Duye^n Anh - Nha` tu` ( 4 )
rangnguyen
Duye^n Anh
4.
Kho^ng pha?i to^i thi'ch o+? la.i la`m chu+'ng nha^n li.ch su+?. To^i dda~
tha`nh kha^?n no'i le^n ddie^`u na`y trong lo+`i tu+.a cu?a ho^`i ky` Nha` tu`.
Trung tua^`n tha'ng 4 na(m 1975, Hoa`ng Ha?i Thu?y ba'o tin cho to^i bie^'t la`
ngu+o+`i My~ se~ di ta?n toa`n bo^. kho?i Sa`igo`n va` muo^'n ddu+a mo^.t so^'
nha` va(n, chu? bu't, chu? nhie^.m ro+`i VN dde^? tra'nh su+. tra? thu` CS.
Ba^'y gio+`, Hoa`ng Ha?i Thu?y la`m phu. ta' chu? bu't ta.p chi' Ca?m Tho^ng
cu?a Pho`ng Tho^ng Tin My~ tru+.c thuo^.c To`a DDa.i Su+' Hoa Ky`. Nhu+ nhu+~ng
nha` va(n kha'c, to^i dda~ dde^'n Usis ddu+o+`ng Le^ Quy' DDo^n ghi te^n. To^i
dda~ ga(.p Pha.m Kim Vinh, DDo^~ Quy' Toa`n, DDo^~ Ngo.c Ye^'n, Nguye^~n Vie^'t
Kha'nh, Doa~n Quo^'c Si~ ... o+? mo^.t no+i ma` ne^'u kho^ng co' 30-4-75 thi`
to^i kho^ng bao gio+` the`m dda(.t cha^n to+'i. Giu+~a to^i va` Usis co' mo^.t
mo^'i thu`. Mo^'i thu` nhe.: Ho^`i no' co`n la` Juspao che^~m che^. ta.i
ddu+o+`ng Nguye^~n Hue^., Mark Crooker, vie^n chu+'c My~ loa.i xi.a, ddo.c
nha^.t ba'o So^'ng, tha^'y to^i kho^ng ma^'y thie^.n ca?m vo+'i cha'nh sa'ch My~
o+? VN, dda~ la`m quen vo+'i to^i. Anh ta khuye^n to^i ne^n My~ du ba tha'ng
du+o+'i su+. ba?o tro+. cu?a chi'nh phu? My~. To^i no'i tie^'ng My~ to^i nghe`o
la('m. Anh ta ba?o kho^ng ca^`n. Anh ta "te't" to^i vo+' va^?n ro^`i ddem ho^`
so+ dde^'n ta^.n ba'o So^'ng chi? da^~n ca'ch ddie^`n va`o nhu+~ng o^ ca^`n
thie^'t. Nu+?a tha'ng sau, Mark Crooker ti`m to^i, buo^`n ba~: �To^i ra^'t a^n
ha^.n. Mo.i chuye^.n dda~ ke^? nhu+ xong, ba^'t ngo+` boss cu?a to^i ddo^?i y'.
Mo^.t nha^n vie^n VN ba'o ca'o vo+'i o^ng a^'y ra(`ng Duye^n Anh cho^'ng My~
qua' khi'ch. O^ng a^'y so+. tra'ch nhie^.m.� To^i cu+o+`i: �The^' ca`ng to^'t,
so+. ddi My~ ve^`, to^i chu+?i bo.n quan la.i My~ o+? VN ky~ ho+n vi` My~ o+?
My~ kha'c My~ o+? Sa`igo`n�. Mark Crooker cu+o+`i theo. Chu'ng to^i tro+? tha`nh
ba.n. Crooker no'i tie^'ng Vie^.t ra^'t gio?i va` khoa'i tie^'u la^m VN. Ho^m
anh he^'t nhie^.m ky`, anh co' mo+`i to^i du+. tie^.c tu+` gia~ VN. To^i kho^ng
ddi. Mo^'i thu` na(.ng: Lu~ ca^`y ca'o o+? Usis dda~ xu'i chu? My~ a'p lu+.c
vo+'i Bo^. Tho^ng Tin ca^'m to^i vie^'t pho'ng su+. Tie^`n Me~o Se^'n Vie^.t
tre^n ba'o So^'ng. DDinh Tri`nh Chi'nh ca^'m luo^n ca? bu't hie^.u Thu+o+ng Sinh
cu?a to^i. The^' ma` to^i la.i pha?i va't ma(.t dde^'n Usis ghi te^n vo^ danh
sa'ch ... di ta?n. Ro^'t cuo^.c, Alan Carter, su+' tha^`n va` gia'm ddo^'c Usis
dda~ bo? ro+i chu'ng to^i, ma(.c du`, trong ba`i die^~n va^~n ru+?a tay cha.y
to^.i, Ford dda~ hu+'a ba(`ng mo.i ca'ch pha?i di ta?n nhu+~ng nha` va(n, chu?
bu't, chu? nhie^.m ca`ng so+'m ca`ng to^'t.
Mo^.t ngu+o+`i duy nha^'t, tru+o+'c khi bo? con cha.y thu.c ma.ng, co`n go.i
da^y no'i ca?nh gia'c to^i: �Ti`m ddu+o+`ng kha'c ma` cu't, ddu+`ng tin bo.n
My~, chu'ng no' cho' dde? la('m�. Ngu+o+`i a^'y la` Pha.m Duy. To^i thu+.c su+.
ye^u Pha.m Duy tu+` phu't ba'o tu+? ddo'. �Bon My~ cho' dde? la('m!� To^i bo^~ng
nho+' ngu+o+`i My~ Robert Jones vo+'i ca'i danh thie^'p in ba(`ng Ha'n Vie^'t
ca^u �tu+' ha?i giai huynh dde^.� dda~ thuo^.c ca? tie^?u su+? to^i, dda~ hu+'a
cho to^i bie^'t tin tu+'c dde^? to^i chua^?n bi. dda?o ta^?u va` dda~ cu't ma^'t
kho?i ca(n nha` so^' 35 ddu+o+`ng Duy Ta^n. Alan Carter cu~ng la` thu+' ngu+o+`i
My~ ddo'. O^ng ta cam ke^'t vo+'i Nguye^~n Vie^'t Kha'nh. Ra(`ng, danh sa'ch
nha` va(n, chu? bu't, chu? nhie^.m ddu+o+.c ba?o ve^. bi' ma^.t. The^' ma` no'
la.i na(`m trong tay ngu+o+`i co^ng an cha^'p pha'p bi' danh Hai Nghie^m! No'i
ngu+o+`i My~ o+? VN cho' dde? thi` ho+i qua' dda'ng. No'i ho. vo^ tu+ ca'ch, co'
le~, chi'nh xa'c ho+n. Co`n chi'nh sa'ch cha.y la`ng cu?a My~ ca^`n vie^'t mo^.t
pho xu' thu+ cho nha^n loa.i nghie^`n nga^~m. Ngu+o+`i Pha'p na(m 1954 va`
ngu+o+`i My~ na(m 1975 la` hai hi`nh a?nh pha?i so sa'nh. Ngu+o+`i Pha'p thu+.c
su+. ba.i tra^.n o+? VN, mo^.t pha^`n ho. thie^'u ca'i kho^n ngoan cu?a ngu+o+`i
Anh, mo^.t pha^`n ta.i ho. bi. ngu+o+`i My~ pha?n phu'c. Va`i phi vu. B26 la`
gia?i quye^'t xong DDie^.n Bie^n phu?, la` li.ch su+? ddo^?i kha'c. Ngu+o+`i My~
tu+` cho^'i. Ngu+o+`i My~ buo^.c tay ngu+o+`i Pha'p la.i nhu+, tru+o+'c khi
cuo^'n go'i, ho. dda~ tu+` cho^'i vie^.n tro+. cho Sa`igo`n, ho. dda~ cu'p bom
dda.n, chie^'n cu.. Pha'o binh cu?a chu'ng ta hu+'ng ha`ng nga`n qua? dda.i ba'c
ma` chi? pha?n pha'o va`i chu.c qua?! Tuy ba.i tra^.n ddau ddo+'n, nhuc nha~ va`
ddang nghe`o ro+'t mu`ng to^i, ngu+o+`i Pha'p va^~n ddo'ng go'p ti'ch cu+.c va`o
co^ng cuo^.c di cu+ na(m 1954. Nhu+~ng chuye^.n bay Ha` No^.i - Sa`igo`n dde^`u
dda(.n, to^'t dde.p va` li.ch su+.. Di~ nhie^n, be^n ca.nh ta`u My~, ta`u Pha'p
dda~ bie^'n tha`nh con nha` nghe`o, tie^`u tu.y. Ngu+o+`i Pha'p o+? VN ho+n 100
na(m ro^`i. Da^n to^.c VN cu~ng dda~ cha'n ho., nha^'t la` trong nghi.ch ca?nh
chie^'n ba.i, xa'c xo+. Da^~u ngu+o+`i Pha'p luo^n luo^n chu+'ng to? ho. thuo^.c
ve^` mo^.t da^n to^.c va(n minh, ha`o quang va(n ho'a cu?a ho. nga^'t tro+`i;
luo^n luo^n chu+'ng to? la` nhu+~ng con ngu+o+`i co' lie^m si?, co' tra'ch
nhie^.m - tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a ngu+o+`i thua tra^.n - ngu+o+`i VN va^~n muo^'n xa
ho. dde^? xi'ch ga^`n ngu+o+`i My~. Ly' do tha^.t gia?n di. va` chua xo't:
Ngu+o+`i My~ gia`u. Va` tre^n ta`u My~, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i di cu+ ddu+o+.c chie^u
dda~i qua' su+'c tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng. Tha ho^` a(n va` tu+. do dda'i i?a! Thu?y
thu? My~ vui ve? que't do.n.
