The'p dden (67-69)

[hailua]

Saigon Times, 16.4.07

LGT: Li.ch su+? nu+?a the^' ky? nga(n cha(.n la`n so'ng CS ba`nh
tru+o+'ng o+? Mie^`n Ba('c, xa^m la(ng o+? Mie^`n Nam, dda~ ta.o ne^n
nhie^`u anh hu`ng, trong ddo' co' kho^ng bie^'t bao nhie^u anh hu`ng
a^m tha^`m, co^ ddo+n, mo^.t mi`nh mo^.t bo'ng, pha?i va^.t lo^.n
giu+~a vo`ng va^y dda^`y thu` ha^.n cu?a ke? thu`, ma` va^~n mo^.t
lo`ng mo^.t da. giu+~ tro`n khi' tie^'t cu`ng ta^'m lo`ng thuy? chung
ddo^'i vo+'i to^? quo^'c, da^n to^.c, ddo^`ng ddo^.i... DDa(.ng Chi'
Bi`nh, bu't hie^.u cu?a mo^.t ddie^.p vie^n VNCH ddu+o+.c le^.nh tha^m
nha^.p Mie^`n Ba('c, mo'c no^'i ca'c to^? chu+'c kha'ng chie^'n
cho^'ng co^.ng, cha(?ng may lo.t va`o tay ke? thu`, va` pha?i tra?i
qua ga^`n 20 na(m trong lao tu` CS, la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
anh hu`ng a^m tha^`m, co^ ddo+n tre^n con ddu+o+`ng dda^'u tranh
cho^'ng CS dda^`y ma'u va` nu+o+'c ma('t nhu+ng vo^ cu`ng cao
thu+o+.ng va` chan hoa` lo`ng nha^n a'i, cu?a da^n to^.c VN. Gio^'ng
nhu+ ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ai co' lo`ng ye^u nu+o+'c, dda~ so^'ng trong
lao tu` cu?a CS, dde^`u a^m tha^`m tu+. trao cho mi`nh su+' ma.ng,
tie^'p tu.c chie^'n dda^'u cho^'ng la.i ca'i ta`n nha^~n ba^'t nha^n
cu?a chu? nghi~a CS dde^'n ho+i tho+? cuo^'i cu`ng, ddie^.p vie^n
DDa(.ng Chi' Bi`nh, sau khi ra ha?i ngoa.i, dda~ tie^'p tu.c mie^.t
ma`i suo^'t 20 na(m dde^? hoa`n tha`nh thie^n ho^`i ky' The'p DDen
da^`y ngo't 2000 trang, go'i ghe'm ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng bi ki.ch phi
nha^n dda^`y ru`ng ro+.n trong che^' ddo^. lao tu` CS ma` ta'c gia?
dda~ tra?i qua; ddo^`ng tho+`i tha('p sa'ng cha^n ly': Ngay ca? trong
nhu+~ng no+i ta^.n cu`ng cu?a ta(m to^'i, phi nha^n, ddo'i kha't,
dda^`y thu` ha^.n nha^'t do che^' ddo^. CS ta.o du+.ng, ti`nh ye^u
thu+o+ng ngu+o+`i, lo`ng hu+o+'ng thie^.n, kha't khao ca'i dde.p, to^n
tho+` cha^n ly' va^~n luo^n luo^n hie^.n hu+~u va` ddu+o+.c a^'p u?,
trong lo`ng ngu+o+`i da^n Vie^.t. Nha^.n xe't ve^` thie^n ho^`i ky'
The'p DDen, thi si~ Nguye^~n Chi' Thie^.n dda~ xu'c ddo^.ng nha^.n
xe't: "Chu'ng ta dda~ ddu+o+.c ddo.c kha' nhie^`u ho^`i ky' cu?a
nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cu+.u tu` trong che^' ddo^. lao tu` CS. Mo^~i cuo^'n
ho^`i ky' la` mo^.t ma(.t cu?a va^'n dde^`, nhu+ng theo to^i, "The'p
DDen" la` cuo^'n ho^`i ky' trung thu+.c nha^'t ve^` nhu+~ng ddie^`u
ma` ngu+o+`i tu` ma^'y chu.c na(m DDa(.ng Chi' Bi`nh dda~ pha?i tra?i
qua. Nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c ddu+o+.c ta? cha^n, nhu+~ng ta^m tu+ ddu+o+.c
die^~n ta? cha^n thu+.c ma` mo^~i ngu+o+`i cu+.u tu` khi ddo.c dde^`u
tha^'y co' mi`nh trong ddo'." Nha^n di.p ta'c gia? DDa(.ng Chi' Bi`nh
dde^'n U'c Cha^u, Sa`igo`n Times ha^n ha.nh ddu+o+.c o^ng cha^'p
thua^.n cho phe'p dda(ng ta?i thie^n ho^`i ky' The'p DDen vo^ cu`ng
ha`o hu`ng, so^'ng ddo^.ng va` dda^`y lo^i cuo^'n cu?a o^ng. SGT xin
cha^n tha`nh ca?m o+n ta^'m lo`ng u+u a'i dda(.c bie^.t cu?a ta'c
gia?.

