82 The Test of All Tests

You have read about the Arabian horse. It was developed by the Arabs for use in the desert. It was bred to withstand some of the harshest conditions in the world. Centuries of patient breeding were needed. Bloodlines were passed on from generation to generation of breeders.

The armies of Arabia used the horse for combat. (Camels were used for patrol duty.) Horses were chosen with great care. Over months, they were put through one test after another. One test was to respond to the ear-piercing sounds of an ancient Arabian horn. The sound had to pierce the din and tumult of battle. The horn of battle was at the top of a long sloping hill. At the bottom of the hill was a freshwater lake. The horses were not fed, nor were they given any water. Horses became almost crazed with thirst. They threw themselves at the logged coral and tried to break out. The coral was much too high to jump. Finally, the horses were urged to be at the breaking point. Then the broad gates suddenly swung open. The herd exploded out of the coral. They practically flew down the slope. Their nostrils were smelling and their tongues “tasting” the water. The trainers watched intently. Before the first nose broke the surface of the water, the horn shrilled again. It shrilled the most feared call of all. It was the fateful sound of RECALL. Only some horses galloped back. Only some horses’ lips never touched the water. Only those were the horses that passed the final test. Only those were the horses that were kept. Only those would be entrusted with the lives of the fearless Bedouin.

82 终极测试

你已经读过关于阿拉伯马的内容。它是阿拉伯人为在沙漠中使用而培育的，被培育来承受世界上最恶劣的一些环境。需要数世纪耐心的育种，血统在一代代育种者之间传承。

阿拉伯的军队将这种马用于作战（骆驼用于巡逻任务）。马匹的挑选非常谨慎，在数月时间里，它们要接受一项又一项的测试。其中一项测试是对古老阿拉伯战号刺耳声音的反应，这声音必须穿透战斗的喧嚣和骚动。战号位于一座长长的斜坡山顶，山脚下是一个淡水湖。马匹没有进食，也没有被给予任何水，几乎因口渴而发狂。它们冲向用原木搭建的围栏，试图冲破出去。围栏太高，无法跳跃。最终，马匹被驱赶到极限，然后宽阔的大门突然打开，马群冲出围栏，几乎是飞下斜坡。它们的鼻孔嗅着，舌头“品尝”着水的味道。训练师们密切注视着，在第一匹马的鼻子接触到水面之前，战号再次尖锐地响起，这是所有声音中最令人恐惧的召回信号。只有部分马匹飞奔回去，只有部分马匹的嘴唇从未接触到水，只有那些通过最终测试的马匹会被留下，只有那些会被托付给无畏的贝都因人的生命。