DDa~ bie^'n ma^'t ca'i cu+? chi? ha`o hoa cu?a co^ng tu+` My~ nhu+~ng nga`y
tru+o+'c 30-4-1975. Ngu+o+`i My~ hu` �bie^?n ma'u�, ta.o ra "pa-ni'ch" dde^?
tro^'n tra'ch nhie^.m. DDu+`ng nga^y tho+ tu+o+?ng o^ng dda.i su+' Martin kho^ng
bie^'t gi` dde^'n no^~i phu't cho't thu?y qua^n lu.c chie^'n My~ pha?i ba?o ve^.
su+. cuo^'n go'i cu?a o^ng ta. O+? phi tru+o+`ng Ta^n So+n Nha^'t, hie^.n thu+.c
nha^'t la` o+? To`a DDa.i Su+' My~, li'nh thu?y dda'nh bo^., tay tra^`n, a'o
gia'p, ke` ke` M-16 ga('n lu+o+~i le^ dda~ gia'ng nhu+~ng ba'ng su'ng ta`n ba.o
va` dda.p nhu+~ng cu' tho^ bi? xuo^'ng, va`o tha^n the^? nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i VN
so+. ha~i �bie^?n ma'u� ca^`n tro^'n tra'nh. Ve^'t o^ nhu.c ha(?n le^n lu+o+ng
tri cu?a da^n to^.c Hoa Ky` o+? ca'i to`a nha` vi~ dda.i va` kho^'n kie^'p mang
te^n To`a DDa.i Su+' My~. No' cu+' o+? phi tru+o+`ng Ta^n So+n Nha^'t ddi.
Kho^ng sao. Va` chu'ng ta, co' the^?, chi? tra'ch cu+' bo.n li'nh bay ma^'t
da.y, vo^ gia'o du.c. Va`, vi` tha^n hu+~u nga^`m vo+'i CS, chi'nh phu? My~, co'
the^?, du`ng chu+~ cu?a VC dde^? thanh minh ra(`ng, ddo' chi? la` hie^.n
tu+o+.ng, kho^ng bao gio+` la` ba?n cha^'t cu?a ca'i da^n to^.c ta.p nham co'
nhu+~ng vi~ nha^n nhu+ Washington, Lincoln va` ... Al Capone! Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
My~ gia'ng ba'ng su'ng xuo^'ng ngu+o+`i VN ddo^`ng minh o+? ngay To`a DDa.i Su+'
My~ nhu+~ng nga`y kinh hoa`ng nha^'t thi`, qua? tha^.t, da^n to^.c My~ dda~ i?a
le^n ca'i chi'nh nghi~a khai pho'ng tu+. do, da^n chu? cu?a ho. cho ca'c nu+o+'c
nho? be' tre^n the^' gio+'i. Vo^ so^' tu+o+'ng la~nh, nghi. si~, da^n bie^?u
dda~ leo tu+o+`ng va`o sa^n Toa` DDa.i Su+' My~ buo^?i chie^`u 29-4-1975, dda~
bi. cu+ xu+? nhu+ su'c va^.t. Va`, hie^.n nay, va^~n o^m la^'y cha^n My~ ma`
hi't ha`, ma` mo+ nga`y ve^` gia?i pho'ng vinh quang! Ly' tu+o+?ng truye^`n ba`
tu+. do, da^n chu? cu?a My~ dda^'y. Tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a ho. dda^'y! Ngu+o+`i My~
chi? dda'ng xa'ch de'p cho ngu+o+`i Pha'p. Ma~i dde^'n 29-4-1975, ngu+o+`i VN
mo+'i co' di.p so sa'nh va(n ho'a My~ va` va(n ho'a Pha'p o+? di ta?n 1975 va`
di cu+ 1954.
Mo^.t so^' ngu+o+`i nga^y tho+, trong ddo' co' to^i, cu+' ddinh ninh ra(`ng,
ngu+o+`i My~ se~ la` Noe' cu?a ho^`ng thu?y VN. Ho. se~ da`nh va`i con ta`u
dde^? cho nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i VN lu+o+ng thie^.n tro+? ve^` gia?i thoa't que^
hu+o+ng mi`nh. Ta^'t ca? dda~ la^`m. Co^ng lao di ta?n cu?a My~ o+? Ta^n So+n
Nha^'t, o+? To`a DDa.i Su+' My~ chi? nha(`m phu.c vu. me My~, bo.n tu+o+'ng ta'
dda`o ngu~ tru+o+'c li.nh dda^`u ha`ng, bo.n la`m gia`u trong chie^'n tranh,
bo.n thu+ la.i tham nhu~ng, bo.n nghi. si~, da^n bie^?u he`n mo.n va` bo.n gian
manh. Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i lu+o+ng thie^.n pha?i ti`m phu+o+ng tie^.n rie^ng, pha?i
vu+o+.t bie^n va` pha?i o+? la.i chi.u ca?nh ngu.c tu`. Va` ro^`i, mo^.t o^ng
da^n bie^?u thuo^.c tie^?u bang California dda~ nao nu'ng tha^~n tho+`: �Ra'c
ru+o+?i tro^i gia.t dde^'n tu+` be^n kia Tha'i Bi`nh Du+o+ng!� Va` ro^`i, mo+'i
nha^'t, tie^u bie^?u nha^'t, ba'o chi' My~ �nghi" ngu+o+`i hu`ng Nguye^~n Cao
Ky` la` tru`m Mafia ... mi't! Ca'i co+ ho^.i nga`n na(m mo^.t thuo+? dde^? loa.i
bo? lu~ vo^ la.i chi'nh tru+o+`ng cu?a da^n to^.c VN dda~ ma^'t. Chu'ng ta la.i
tha^'y bo.n vo^ la.i hie^.n nguye^n hi`nh. O+? My~. DDe^? cho+` ddu+o+.c la`m
dda^`y to+' My~. Va` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i lu+o+ng thie^.n, vi` lie^m si?, dda`nh im
ho+i la(.ng tie^'ng trong ca'i the^' ta^n xua^n thu ... phu.c quo^'c!
Bi. bo? ro+i, 99% va(n nghe^. si~ cho^'ng co^.ng o+? la.i. Ho. dda~ la` nhu+~ng
nha` va(n tru+.c die^.n cho^'ng CS; can dda?m cho^'ng ba^'t co^ng, a'p bu+'c,
bo'c lo^.t, cha` dda.p nha^n quye^`n cu?a bo.n tho^'ng tri. Sa`igo`n; hie^n
ngang cho^'ng chi'nh sa'ch nu+o+'c lo+'n tri.ch thu+o+.ng cu?a My~, bi. na(`m
la.i cho+` ddo+.i su+. tru+`ng pha.t cu?a CS.