DDa(.ng Chi' Bi`nh - mo^.t ddie^.p vie^n, mo^.t chie^'n si~ trong
bo'ng to^'i cu?a Qua^n Lu+.c VNCH hoa.t ddo^.ng ta.i mie^`n Ba('c VN.

Sa'u Mu+o+i Ba?y

Ba?n di chu'c "so^'ng" cu?a DDa`o Thi. Ba('c

Nhu+~ng nga`y sau ddo', ca`ng chi`m sa^u va`o mu`a DDo^ng, tro+`i
ca`ng la.nh. Mu`a DDo^ng thu+' tu+ cu?a to^i. Da.o na`y, cha^'p pha'p
hi`nh nhu+ que^n ha(?n to^i, kho^ng co`n go.i dde^'n nu+~a. Chi. Ba('c
ca`ng nga`y tro^ng ca`ng tha?m thu+o+ng, chu`m to'c ba.c tre^n dda^`u
chi. nga`y ca`ng ro^.ng ra. Ngay sua^'t co+m ha`ng nga`y, chi. cu~ng
a(n kho^ng he^'t. Trong khi ddo', to^i u+o+'c gi` mo^~i bu+~a ddu+o+.c
a(n 3 sua^'t.
Tha^'y ti`nh tra.ng cu?a chi. nhu+ va^.y, to^i ra^'t lo la('ng cho
su+'c kho?e cu?a chi.. To^i du`ng ddu? thu+' dde^? ddo^.ng vie^n chi..
Nhu+ng, ma(.t ma`y cu?a chi. luo^n luo^n nhu+ ta`u la' he'o u'a cu?a
nhu+~ng nga`y cuo^'i Thu, kho^ng la`m sao ma` tu+o+i ho+n ddu+o+.c.
Tha^'y sua^'t co+m cu?a chi. cu+' dde^? thu+`a, co' khi la` mo^.t
pha^`n ba, mo^.t pha^`n tu+; tha^.m chi', ddo^i khi dde^'n mo^.t
nu+?a. Nhu+ the^', chi. se~ che^'t ma^'t tho^i!
Co`n to^i, to^i cu~ng co' ddie^`u kho' kha(n tranh dda^'u vo+'i chi'nh
mi`nh. Nhie^`u la^`n, to^i nga^.p ngu+`ng ddi.nh mo+? mie^.ng no'i
vo+'i te^n Du+ xin cho^~ co+m a^'y; nhu+ng so+. la~o nghi ngo+` co'
su+. lie^n he^. giu+~a hai ngu+o+`i mie^`n Nam. Pha^`n kha'c, cu~ng
tha^'y ngu+o+.ng ngu`ng. Cho ne^n, nhie^`u khi, tie^'ng no'i tu+o+?ng
nhu+ dda~ ra to+'i co^? ho.ng ro^`i, nhu+ng la.i pha?i nuo^'t sa^u
xuo^'ng, va` ddo^i cha^n la.i tie^'p tu.c cha^.m cha.p, du`ng da(`ng
ddi va`o buo^`ng.
