After Zhang Yuanmin woke him by rubbing snow on his face, for a while there, Zhao Jun thought he was already dead.
Yes, he had killed the Black Bear, but the only image his brain could replay was the moment the massive paw came down on his head.
He sat on the large green rock for a long time before he finally came to his senses. He took a bite of a flatbread and said to Zhang Yuanmin and Li Baoyu, "Once we get back, no one says a word about what happened today."
Zhang Yuanmin and Li Baoyu exchanged a look and agreed in unison.
Zhao Jun took another piece of flatbread from Li Baoyu, then accepted the pickled radish Zhang Yuanmin offered. As he ate, he said, "Big Bro, in a bit, you and Baoyu cut off the bear's paws, nose, and kneecaps."
Zhang Yuanmin was taken aback. "Brother," he asked, "we're not hauling the whole bear back?"