Ba^y gio+` tro+? ve^` no^~i so+. ha~i cu?a to^i. Mo^.t buo^?i to^'i dda^`u
tha'ng 11 na(m 1975, to^i ddang ngo^`i tre^n vi?a he` tru+o+'c co^?ng nha`
mi`nh, ga(.m ba'nh mi ra^'t tha?m na~o thi` o^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u to+'i. Mo^.t
thanh nie^n cho+? o^ng ta ba(`ng Honda. Thanh nie^n tha? o^ng Ca^'u xuo^'ng
ro^`i la'i xe sang be^n kia ddu+o+`ng cho+` ddo+.i. O^ng ta ho?i:
- To^i co' chuye^.n muo^'n no'i vo+'i o^ng, ddu+o+.c kho^ng?
- DDu+o+.c. O^ng cu+' no'i ddi.
- Chuye^.n kha' da`i, ne^'u o^ng ddo^`ng y', hai ho^m nu+~a to^i cho ngu+o+`i
dde^'n ddo'n o^ng.
- Chuye^.n gi`?
- Xua^'t ngoa.i.
Vu+o+.t bie^n. To^i ddang ca^`n vu+o+.t bie^n. Nghe chuye^.n vu+o+.t bie^n,
ma('t to^i sa'ng le^n.
- DDo^`ng y'.
- Va^.y to^i ve^`. Ngu+o+`i cu?a to^i se~ dde^'n ddo'n o^ng nga`y mo^'t, buo^?i
chie^`u. Ho. se~ no'i �o^ng Hoa`ng mo+`i o^ng�. O^ng nho+' nhe', o^ng Hoa`ng.
- To^i nho+'.
O^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u ba(ng sang be^n kia ddu+o+`ng. Honda co~ng o^ng ta ma^'t
hu't. To^i quen o^ng Ca^`u ho^`i to^i co`n o+? cu+ xa' Chu' Ma.nh Trinh, Phu'
Nhua^.n. O^ng ta cu`ng chung mo^.t cu+ xa' vo+'i to^i. Tru+o+'c ddo', to^i chi?
bie^'t o^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u la` ta'c gia? cuo^'n Be^n kia Be^'n Ha?i, cuo^'n
sa'ch to^' ca'o to^.i a'c CS thu? tie^u ca'c chie^'n si~ quo^'c gia dda^`u tie^n
o+? mie^`n Nam, sau vu. di cu+ 1954. To^i bie^'t the^m o^ng Ca^`u la` chu? ti.ch
Ho^.i Na.n Nha^n Co^ng Sa?n va` ta'c gia? ki.ch sa?n DDo^i Ki'nh. Co' la^`n, anh
Hoa`ng Va(n DDu+'c ba?o to^i: �DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u la` ngu+o+`i cho^'ng co^.ng
cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a DDa.i Vie^.t�. To^i dda~ vie^'t ca^u na^`y tre^n nha^.t ba'o
So^'ng. Buo^?i chie^`u, to^i kho^ng nho+' ro~ nga`y tha'ng, o^ng Ca^`u qua nha`
to^i, cho to^i mu+o+.n cuo^'n sa'ch cu?a o^ng vie^'t ba(`ng tie^'ng Anh do Rank
Corporation, New York xua^'t ba?n kho^? lo+'n, in roneo. Ba^'y gio+` to^i ba^.n
vie^'t, cu~ng cha(?ng ddu? tie^'ng Anh dde^? ddo.c, chi? la^.t qua trang dda^`u
va` bie^'t ddo' la` mo^.t ta'c pha^?m chie^'n lu+o+.c. Hai ho^m sau, o^ng Ca^`u
sang ddo`i la.i. Ba(~ng ddi ma^'y na(m, to^i mo+'i ga(.p la.i o^ng, qua' vo^.i
va`ng va` dda^`y bi' ma^.t. Ngu+o+`i cu?a o^ng Ca^`u ra^'t ddu'ng he.n. Anh ta
cho+? to^i xuo^'ng Xo'm Mo+'i, Go` Va^'p. La^`n dda^`u tie^n to^i dde^'n Xo'm
Mo+'i, no+i cung ca^'p �qua^`n chu'ng� bie^?u ti`nh hoan ho^, dda? dda?o va`
ddo'n ru+o+'c quo^'c kha'ch cho ca'c che^' ddo^. Sa`igo`n. Ca(n nha` o^ng DDinh
Xua^n Ca^`u, bi' danh Hoa`ng, ta.m ngu. la` mo^.t ca(n nha` la' hiu qua.nh. Sau
tua^`n tra`, o^ng Ca^`u va`o chuye^.n:
- To^i dda~ vie^'t xong cuo^'n Chie^'n tranh cho^'ng chie^'n tranh nha^n da^n
cu?a CS va` pha'c ho.a mo^.t chu? thuye^'t mo+'i. To^i muo^'n o^ng ddo.c va` san
nhua^.n va(n chu+o+ng giu`m to^i.
- Ba(`ng tie^'ng Vie^.t?
- Va^ng, ba(`ng tie^'ng Vie^.t.
- DDu+o+.c.
- To^i muo^'n mo+`i o^ng tham gia to^? chu+'c cho^'ng co^.ng cu?a chu'ng to^i.
- Cu?a ca'c o^ng?
- Va^ng, co' linh mu.c Tra^`n Hu+~u Thanh, anh Nguye^~n Tie^'n Hy?, nhie^`u
ngu+o+`i kha'c. To^i ddang ddo+.i mo^.t nha^n va^.t dde^? gio+'i thie^.u o^ng.
- Ai ddo'?
- Tru+o+ng Mo^.ng Hoa`ng.
- Bao gio+` o^ng ta to+'i?
- Cuo^'i tua^`n. O^ng ta ddi My~ 2 tua^`n tru+o+'c, dda~ he.n vo+'i to^i ve^`
cuo^'i tua^`n na`y.
- O+? My~ ve^`?
- Va^ng.
- Xin lo^~i o^ng ti' nhe', o^ng Ca^`u. O^ng co' ma('c be^.nh ... mo^.ng du
kho^ng?
- To^i no'i chuye^.n nghie^m chi?nh. Co' le~, pha?i ba('t dda^`u ba(`ng mo^.t
to'm ta('t qua~ng ddo+`i di? va~ng cu?a to^i...
DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, da^n to^.c Tho^?. Tu+` be', o^ng ho.c o+?
tru+o+`ng Albert Sarraut vi` la` con ddi.a chu?. DDa^.u tu' ta`i toa`n pha^`n,
o^ng kho^ng le^n dda.i ho.c ma` mon men va`o con ddu+o+`ng chi'nh tri.. O^ng la`
dda`n em cu?a Nguye^~n Va(n Hu+o+'ng tu+. Mu+o+`i Hu+o+'ng, Xu+' U?y DDa.i
Vie^.t mie^`n Nam, sau na`y la` To^?ng Thu+ Ky' Phu? To^?ng Tho^'ng, trie^`u
dda.i Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u, va` ddo^`ng chi' cu?a Phan Va(n Tra^m. Hai mu+o+i
bo^'n tuo^?i, tra`n nga^.p ly' tu+o+?ng va` nga^y tho+ nhu+ dda`n anh Nguye^n
Va(n Hu+o+'ng, o^ng Ca^`u kho^ng thi'ch ngu+o+`i Pha'p chi pho^'i cuo^.c chie^'n
dda^'u cho^'ng CS. O^ng ba^'t ma~n ngu.y quye^`n tho+`i a^'y va` muo^'n ddi ti`m
nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i VN cha^n chi'nh cho^'ng CS, ddo^`ng tho+`i, cho^'ng luo^n ca?
Pha'p va` ngu.y quye^`n Ba?o DDa.i. Ba o^ng Hu+o+'ng, Tra^m, Ca^`u ga(.p Hoa`ng
DDa.o (kho^ng pha?i Hoa`ng DDa.o, Nguye^~n Tu+o+`ng Long). Tha?o lua^.n, ho.p
ba`n ho+.p ly', Hoa`ng DDa.o da^~n Xu+' U?y DDa.i Vie^.t mie^`n Nam hoa.t
ddo^.ng o+? Ha` No^.i va` Tra^m, Ca^`u ra ngoa`i bu+ng ti`m nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i VN
cha^n chi'nh cho^'ng co^.ng cu+'u nu+o+'c (Tho+`i Nguye^~n Hu+~u Tri' la`m Thu?