Hi`nh nhu+ te^n Du+ cu~ng tha^'y, va` hie^?u ra nhu+~ng phu't nga^.p
ngu+`ng, dda('n ddo ddo' cu?a to^i; cho ne^n mo^.t ho^m, sau khi ca'c
buo^`ng tra? ba't he^'t, y va`o mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng to^i, no'i vu+`a
ddu? nghe:
- Anh co' ddo'i ra la^'y ba't co+m va`o ma` a(n ...
DDu+o+.c lo+`i nhu+ co+?i ta^'m lo`ng, ma('t to^i sa'ng le^n nhi`n y
va` nhanh nhe.n cha.y ra. O+? cho~ng co+m, mo^.t ba't co+m dda~ a(n
ddu'ng mo^.t nu+?a be^n ba't, co`n nu+?a be^n na`y dde^? nguye^n. To^i
ca^`m va`o, chi? a(n hai phu't la` xong, vi` kho^ng muo^'n la`m ma^'t
nhie^`u thi` gio+` cu?a y. Du` va^.y, la~o Du+ cu~ng dde^? to+'i 10
phu't sau, mo+'i va`o mo+? cu+?a dde^? to^i ddem ba't tra?.
Khi he^'t gio+`, to^i go.i chi. Ba('c ddu+'ng le^n, no'i tha(?ng cho
chi. bie^'t su+. vie^.c nhu+ va^.y. Ma('t chi. long lanh, mo^i chi.
run run xu'c ddo^.ng. Nu+o+'c ma('t chi. cha?y da`i be^n go` ma'. Chi.
quay va`o tu+o+`ng vie^'t:
- Anh ha~y co^' ga('ng a(n ddi. Anh co`n tre?, anh ca^`n pha?i so^'ng,
dde^? co`n la`m nhie^`u vie^.c.
DDu+o+.c a(n the^m co+m, nhu+ng trong hoa`n ca?nh na`y, to^i kho^ng
ca?m tha^'y vui gi`. Tuy ra(`ng to^i kho^ng ba?o chi. nhu+o+`ng co+m
cho to^i, nhu+ng to^i va^~n tha^'y bu+'t ru+'t.
Cuo^'i cu`ng, to^i pha?i ra ddie^`u kie^.n vo+'i chi.. Mo^~i nga`y,
buo^?i sa'ng chi. pha?i co^' ga('ng a(n he^'t sua^'t co+m; buo^?i
chie^`u dde^? la.i mo^.t nu+?a, to^i mo+'i xin a(n. Ne^'u kho^ng, to^i
cu+o+ng quye^'t kho^ng a(n nu+~a. Bo+?i vi`, ma^'y nga`y tru+o+'c
ddo', bu+~a a(n sa'ng va` ca? bu+~a chie^`u, mo^~i bu+~a chi. dde^`u
dde^? la.i nu+?a sua^'t.
Co' le~ te^n Du+ cu~ng tha^'y ky` na`y chi. o^'m ye^'u qua', vi`
the^', thi?nh thoa?ng, sau khi cho he^'t ca'c buo^`ng ra ddo^? bo^
ro^`i, y va`o mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng so^' 6, no'i gi` ddo'. Sau dda^'y,
to^i tha^'y chi. Ba('c ddi sa^u va`o phi'a buo^`ng so^' 9 be^n trong;
ro^`i to^i nghe tie^'ng ma'i cho^?i que't ra`o ra`o, nhe` nhe., ca`ng
lu'c ca`ng nghe ro~ da^`n ra phi'a ngoa`i na`y. Khi chi. que't qua
buo^`ng to^i, to^i cu'i ma(.t xuo^'ng sa't ne^`n dde^? nhi`n. Bo^?ng
to^i thoa'ng tha^'y mo^.t bo'ng kha'c nha^'p nhoa'ng, cho^~ to^'i
cho^~ sa'ng o+? lo^'i ddi no+i chi. Ba('c ddang que't. Pha?n xa. ca^'p
tho+`i, to^i nha^?y le. le^n sa`n na(`m nha('m ma('t. DDu'ng lu'c
a^'y, cu+?a con xoa.ch mo+?: ma(.t te^n Du+.
