Gazelle Leap - The Life and Death Legend of the Animal World in the Great Jungle

Author: Shen Shixi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: On the third day of being sent to Xishuangbanna as a youth laborer from Shanghai, I was tricked by a fox. That day, I went to Menghun Town to buy goods and purchased a seven-pound castrated rooster, planning to make chicken soup for dinner. In the evening, I carried the rooster alone, walking along the ancient riverbed covered with beast tracks under the setting sun back to the Manguanglong Village. The ancient riverbed was desolate and quiet, with no sight of anyone. After turning a bend, suddenly, I saw a fox struggling to death on a rocky beach about ten steps ahead. It was foaming at the mouth, its fur bristling, its shoulder blades twitching, as if it had been poisoned. When it saw me, it panicked and tried to run away, but it quickly fell weak again after standing up. The way it fell was so convincing that it landed straight on the ground with a loud thud, its back hitting the pebbles hard. It lay sprawled on the ground, the butterfly-shaped white patch between its eyebrows twisted in pain, staring at me desesperately. I could see clearly that it was an adult male fox, with thick, luxurious fur in bright colors, like a large piece of red brocade. I couldn’t help but feel a desire and urge to capture it. That precious fox skin made me covet it—no one would pass up such a chance, after all. Besides, catching a fox single-handedly would give me something to boast about in front of my future son if I ever had one. What was there to lose? I placed the castrated rooster beside a wild banana tree, tying its legs and wings with fine hemp rope so it couldn’t run or fly. Then, I unbuckled my belt and formed a loop, walking toward the still gasping fox. Catching a dying fox was as easy as catching a fish in a barrel, I thought. I walked to the rocky beach, raised the loop, and was about to put it around the fox’s neck when suddenly, the fox “came back to life.” It straightened up, rolled over quickly, and dashed away from my eyes in a flash. This was like being resurrected from the dead—I was shocked. Just then, I heard the fearful crowing of the rooster from behind. I quickly turned to look and was stunned to see a black-eared female fox with a few teats hanging from her belly biting my castrated rooster under the wild banana tree. The rooster was tied so tightly that it had no ability to resist or escape, making it much easier for the female fox than catching a chicken in a cage. I bent down to pick up a stone to throw, but it was too late. The female fox grabbed the rooster’s neck and ran across the dry ancient riverbed with long strides. Meanwhile, the male fox, who had faked his death, circled around and met the rooster-stealing female fox on the other side. One held the head, the other the leg, walking side by side. As they ran into the forest, the male fox turned back and gave me a wry look, its distinctive red-and-white tail swishing back and forth at me—unclear whether it was an apology or a thank you. I was dumbfounded, both laughing and crying. I wanted to take advantage of the fox, only to be taken advantage of by the fox! I returned to the village dejectedly and told the headman about my encounter on the way. The headman laughed heartily and said, “That cunning fox, seeing your pale face and refined attire, knew you were a fresh student from the city and dared to play a trick on you with a feint of attack and retreat.” Hearing this, I felt deeply unsettled. Beyond the regret of losing money and the anger of being tricked, I also felt a sense of humiliation, as if I had been looked down upon.
A few months later, one morning, I went to the ancient riverbed to gather firewood. In front of a fallen tree, I smelled a strong odor of fox droppings. Using my to clear the weeds, suddenly, a fox shot out from a deep hole at the base of the tree and slipped past my feet. Its red-and-white tail and the butterfly-shaped white patch between its eyebrows—it was the same male fox that had tricked me into losing my castrated rooster with a feigned death! The fox ran about twenty meters away from me and suddenly stumbled as if tripped by vines, falling hard like a ball and rolling several times, facing me with its mouth twisted and hissing coldly, as if in excruciating pain. It turned to flee but only took one step before howling loudly—apparently it had sprained its back leg. Its body wobbled unstably, one back leg lifted high, spinning in place. The scene was as if I could easily and effortlessly chop off its head with my if I walked over. I instantly recognized it was the same old trick—the fox wanted to lure me closer. The moment I got near, it would be fine again, running faster than a rabbit. To fool me twice with the same trick was nothing but a pipe dream! I thought. The male fox was using the same method to deceive me, and its purpose was clear: to lure me away from the hole at the base of the tree, which was undoubtedly the fox’s den, and the female fox was almost certainly still inside. I guessed, just like before, the male fox would use its “death” to lure me closer, and the female fox would complete the deception from behind. I didn’t have the castrated rooster or any other food with me, so I wasn’t sure what they were trying to trick me into, but one thing was certain: they were working in perfect coordination to deceive me again. At this moment, I deliberately didn’t chase the male fox, letting the tricksters see their plan fail and taste the bitterness of defeat—wouldn’t that be a fun form of revenge? With a sneer, I not only didn’t chase the fox but even took two steps closer to the hole, raising my sharp to wait at the entrance. The moment the female fox poked its head out, I would strike swiftly and chop it down—public execution! A rooster for a fox skin—what a great deal. Behind me, the male fox’s limp grew worse, and its cries grew more sorrowful. White foam bubbled from its mouth, and it even moved closer to me by several meters, twisted and crooked. I still paid it no mind. Ha! Even if you’re only limping on one leg and foaming at the mouth, or even if all four legs are broken and you’re lying motionless with your eyes rolled back, you won’t fool me again. After a while, the male fox probably realized its clumsy trick wouldn’t work on me and lowered the lifted back leg, straightened its bent waist, stopped twitching in pain, and sat on the ground, staring at me with a sorrowful gaze. “Woof—woof—” a mournful long howl escaped its sharp mouth, as if filled with deep worry and disappointment. Anxious? Disappointed? It’s all your own fault. Did you think a pale-faced city student would be so easy to fool? Watch how you dare to look down on youth like me in the future! P1-3