Hie^'n Ba('c Pha^`n, DDa.i Vie^.t mie^`n Nam ra Ba('c thao tu'ng chi'nh
tru+o+`ng, Nguye^~n Ngo.c Ta^n tu+. Pha.m Tha'i, tu+. Ba^'y Bo^'p dda~ dda(.t
va(n pho`ng cu?a mi`nh o+? ca(n nha` HCM ngo^`i vie^'t Tuye^n Ngo^n DDo^.c
La^.p, pho^' Ha`ng Qua.t, Ha` No^.i). Ra ngoa`i bu+ng, Hoa`ng DDa.o ha. li.nh
tro'i cha(.t 3 vi. dda?ng vie^n DDa.i Vie^.t. Y no'i tha(?ng y la` gia'n ddie^.p
CS. Ngu+o+`i ddu+'ng tuo^?i ha(?n co`n nho+' ca'i go.i la` �Vu. a'n Hoa`ng
DDa.o�. Ba o^ng DDa.i Vie^.t bi. ddu+a va`o Thanh Hoa', nho^'t ta.i Trai Ly' Ba'
So+. O^ng Ca^`u pha?i ga'nh nu+o+'c dda'i tu+o+'i rau ha`ng nga`y. Tra.i giam
cu?a o^ng co' mo^.t nu+~ cai ngu.c, ngu+o+`i Ha` No^.i, la.c ddu+o+`ng va`o
kha'ng chie^'n va` co^ng ta'c giu+~a ru+`ng gia`. Co^ng tu+? DDinh Xua^n ca^`u
cao ra'o, dde.p trai, tri' thu+'c. Nu+~ cai ngu.c ddem lo`ng ye^u thu+o+ng.
Chu'a ngu.c Ly' Ba' So+ ghen tu+'c, dde^` nghi. ddo^?i DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u ra
mo^.t trai giam mie^`n Ba('c, ga^`n so^ng DDa`. Hai o^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Hu+o+'ng
va` Phan Va(n Tra^m o+? la.i Ly' Ba So+ va` sau na`y ddu+o+.c tha? ra ta.i
dda^y. DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u dda~ lo+.i du.ng mo^.t dde^m mu+a ba~o, tro^'n tra.i
ba(`ng mo^.t chie^'c be` nu+'a mu`a nu+o+'c lu~. Nu+o+'c cuo^'n o^ng ta ddi. Sau
nhu+~ng ha~i hu`ng tu+o+?ng dda~ che^'t, be` cu?a o^ng da.t va`o mo^.t ddo^`n
li'nh Pha'p. O^ng khai ba'o su+. thu+.c vo+'i Tru+o+?ng ddo^`n. Nga`y o^ng
ddu+o+.c cu+'u so^'ng ddu'ng la` nga`y ba'o chi' loan tin Malenkov thanh tru+`ng
Be'ria va` tay cha^n cu?a tru`m ma^.t vu. Lie^n Xo^. Ne^'u to^i nho+' ddu'ng
thi` va`o na(m 1953. O^ng Ca^`u ddu+o+.c gia?i ve^` Pho`ng Nhi` o+? Ha` No^.i.
O^ng ddu+o+.c tra? tu+. do nhanh cho'ng. Vu~ Ngo.c Ca'c, chu? nhie^.m nha^.t
ba'o Da^n Chu? dda~ ddi.nh la`m lo+'n vu. DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u. Nhu+ng ca'c ddo^`ng
chi' gia` so+. DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u no^?i ho+n mi`nh dda~ nga(n ca?n Vu~ Ngo.c
Ca'c, dda~ no'i xa^'u ngu+o+`i chie^'n si~ quo^'c gia a^'y va` vu. vu+o+.t ngu.c
cu?a DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u chi`m la('ng.
Hie^.p ddi.nh Paris chia ddo^i dda^'t nu+o+'c. DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u va`o Sa`igo`n,
cho xua^'t ba?n cuo^'n Be^n kia Be^'n Ha?i. Ro^`i o^ng la`m chu? ti.ch Ho^.i
Na.n Nha^n CS. Ro^`i o^ng bi. che^' ddo^. Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m ba('t nho^'t. Ro^`i
o^ng tung vo^'n lie^'ng ddi dda`o va`ng o+? DDa` La.t vi` tin cha('c Nha^.t Ba?n
dda~ cho^n da^'u va`ng o+? vu`ng na`y. Va`ng chu+a tha^'y, vo^'n sa('p ca.n thi`
DDo^~ Cao Tri' ga^y kho' kha(n. Ro^`i o^ng vie^'t ki.ch. Ro^`i o^ng mu+u sinh
ba(`ng ca'ch ddi la`m thue^ cho My~. Toa` DDa.i Su+' My~ mu+o+'n cho o^ng mo^.t
pho`ng o+? kha'ch sa.n Majestic. Co^ng vie^.c cu?a o^ng la` mo^~i sa'ng go.i
da^y no'i cho Bo^. Chie^u Ho^`i xem co' anh ho^`i cha'nh vie^n na`o ve^` tu+` R
kho^ng. Nhu+~ng ho^`i cha'nh vie^n R, tha^.t hay gia?, dde^`u kho^ng chi.u khai
ba'o chu't xi'u ta`i lie^.u na`o ve^` cu.c R.
- To^i sa('p cha'n vie^.c na`y thi` mo^.t ho^m Bo^. Chie^u Ho^`i dda^?y mo^.t
tha(`ng o+? R ve^` sang to^i. To^i bie^'t tu.i CS ki'n mie^.ng la('m. Tu.i My~
kho^ng cho ca?nh sa't dda(.c bie^.t khai tha'c ho^`i cha'nh vie^n, so+. ca?nh
sa't tra ta^'n. To^i, thay vi` ho?i, ddu+a tha(`ng na`y ddi a(n cho+i da`i da`i.
Tie^`n cu?a My~ ma`. Tu+. nhie^n to^i ga(.p may.
- Ro^`i sao?
- Tu.i My~ ba('t to^i ddu+a ta`i lie^.u dda~ khai tha'c cho chu'ng no'. To^i
kho^ng ddu+a.
- Ro^`i sao?
- Mo^.t tha(`ng dda.i ta' gia` dde^'n do.a na.t to^i ro^`i ho?i ly' do ta.i sao
to^i co^' giu+~ ta`i lie^.u. To^i tra? lo+`i to^i co' mo^'i dda.i thu` vo+'i CS,
to^i muo^'n ddi'ch tha^n tie^u die^.t cu.c R. No' vo^~ vai to^i: Ma`y gia`
ro^`i, Ca^`u a., ma`y cho^'ng CIA kho^ng lo+.i cho su+. nghie^.p chi'nh tri.
cu?a ma`y dda^u. Tao khuye^n ma`y no^.p cho tui no'. To^i ba(`ng lo`ng no^.p.
Tru+o+'c khi no^.p, to^i ddu+a cho con bo^` cu?a to^i la`m o+? Ha?i Qua^n
photocopie the^m 2 ta^.p. To^i ddem giao Nguye^~n Tie^'n Hy? mo^.t ta^.p, nho+`
ddem ga^'p trao ta^.n tay Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u, mo^.t ta^.p to^i giu+~. CIA
bie^'t. No' dduo^?i so+? to^i. Sau na^`y cu.c R bi. tan na't, Pha.m Hu`ng cha.y
ba'n so^'ng ba'n che^'t va` Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh cu?a R dda(.t ma~i o+? Vinh.
DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u tan mo^.ng chi'nh tri. vi` dda~ bi. ghi trong so^' dden cu?a
CIA. O^ng ta la^'y co^ vo+. be' tre? ma(ng, xinh dde.p, ngu+o+`i Long An, cha'u
cu?a mo^.t ke'p ca?i lu+o+ng gia`, bo^' vo+. Hu+~u Phu+o+'c. Ro^`i o^ng ta la`m
nghe^` tha^`u khoa'n.
- To^i co' nhu+~ng di.ch vu. vo+'i To`a DDa.i Su+' My~. Chi'nh o+? To`a DDa.i
Su+', to^i ga(.p Tru+o+ng Mo^.ng Hoa`ng. Te^n tha^.t cu?a o^ng ta la` Tru+o+ng
Phie^n, mu.c su+, ngu+o+`i Qua?ng Nga~i. Thoa.t dda^`u, to^i ghe't Tru+o+ng
Phie^n la('m, to^i kho^ng the^? tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng mu.c su+ ma` ddi tha^`u
khoa'n. Tru+o+ng Phie^n giao di.ch ma^.t thie^'t vo+'i va(n pho`ng chi'nh tri.
cu?a To`a DDa.i Su+'. Sau 30-4, o^ng ta ddi ti`m to^i.