Cu+?a nho? la.i ddo'ng va`o! Te^n Du+ na`y, tro^ng va^.y, cu~ng qua'i
la('m. Y nghi giu+~a to^i va` so^' 6 co' the^? co' lie^n la.c vo+'i
nhau. Y du+. ddoa'n, lu'c chi. Ba('c que't ngang buo^`ng to^i, co'
the^? to^i se~ cu'i xuo^'ng khe cu+?a dde^? ti`m ca'ch lie^n la.c. Do
ddo', tu+` ngoa`i y ddo^.t xua^'t va`o mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng to^i, dde^?
xem xe't. Nhu+ng, tha^'y to^i va^~n na(`m, nhu+ cha(?ng dde^? y' gi`
dde^'n so^' 6. Cha('c ra(`ng y se~ cho la` mo^'i nghi ngo+` cu?a y
tru+o+'c dda^y, ne^'u co' chu't na`o, la` kho^ng ddu'ng. Hoa(.c i't
ra, mo^'i nghi ngo+` a^'y se~ thu be' la.i.
Khi chi. Ba('c que't ra to+'i ngoa`i sa^n, to^i nghe ngo'ng, pha'n
ddoa'ns xem te^n Du+ hie^.n ddang ddu+'ng o+? dda^u va` ddang la`m
gi`. Tru+o+'c he^'t, pho`ng ho+` phi'a sau lu+ng, to^i dde^? ma('t
sa't xuo^'ng ne^`n nhi`n qua khe cu+?a, quan sa't lo^'i ddi giu+~a hai
da^~y buo^`ng xa` lim: kho^ng co' gi`. Nhu+ va^.y, co' the^? te^n Du+
ra ngo^`i la.i o+? ba`n tru+.c, hoa(.c ddu+'ng o+? sa^n? La`m the^'
na`o dde^? bie^'t ro~ ddu+o+.c dda^y? Chi? ca^`n thoa'ng nho^ ca'i
dda^`u le^n khung cu+?a so^? to nhi`n ra sa^n xa` lim, la` ngu+o+`i
o+? ngoa`i tha^'y ngay. A'c mo^.t ca'i la` khi nho^ dda^`u le^n dde^?
cho ta^`m ma('t vu+`a ddu? quan sa't, ca'i dda^`u to'c tho` le^n
tru+o+'c ro^`i. Cho+.t, to^i nghi~ ra mo^.t ca'ch. Ne^'u te^n ca'n
bo^. na`o ddang ddu+`ng o+? sa^n dde^? theo do~i, quan sa't ca'c cu+?a
so^?; trong ta^m y la` cho+` thoa'ng nhi`n ca'i "dda^`u to'c dden"
tho` le^n la` bie^'t ngay. Va^.y, ba^y gio+` to^i se~ ngu+?a ha(?n
ma(.t le^n tra^`n, ro^`i tu+` tu+` na^ng cao le^n dde^'n me'p du+o+'i
cu?a cu+?a so^?, ma('t to^i se~ lie^'c ngang. Vi` mang ta^m nie^.m
tre^n, ne^n ca'n bo^. se~ kho^ng dde^? y' me'p du+o+'i cu+?a so^?.
Cha`, to^i dda~ thoa'ng nhi`n tha^'y te^n Du+ ddang ddu+'ng o+? sa^n,
ddu+a ma('t nhi`n kha('p ca'c cu+?a so^? cu?a ca'c buo^`ng. To^i im
a('ng tu.t nhanh xuo^'ng. Chu+`ng 5 phu't sau, to^i la.i la`m mo^.t
"cu'" y nhu+ va^.y nu+~a. To^i va^~n co`n tha^'y y ddi ddi la.i la.i
o+? sa^n, ma('t va^~n kho^ng ro+`i ca'c cu+?a so^?.
DDo^.t nhie^n, y ddi va`o vo+'i da'ng ve? vo^.i va`ng. Va^.y la` y
dda~ nhi`n tha^'y buo^`ng na`o dda~ ddu+'ng le^n? To^i ho+i cho^.t
da., vo^.i va`ng na(`m ngay xuo^'ng, dda('p cha(n. Tie^'ng mo+? cu+?a
so^? nho? cu?a buo^'ng so^' 14. Gio.ng te^n Du+ vang le^n, sa('c va`
la.nh:
- Anh ddu+'ng le^n la`m gi`?
