open reserve, free as the wind.

是强。杰克很高兴踏进了舒适的蒙古包。 至少有十几个游牧民，有大人也有孩子，加入了图雅的家庭。 每个人都在庆祝野马的归来。 女人们把食物放在桌子上——小蛋糕、奶酪、饺子、面包、酸奶、汤和几碗奶茶。 在玫瑰色的烛光下，图雅的父亲开始用雕刻的马头拉起那把奇怪的小提琴。 大家都沉默了。即使是最小的孩子也安静了。 图雅的父亲用手指和弓拉着小提琴的两根弦。 他开始唱歌。那人的声音是杰克从未听过的。 他的歌声中夹杂着刺耳的口哨和低沉的隆隆声。 它令人难以忘怀，美丽动人。 图雅转向杰克和安妮。 “这是蒙古人的喉音，”她低声说。 “歌手的声音听起来像呼啸的风和马蹄声。” 杰克闭上眼睛，想象着塔基人跑过开阔的保护区，像风一样自由。

Suddenly the red door opened. Khan stepped inside the yurt. "Welcome, Khan!" Batu called out. Khan didn't smile or nod. He crossed to Tuya's father. "There's a problem with the Takhi," he said. Everyone grew quiet. Tuya's father put down his instrument and stood up. "What's wrong?" he said. "I found the gate open," said Khan. "I tried to count them. I think several have escaped the corral." Everyone gasped. The gate was open? thought Jack. His heart started to pound. "We must find them!" cried Tuya. "If they are still alive," said Khan. "If they ran into the reserve, they will most likely get lost or be killed by wolves tonight." "No, Khan! Do not say that!" cried Tuya. "Tuya, Khan is right," said Tuya's father. "These Takhi have always lived in a zoo. They do not know how to defend themselves in the wild. It is a full moon. The wind is strong. There are wolves in the hills tonight. If they pick up the

突然，红色的门开了。 可汗走进蒙古包。 “欢迎,汗!”巴图喊道。 可汗没有微笑，也没有点头。他走到图雅的父亲跟前。 “塔希有个问题，”他说。 大家都安静下来。图雅的父亲放下乐器站了起来。 “怎么了？”他说。“我发现大门开着，”汗说。 “我试着数了数。我想有几只逃出了围栏。” 每个人都气喘吁吁地说。门是开着的？ 杰克想。他的心开始怦怦直跳。 “我们必须找到他们！”图雅喊道。 “如果他们还活着，”汗说。 “如果他们跑进了保护区，他们今晚很可能会迷路或被狼咬死。” “不,汗!不要这样说！”图雅叫道。 “图雅，大汗说得对。”图雅的父亲说。 “这些塔基人一直生活在动物园里。 他们不知道如何在野外保护自己。 这是一个满月。风很大。 今晚山上有狼出没。 如果他们拿起

scent of the horses, they will come down to the plains." "Oh, that's terrible!" Annie said. Tuya and Gan burst into tears. "The Takhi came all this way!" said Tuya, sobbing. "Finally they're home! And now some might die! We must go look for them! Now!" Her father shook his head. "No, Tuya. I'm sorry. We cannot look tonight. They will not come to us. Our presence would only frighten them more. They will run deeper into the darkness of the wild." Jack could hardly breathe. His thoughts were racing. The gate was open! What happened? Who did it?

一闻到马的气味，他们就会下到平原上来。” “哦，那太可怕了!”安妮说。 图雅和甘大哭起来。 “塔希大老远跑来！”图雅抽泣着说。 “他们终于回家了！”现在有些人可能会死！我们必须去找他们！现在!”她父亲摇了摇头。 “不,平顶火山。我很抱歉。今晚我们不能看。 他们不会来找我们。我们的存在只会让他们更害怕。 他们会在荒野的黑暗中越走越深。” 杰克几乎无法呼吸。 他思绪万千。门是开着的！发生了什么事? 谁干的？