- DDe^? la`m gi`?
- La`m la.i. O^ng ta ba?o ne^'u Linh mu.c Tra^`n Hu+~u Thanh va` mo^.t so^'
chi'nh kha'ch kho^ng che^'t nha't thi` li.ch su+? co' the^? thay ddo^?i. Li.ch
su+? co' the^? thay ddo^?i ba(`ng mo^.t cu' cho+i ba.o cuo^'i cu`ng. Nhu+~ng
ngu+o+`i cho^'ng co^.ng quye^'t lie^.t dda~ va^.n ddo^.ng xong mo^.t su+. ho+.p
ta'c vo+'i mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n nha?y du`. Tie^?u ddoa`n Du` se~ bao va^y Toa`
DDa.i Su+' My~, se~ nha('m tru+.c tha(ng ma` ha.. Tru+.c tha(ng kho^ng dda'p
xuo^'ng ddu+o+.c dde^? cu+'u o^ng DDa.i Su+' thi` thu?y qua^n lu.c chie^'n pha?i
ddo^? bo^. va`o cu+'u. Chu'ng ta lo+.i du.ng co+ ho^.i na`y ho^ ha`o chie^'n
dda^'u tie^'p tu.c vi` My~ can thie^.p thi` qua^n ddo^.i se~ le^n ti?nh tha^`n.
Ke^' hoa.ch ddi.nh va`o sa'ng 30-4. Ba^'t ngo+`, sa'ng 30-4, Du+o+ng Va(n Minh
ban li.nh gio+'i nghie^m. Quy' vi. dda^`u na~o cu?a ke^' hoa.ch na?n lo`ng,
na(`m nha` tho+? da`i. The^' la` li.ch su+? sang trang!
- Ba^y gio+` la`m la.i ca'ch na`o?
- La^.p No^.i Ca'c ngay ta.i Sa`igo`n va` lu+u vong nga`y sau khi ho.p ba'o.
DDa.i die^.n ca'c tho^ng ta^'n xa~ va` ba?o chi' quo^'c te^' co`n o+? Sa`igo`n
kha' ddo^ng.
- Mo+`i lo^'i na`o?
- DDa~ co' ngu+o+`i lo lie^.u.
- Lu+u vong ca'ch na`o?
- To^i ddo+.i o^ng Tru+o+ng Mo^.ng Hoa`ng ve^` nu+o+'c vi` ca^u ho?i cu?a o^ng.
- O^ng Ca^`u a., o^ng dda~ nga^y tho+ tin Hoa`ng DDa.o, dda~ nga^y tho+ ddi ti`m
va`ng, o^ng la.i nga^y tho+ tin Tru+o+ng Phie^n.
- To^i tin Tru+o+ng Phie^n vi` to^i bie^'t ddi'ch xa'c Tru+o+ng Phie^n la` gia'n
ddie^.p. Vo+'i mo^.t gia'n ddie^.p, su+. ddi la.i giu+~a My~ va` VN kho^ng kho'
dda^u. Bie^?n me^nh mo^ng va` phu+o+ng tie^.n cu?a gia'n ddie^.p vo^ ke^?.
- Ke^? nhu+ o^ng ddu'ng. Nhu+ng ta.i sao o^ng tin to^i? O^ng kho^ng nghi~ ra(`ng
to^i co' the^? bi. ba('t lu'c na^`y u+? O^ng kho^ng nghi~ ra(`ng to^i ddi to^'
ca'o o^ng la` to^i la^.p co^ng chuo^.c to^.i a`?
- Ta'c pha^?m cu?a o^ng kho^ng cho phe'p o^ng to^' ca'o ai ca?.
- Ca'm o+n o^ng.
- Xu+a co' mo^.t la^`n ngu+o+`i ba.n cu?a to^i tu+o+?ng ra cha^'p cha'nh, to^i
dda~ nghi~ dde^'n o^ng va` ddi.nh tie^'n cu+? o^ng giu'p anh ta co^ng vie^.c
tuye^n truye^`n, ma(.c du` to^i bie^'t o^ng ghe^ to+?m chi'nh tri.. To^i dda~
ddo.c cuo^'n A?o vo.ng tuo^?i tre? cu?a o^ng.
- Va` nay?
- DDi'ch tha^n to^i mo+`i o^ng la`m Bo^. tru+o+?ng Thanh Nie^n va` Tuye^n
Truye^`n, o^ng nghi~ sao?
- To^i nghi~ ra(`ng o^ng ne^n mo+`i ngu+o+`i kha'c.
- Ai?
- Thie^'u gi` nha` va(n lo^~i la.c ho+n to^i.
- Ra^'t tie^'c, ho. kho^ng hie^?u ta^m ly' tuo^?i tre?, ho. kho^ng ddu+o+.c
tuo^?i tre? a'i mo^. ba(`ng o^ng. Va`, ho. thie^'u lu+?a.
- O^ng Ca^`u, the^' na`y nhe', la`m Bo^. Tru+o+?ng o+? ca'i giai ddoa.n na`y
thi` kho^ng ngu tu+'c la` ddie^n. To^i kho^ng ngu, kho^ng ddie^n, nhu+ng u+a
bo^'c ddo^`ng. Ra^'t tie^'c chu+a dde^'n co+n bo^'c ddo^`ng cu?a to^i. Va^.y
to^i se~ ddo.c cuo^'n sa'ch cu?a o^ng tru+o+'c, ro^`i tra? lo+`i o^ng mo.i
vie^.c sau.
To^i ddem ba?n tha?o cuo^'n Chie^'n tranh cho^'ng chie^'n tranh nha^n da^n cu?a
co^ng sa?n cu?a DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u ve^` ddo.c. To^i ra^'t ddo^`ng y' vo+'i nha`
va(n Erkine Caldwell: �Co' hai ha.ng ngu+o+`i: Ha.ng vie^'t va` ha.ng ddo.c�.
To^i dda~ vie^'t, to^i kho^ng ddo.c nu+~a. To^i dda`nh chi.u to^'i ta(m, ngu
do^'t va^.y. Bu` dda('p, nhu+~ng gi` to^i vie^'t hoa`n toa`n cu?a to^i tu+. suy
nghi~ rie^ng tu+, to^i cha(?ng a?nh hu+o+?ng ai he^'t. Ve^` tu+ tu+o+?ng cu~ng
nhu+ ve^` va(n the^?. O+? ma^'y trang tu+.a, o^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u no'i le^n
nhu+~ng lo+`i tha`nh kha^?n ta. lo^~i ddo^`ng ba`o vi` o^ng dda~ kho^ng chi.u
hoa`n tha`nh cuo^'n sa'ch ca'ch dda^y 10 na(m. O^ng can dda?m nha^.n o^ng dda~
ddo'ng go'p tra'ch nhie^.m dda'nh ma^'t Sa`igo`n. Theo o^ng, cuo^.c chie^'n
dda^'u tie^u die^.t CS chu+a cha^'m du+'t, ngay ta.i quo^'c no^.i, ca? mie^`n
Ba('c la^~n mie^`n Nam. Do ddo', nhu+~ng suy tu+ cu?a o^ng, nhu+~ng kinh
nghie^.m cu?a o^ng va^~n co`n ca^`n thie^'t. Trong mo^.t chu+o+ng no'i ve^`
li.ch su+? chie^'n tranh nha^n da^n, o^ng Ca^`u dde^` ca^.p to+'i Mao Trach
DDo^.ng va` To^n Tu+? Binh Pha'p. O^ng Ca^`u cho ra(`ng, nho+` tha^'t ba.i ve^`
na(`m o+? Die^n An ma` Mao Tra.ch DDo^ng mo+'i tha^'u trie^.t To^n Vu~ va` sa'ng
ta.o chie^'n tranh nha^n da^n. O^ng qua? quye^'t Mao Tra.ch DDo^ng la` ngu+o+`i
duy nha^'t na('m linh ho^`n cu?a binh pha'p To^n Vu~. Mo^.t chu+o+ng kha'c, o^ng
ba`n ve^` nghe^. thua^.t ta^.n die^.t chi bo^. xa~ cu?a CS. Va^~n theo o^ng,
then cho^'t cu?a chie^'n tranh nha^n da^n na(`m o+? ca'c chi bo^. xa~. Ta^.n
die^.t chi bo^. xa~ la` ba(ng hoa.i chu? lu+.c qua^n cu?a CS ca? chie^'n thua^.t
la^~n chie^'n lu+o+.c. To'm la.i, cuo^'n sa'ch cu?a o^ng ra^'t hu+~u i'ch cho
ba^'t cu+' da^n to^.c na`o tu+o+ng tu+. hoa`n ca?nh VN. El Salvador cha(?ng
ha.n. Cuo^'n sa'ch cu?a o^ng Ca^`u le^n a'n na(.ng ne^` nhu+~ng ke? thi ha`nh
�Ke^' Hoa.ch Phu+o+.ng Hoa`ng�. Bo.n ca'n bo^. Phu+o+.ng Hoa`ng dda~ ta`n sa't
no^ng da^n vo^ to^.i, dda~ ha~m hie^'p, cu+o+'p bo'c va` do^`n thanh nie^n no^ng
tho^n le^n nu'i, vo^ ru+`ng theo CS. Ra^'t nhie^`u va^'n dde^` thuo^.c pha.m vi
chie^'n lu+o+.c trong cuo^'n sa'ch ... cuo^'i mu`a cu?a DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u. To^i
ddo.c, to^i phu.c va` to^i bu`i ngu`i. Mo^.t chu't to^.i nghie^.p o^ng Ca^`u.
Cha(?ng tha` no' cuo^'i mu`a, chu+' no' dda^`u mu`a, bo.n tu+o+'ng la~nh ngu
do^'t cu~ng dda^u co' ddo.c, du` ho. la~nh dda.o dda^'t nu+o+'c. Ngu+o+`i hu`ng
Nguye^~n Cao Ky` chi? me^ �co^ ga'i DDo^` Long�, say me^ ddo.c tre^n ma'y bay
ca? nhu+~ng khi kinh ly' tha(m da^n cho bie^'t su+. ti`nh. Ngu+o+`i hu`ng
Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u thi` me^ �Ca(n nha` ngoa.i o^!� Nha` va(n ho'a DDo^~ Va(n
Ro+~ bie^'t mo^~i mo^n ha't bo^.. Va^n va^n ...
Ma^'y ho^m sau, o^ng Ca^`u la.i cho ngu+o+`i ti`m to^i. La^`n na`y, o+? mo^.t
ca(n nha` kha'c ta.i Xo'm Mo+'i, to^i ga(.p ba vi. linh mu.c* ma` to^i bie^'t
tie^'ng va` tie^'ng ta(m cu?a ho. kho^ng la`m do+ a'o tha'nh. Ba vi. linh mu.c
no'i vo+'i to^i ve^` su+. ca^`n thie^'t cu?a mo^.t ddoa`n ke^'t chi' ti`nh,
tha`nh kha^?n, ca^'p ba'ch giu+~a Thie^n Chu'a gia'o, Pha^.t gia'o, Cao DDa`i,
Ho`a Ha?o, Tin La`nh ... Ro~ ra`ng, o^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u muo^'n du`ng ddo`n
cu?a nha` Mo^. Dung o+? Co^ To^. Ba mu+o+i na(m tru+o+'c, CS co' lie^n to^n
cho^'ng Pha'p. Ba mu+o+i na(m sau, chu'ng ta co' lie^n to^n cho^'ng co^.ng.
La^`n lu+o+.t, to^i ga(.p ca'c nha` su+ thuo^.c he^. pha'i A^'n Quang va` VN
Quo^'c Tu+.. Ro^`i ca'c vi. mu.c su+ va` ca'c chu+'c sa('c Ho`a Ha?o, Cao DDa`i.
Nhu+~ng ha`o mu.c o+? Xo'm Mo+'i dda~ la`m to^i ca?m ddo^.ng. Ho. ye^u ca^`u
to^i ra �giu'p nu+o+'c�! Ra giu'p nu+o+'c, vo+'i to^i, sao ma` be~ ba`ng the^'!
Bi`nh sinh to^i lu+o+`i bie^'ng, le^u lo^?ng, ho.c ha`nh ngo^ cha(?ng ra ngo^,
khoai cha(?ng ra khoai. Lo+'n le^n, la`m ke? phie^u la~ng, le^ dde^' gia`y mo`n
tre^n vi?a he` ddo+`i. Ro^`i bie^'n tha`nh tha(`ng kie^u si~ ngu dda^`n, coi
mo.i vie^.c tro.ng dda.i cu?a the^' gian la` tro` ddu`a, coi ta^'t ca? lu~ tri'
thu+'c khoa ba?ng, lu~ chi'nh kha'ch co+ ho^.i, lu~ la~nh dda.o vai u thi.t
ba('p la` lu~ ... tha^.p nguye^n! Ba^y gio+`, ngu+o+`i ta ba?o to^i �ra giu'p
nu+o+'c�, ho?i chi to^i cha(?ng be~ ba`ng.
To^i tra? o^ng Ca^`u ta^.p ba?n tha?o cu?a o^ng vo+'i lo+`i dde^` nghi.:
- Kho^ng co' gi` pha?i san nhua^.n ca?. O^ng ne^n sa('p xe^'p nhu+~ng su+.
kie^.n tha`nh he^. tho^'ng ma.ch la.c la` o^?n ro^`i. Cu~ng ca^`n co^ ddo^.ng
la.i vi` co' nhie^`u da^~n chu+'ng nha('c ddi nha('c la.i nhie^`u la^`n.
O^ng Ca^'u buo^`n ba~ ho?i to^i:
- Co`n dde^` nghi. cu?a to^i?
To^i dda'p:
- O^ng muo^'n to^i vie^'t gi`, to^i sa(~n sa`ng vie^'t cho o^ng. DDe^? ta. lo`ng
tri ky?. Co`n ca'i chu+'c Bo^. Tru+o+?ng, xin o^ng ti`m ngu+o+`i kha'c.
- Chu+'c a^'y kho^ng ha^'p da^~n o^ng lu'c na`y?
- Kho^ng ha^'p da^~n to^i ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o. La` nghe^. si~, to^i chi? bie^'t
mo+ mo^.ng, kho^ng bie^'t ddie^`u ha`nh co^ng vie^.c.
- O^ng bo? qua su+. mo+ mo^.ng gia?i thoa't da^n to^.c?
- To^i tu+. ca?m tha^'y ba^'t ta`i. Va` nu+~a, to^i nha't la('m, to^i kho^ng
chi.u no^?i ddo`n tra ta^'n. To^i ma` bi. ba('t, to^i se~ khai he^'t va` ho?ng
vie^.c lo+'n cu?a ca'c o^ng.
- Kho^ng co' chuye^.n bi. ba('t.
- To^i dde^` pho`ng.
- O^ng dda~ cu+o+ng quye^'t tu+` cho^'i, to^i kho^ng the^? e'p o^ng. Tuy nhie^n,
to^i muo^'n o^ng bo+'t chu't thi` gio+` ga(.p Tru+o+ng Phie^n.
- Cuo^'i tua^`n he.n ho` cu?a o^ng a^'y dda~ qua ro^`i.
- To^i tin Tru+o+ng Phie^n pha?i ve^`.
Cuo^'i cu`ng to^i ga(.p Tru+o+ng Phie^n o+? ca(n ga'c se'p cu?a nghe^. si~ ca?i
lu+o+ng gia`, bo^' vo+. ke'p ha't Hu+~u Phu+o+'c. Chu? nha` hoa`n toa`n kho^ng
bie^'t chu'ng to^i mu+u ddo^` chuye^.n gi`. O^ng ta chi? nghi~ chu'ng to^i la`
ba.n o^ng Ca^`u, cha'u re^? cu?a o^ng ta tho^i. Ca(n ga'c se'p o+? he~m nho?
ddu+o+`ng Tra^`n Quy' Ca'p la` no+i ho^.i ho.p thu+o+`ng xuye^n cu?a to^i, Ha`
Tu+o+`ng Ca't (CPS cu~), Tra^`n Va(n Lo+.i ... sau na`y. Tru+o+ng Phie^n tre^n
50 tuo^?i, da'ng ngu+o+`i ma?nh kha?nh, tro^ng hao hao khuo^n ma(.t Nhu+o+.ng
To^'ng chu.p a?nh. O^ng ta no'i ve^` VN tre^~ vi` co`n ghe' Ta^n Gia Ba ga(.p
Ly' Quang Die^.u dde^? nho+` Ly Quang Die^.u gio+'i thie^.u vo+'i Tha'i Ngu~ o+?
Cho+. Lo+'n ta`i tro+.. O^ng ta thua^.t chuye^.n ga(.p go+~ to^?ng tho^'ng Ford,
a(n uo^'ng vo+'i Kissinger, ho.p ba`n vo+'i ca'c nghi. si~ My~ la`m to^i
tu+o+?ng to^i ddang nghe chuye^.n Phong Tha^`n! Ma'u ha`i hu+o+'c trong to^i
no^?i da^.y. Nhu+ng Tru+o+ng Phie^n nghie^m tu'c. O^ng ta lua^.n ve^` cu.c
die^.n the^' gio+'i nga`y mai va` ca'i the^' ta^'t ba.i cu?a CSVN. O^ng ta nhi`n
to^i:
- Tru+o+'c khi sang My~, o^ng Ca^`u dda~ ngo? y' vo+'i to^i muo^'n mo+`i o^ng.
To^i dda~ cho be^n a^'y bie^'t. Ba.n thi'ch o^ng, ke? thu` ne^? o^ng.
To^i nghe kho^ng su+o+'ng tai chu't na`o ca?. Ta.i sao? Vi` ca'i hie^.n ta.i bi
dda't cu?a to^i ke'o to^i la.i, kho^ng cho to^i leo le^n ta`u bay tha^.t hay
ta`u bay ... gia^'y. Mo^~i nga`y, vo+. to^i ca(`n nha(`n to^i ha`ng chu.c la^`n
bo+?i ca'i to^.i kho^ng ti'ch cu+.c di ta?n. Ngu+o+`i ta ho?ng ddu+o+`ng bay,
ddi ti`m ddu+o+`ng thu?y. Ta^'t ca? dde^`u thoa't. To^i ho?ng ddu+o+`ng bay la`
ve^` ... uo^'ng ru+o+.u. To^i ca`ng kho^ng ham lo+`i khen cu?a Tru+o+ng Phie^n
bo+?i lo+`i khen a^'y se~ ddu+a to^i va`o su+. �che^'t ru~ trong tu`�. O+? tu`
so+. la('m. Chu+a no'i bi. tra ta^'n.
- Ngu+o+`i My~ muo^'n xo'a ddi dde^? la`m la.i ta^'t ca?, Tru+o+ng Phie^n no'i.
DDa^y la` co+ ho^.i ba(`ng va`ng cu?a da^n to^.c ta. Mie^`n Ba('c qua(`n qua.i
du+o+'i go't tho^'ng tri. cu?a CS ro`ng ra~ 20 na(m, oa'n ha^.n CS ngu't nga`n.
Mie^`n Nam thi` dda~ hie^?u ro~ tim dden CS. Nhu+~ng khuo^n ma(.t na(`m vu`ng
dda~ xua^'t hie^.n dda^`y ddu?. Bo.n tu+o+'ng la~nh la~nh dda.o dda~ cha.y
tro^'n. Bo.n la`m gia`u trong chie^'n tranh, bo.n ta`i phie^.t thao tu'ng kinh
te^', bo.n tu+ sa?n ma.i ba?n Cho+. Lo+'n dda~ bi. CS tie^u die^.t giu'p chu'ng
ta. DDe^? la^u CS moc re^~ dda^m cho^`i, die^.t ra^'t kho'. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng vu~
trang tinh nhue^. cu?a chu'ng ta co`n nguye^n. Nguye^~n Cao Ky` cu~ng muo^'n
ve^`... O^ng nghi~ sao, o^ng Duye^n Anh?
- To^i nghi~ la` chuye^.n cu?a ca'c o^ng.
- Ba^'t cu+' ai gia?i thoa't da^n to^.c lu'c na`y dde^`u la` Chu'a Gie^ Su.
- To^i chi? muo^'n la`m nghe^. si~.
- O^ng Ca^`u se~ ba`n the^m vo+'i o^ng.
Tru+o+ng Phie^n ve^`. O^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u cho to^i bie^'t Tru+o+ng Phie^n se~
la`m Chu? ti.ch Ho^.i DDo^`ng Ba~o Quo^'c, mo^.t thu+' Bo^. Chi'nh Tri. chi
pho^'i toa`n bo^. co+ ca^'u quo^'c gia sau na`y. Co`n o^ng Ca^`u la` Thu?
Tu+o+'ng cu?a Chi'nh phu? La^m Tho+`i DDe^. Tam Co^.ng Ho`a. O^ng Ca^`u ddu+o+.c
be^n a^'y chi? ddi.nh tha`nh la^.p No^.i Ca'c. O^ng ta dda~ mo+`i ky~ su+
Nguye^~n Thie^.n Ngo., ba'c si~ Nguye^~n DDan Que^', linh mu.c Tra^`n Hu+~u
thanh, chi'nh kha'ch Nguye^~n Tie^'n Hy? ... va` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i na^`y nha^.p
cuo^.c. Ne^n ke^? the^m Ha` Tu+o+`ng Ca't va` mo^.t so^' ngu+o+`i tre? tu+`ng du
ho.c be^n My~, DDu+'c. Ha^.u thua^~n cu?a Ba~o Quo^'c la` lie^n to^n cho^'ng
co^.ng.
- O^ng co' tin Tru+o+ng Phie^n kho^ng? Ca^`u ho?i to^i.
- Kho^ng. To^i dda~ xa la. o^ng ta, ca`ng xa la. o^ng ta. To^i tra? lo+`i.
- To^i tin Tru+o+ng Phie^n la` ngu+o+`i cu?a My~.
- To^i kho^ng tin ca? My~.
- Pha?i co' My~, o^ng a.!
- My~ dda~ pha?n phu'c.
- Theo to^i, mu+u dda.i su+. thi` ne^n ga.t bo? nhu+~ng tie^?u tie^'t. Vie^.c
cu?a ta xong, ta do+? ma(.t nhu+ Fidel Castro, kho^ng dde^? My~ chi pho^'i cu~ng
nhu+ kho^ng dde^? CS chi pho^'i.
- To^i dda~ no'i vo+'i o^ng ro^`i. To^i chi? co' the^? giu'p o^ng ve^` nhu+~ng
di.ch vu. vie^'t la'ch. DDe^? ta. lo`ng tri ky?. Sau na`y, o^ng tha`nh co^ng,
to^i xin ddu+o+.c ta(.ng o^ng Chi'nh sa'ch thanh nie^n va` tuye^n truye^`n do
to^i soa.n tha?o. Ne^'u pha?i lu+u vong, to^i xin o^ng mo^.t cho^~ va` xin
ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ ngu+o+`i ba.n tre?, nhu+ ngu+o+`i �ky' gia? nha` nu+o+'c�.
- To^i bie^'t o^ng ba(n khoa(n chuye^.n gia ddi`nh.
- Va^ng
- Chu'ng to^i se~ ddu+a gia ddi`nh o^ng ddi ngay sau khi no^.i ca'c ra ma('t
ba'o chi'. p>- Va` to^i va^~n ddo'ng vai �ky' gia' nha` nu+o+'c�?
- Tu`y o^ng tho^i. Co' o^ng giu'p, to^i dda~ ca?m ddo^.ng la('m ro^`i.
Chu+a pha?i la`... Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Thanh Nie^n va` Tuye^n Truye^`n cu?a chi'nh
phu? dde^. tam da^n chu? co^.ng ho`a, chi? mo+'i la` ba.n cu?a o^ng Ca^`u tho^i,
to^i dda~ ddu+o+.c tham du+. nhu+~ng phie^n ho.p bi' ma^.t. Tu+. nhie^n to^i
que^n ma('t to^i ddang la` ai, ddang o+? dda^u va` to^i tu+o+?ng mi`nh nhu+
mo^.t hie^.p si~ trong mo^.t ho^.i ki'n du+o+'i tho+`i no^ le^. Pha'p. O^ng
Ca^`u nho+` to^i vie^'t mo^.t ca'i tuye^n ngo^n cho Ba?o Quo^'c va` mo^.t ba`i
ke^u go.i qua^`n chu'ng chua^?n bi. no^?i da^.y. To^i dda~ vie^'t ca'i tuye^n
ngo^n dda^`u tay trong cuo^.c ddo+`i vie^'t la'ch cu?a to^i ta.i ca(n nha` cu?a
DDa(.ng Xua^n Co^n o+? so^' 215D.17 Chi La(ng, Phu' Nhua^.n, Gia DDi.nh. To^i
ca?m tha^'y chu+~ nghi~a cu?a to^i tha^.t xu+'ng dda'ng trong ca'i tuye^n ngo^n
duy nha^'t ddo'. Co`n ba`i ke^u go.i qua^`n chu'ng chua^?n bi. no^?i da^.y thi`
to^i dda~ ke^u go.i chi'nh to^i, to^i dde^? he^'t lo`ng to^i va`o ddo' ne^n no'
dda^`y lu+?a. Va` to^i bo^~ng ca?m tha^'y o^ng DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u la` ngu+o+`i
hie^?u bie^'t gia' tri. va` ta'c du.ng cu?a va(n chu+o+ng trong chie^'n dda^'u.
Ne^'u o^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m suy nghi~ the^m ve^` ca'c nha` va(n, o^ng se~ la`
ngu+o+`i hoa`n toa`n nha^'t. Luo^n luo^n, ca'c nha` la~nh dda.o Sa`igo`n que^n
ma^'t ca'i the^' ddo^.c la^.p cu?a nha` va(n, ca'i the^' ma` qua^`n chu'ng bi.
tri. ngu+o+~ng mo^. va` tin ca^.y. Ro`ng ra~ 20 na(m, tu+` 1954 dde^'n 1975,
nha` va(n chu+a he^` le^n tie^'ng chi'nh thu+'c cho^'ng hay kho^ng cho^'ng che^'
ddo^. Sa`igo`n. Ho. chi? pha?n kha'ng trong tie^?u thuye^'t. Ca'i vu. xuo^'ng
ddu+o+`ng ddi a(n ma`y be^. ra.c, vo^ y' thu+'c cu?a dda'm ky' gia? ba^'t ta`i
vo^ tu+o+'ng va` ma^'y anh va(n si~ Pen Club la` su+. le^n tie^'ng ngu xua^?n
chi? nha(`m bo^i ba^?n che^' ddo^.. Nha` ba'o ddi a(n ma`y vi` tha^'t nghie^.p,
vi` bi. loa.i kho?i nghe^`, vi` thie^'u ta`i na(ng, vi` kho^ng co`n cho vie^'t.
Nhu+ng nha` va(n, la.i la` nha` va(n danh tie^'ng, ta.i sao ho. kho^ng cho chu+~
nghi~a le^n tie^'ng? Ma` pha?i ddi a(n ma`y? A(n ma`y tu+'c la` ca^`n bo^' thi'.
Ai bo^' thi'? Ro^'t cuo^.c ho. ddi a(n ma`y ti`nh thu+o+ng cu?a che^' ddo^..
Tro` cho+i da^n chu? qua' lo+~ la`ng! Mo^.t ngu+o+`i ma` ba'o My~ ca ngo+.i la`
�la~nh tu. tu+o+ng lai� cu?a DDo^ng Nam A' la` Hoa`ng DDu+'c Nha~, to^i tha^'y
cu~ng chi? la` mo^.t te^n ngu da^n trong chu+'c vu. To^?ng Tru+o+`ng Da^n Va^.n.
Trong nhie^.m ky` tho^ng tin, tuye^n truye^`n cu?a o^ng ta, ba'o chi' va` qua^`n
chu'ng xa xa? chu+?i bo+'i su+. ddo^.c die^~n cu?a chu? o^ng ta. Co' mo^.t di.p
may ru+?a nhu.c cho vi. to^?ng tho^'ng anh mi`nh ma` o^ng ta kho^ng bie^'t. La`
ca'i ddie^.n va(n chu'c mu+`ng �to^?ng tho^'ng ta'i dda('c cu+?�. DDie^.n va(n
a^'y ghi te^n mo^.t va(n ha`o the^' gio+'i lo^~i la.c: C. V. Gheorghiu, ta'c
gia? Gio+` thu+' hai mu+o+i la(m, Nie^`m may ma('n thu+' hai, Ke? a(n ma`y phe'p
la. ... dda~ di.ch sang Vie^.t ngu+~ va` la`m say me^ ddo^.c gia? VN. DDie^.n
va(n a^'y ddu+o+.c dda(ng khie^m to^'n tre^n ca? ba'o nha` nu+o+'c. Mo^.t
ngu+o+`i la`m tuye^n truye^`n gio?i thi` dda~ tu'm la^'y co+ ho^.i quy' ba'u
na^`y, in hi`nh va` tie^?u su+? Gheorghiu, nha` va(n cho^'ng ca? CS la^~n tu+
ba?n, mo+`i Gheorghiu qua VN die^~n thuye^'t, pho?ng va^'n. Va` mo^.t ca^u
nga('n khen to^?ng tho^'ng, cha('c cha('n, to^?ng tho^'ng no+? ma`y, no+? ma(.t.
To^?ng tho^'ng su+o+'ng re^n, to^?ng tho^'ng tha^'y gia' tri. mo^.t ca^u nga('n
cu?a nha` va^~n lo^~i la.c ho+n ca? ga^`n hai nhie^.m ky` ddu+o+.c ca^`y ca'o
suy to^n. Mo^.t di.p nu+~a dde^? dda'nh va`o ma(.t Ha` No^.i va` ba'o chi. My~
tha^n Ha` No^.i la` di.p nha` va(n "best seller" cu?a My~, James Jones, ta'c
gia? Tho'i ddo+`i, Nhu+ tha'c ddo^?, Tra^.n chie^'n tre^n ddo^`i voi sang tha(m
VN. O^ng dda~ ra Hue^', ddie^`u tra vu. Ma^.u Tha^n va` tuye^n bo^': �Vu. ta`n
sa't ta^.p the^? o+? Hue^' la` vu. co' y' cu?a CS Ha` No^.i�. Lo+`i tuye^n bo^'
cu?a nha` va(n James Jones, cu?a ta'c gia? �Tant qu'il y aura des hommes� ma`
kha'n gia? dda~ xem muo^'n na't cuo^'n phim nhu+.a cu`ng vo+'i �Comme un
torrent� ... cu~ng chi? ddu+o+.c dda(ng khie^m to^'n tre^n ba'o nha` nu+o+'c.
Va` To^?ng tru+o+?ng Da^n Va^.n kho^ng bie^'t vi` ngu? hay vi` ba^.n ddu+a ca
si~ ddi pha' thai ma` cha(?ng chi.u cho no^?, cha(?ng chi.u mo+`i James Jones
ddi kha('p nu+o+'c die^~n thuye^'t le^n a'n CS kha't ma'u vo+'i chu+'ng co+'
Hue^', Ma^.u Tha^n ro~ ra`ng. To^?ng tho^'ng My~ no'i kho^ng ai nghe. James
Jones no'i ca? the^' gio+'i tin. Tie^'c thay! Ca`ng tie^'c the^m, nhu+~ng Ma(.t
tra^.n, nhu+~ng Ho^.i ddoa`n cho^'ng co^.ng ha?i ngoa.i va^~n kho^ng ha^'p da^~n
no^?i nha` va(n danh tie^'ng. Bo+?i va^.y, cu~ng ddu+`ng ai dda(.t ra tra'ch
nhie^.m na`y no. cho nha` va(n va` ba('t nha` va(n pha?i co' tra'ch nhie^.m na`y
no.. Nha` va(n chi? co' tra'ch nhie^.m vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddo.c ho.. No'i
ddu'ng nha^'t la` du`ng lo+`i cu?a Grabiel Marquez, ta'c gia? Tra(m na(m hiu
qua.nh, gia?i Nobel va(n chu+o+ng 1982: �Bo^?n pha^.n cu?a nha` va(n la` vie^'t
cho hay�. Nha` va(n tu+. cho mi`nh o^m ha`ng ta^'n tra'ch nhie^.m ma` vie^'t
kho^ng hay thi` cu~ng va^'t ddi. To^i dda~ vie^'t ca'i tuye^n ngo^n tha^.t hay.
Tha^.t hay vi` mo+'i chi? co' to^i, o^ng Ca^`u, o^ng Phie^n bie^'t! O^ng Ca^`u
chu+a ki.p xu+? du.ng nhu+~ng gi` to^i vie^'t cho o^ng thi` te^n o^ng dda~ ghim
tre^n mie^'ng bi`a ddo?.
* Ve^` vu. DDinh Xua^n Ca^`u, tru+` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda~ bi. ba('t, bi. tha^?m
va^'n va` dda~ la~nh a'n ba^'t tha`nh va(n, to^i mo+'i da'm ne^u ro~ te^n
tuo^?i.
(co`n tie^'p)