Mo^.t gio.ng ye^'u o+'t, run run nga('t qua~ng:
- Thu+a cu., to^i xin lo^~i cu., xin cu. tha cho!
Te^n Du+ qua't to, ve? ra^'t bu+.c tu+'c:
- Anh nga^.m mie^.ng anh la.i! Anh bo? cha^n va`o cu`m ngay!
- To^i xin nha^.n lo^~i! Sau, to^i xin hu+'a kho^ng bao gio+` ta'i
pha.m.
- To^.i cu?a anh ta`y ddi`nh, kho^ng bie^'t lo, kho^ng do^'c mo^.t
lo`ng sa'm ho^'i, thi` kho^ng co`n co' nga`y ve^` vo+'i vo+., vo+'i
con! To^i ma` ba('t ddu+o+.c anh mo^.t la^`n nu+~a, vu+`a cu`m, vu+`a
ghi ho^` so+!
Ro^`i, tie^'ng cu+?a nho? nghe ddo'ng dde^'n "xa^.p" mo^.t ca'i nhu+
tu+'c bu+.c. Qua su+. vie^.c na`y, to^i nha^.n tha^'y hai ddie^?m:
1. Phu+o+ng pha'p quan sa't cu?a to^i hu+~u hie^.u. To^i dda~ ddu+'ng
le^n, nhi`n ra sa^n 2, 3 la^`n, te^n Du+ ddu+'ng ngay o+? sa^n ri`nh
ma` kho^ng bie^'t.
2. Ke^'t ho+.p vo+'i mo^.t so^` la^`n tru+o+'c dda^y, to^i co' the^?
ke^'t lua^.n: - 3 la^`n tru+o+'c, o+? nhu+~ng tha'ng tru+o+'c, khi
ba('t ddu+o+.c so^' 8 co' lu+o+~i "lam", Du+ chi? ma('ng va` ti.ch
thu; so^' 10 ddu+'ng le^n nhi`n ra ngoa`i, va` so^' 1 no'i chuye^.n
vo+'i so^' 3, y dde^`u qua't, chu+?i, na.t no^., ro^`i cho mo^.t ma`n
le^n lo+'p chu+' kho^ng cu`m.
Ngu+o+.c la.i, hai la^`n kha'c, mo^.t la^`n te^n Ba(`ng ba('t ddu+o+.c
buo^`ng so^' 12 ddu+'ng le^n, khi ba^'t cho+.t y tu+` co^?ng xa` lim
ddi va`o, y ba'o cho Du+ (la` ca'n bo^. ddang tru+.c chi'nh xa` lim).
Ho^m sau, te^n Du+ dda~ cu`m buo^`ng so^' 12, ma(.c cho la.y van xin
tha. Mo^.t la^`n, va`o buo^?i to^'i, mu. Hoa va`o buo^`ng ta('m go^.i,
dda~ ba('t ga(.p buo^`ng so^' 3 ddu+'ng le^n. Sa'ng ho^m sau, Du+ va`o
so+'m, cu`m buo^`ng so^' 3.
Ta.i sao nhu+ va^.y? Chi? co' the^? gia?i dda'p: te^n Du+ dda~ kho^n
khe'o xu+? the^' theo lo^'i "nha^'t cu+?, lu+o+~ng tie^.n". Chi'nh y
ba('t ddu+o+.c tu` du+o+'i quye^`n y tru+.c chi'nh, pha.m no^.i quy, y
chi? gia'o du.c nga(n ngu+`a, kho^ng cu`m. DDo^'i vo+'i tu`, nhu+
va^.y y la` ngu+o+`i co' lo`ng nha^n co' ddo^. lu+o+.ng; ddo^'i vo+'i
to^? chu+'c, vo+'i ca^'p tre^n, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tu` y coi i't pha.m
no^.i quy chu+'ng to? ddu+o+.c la` y co' uy, co' kha? na(ng gia'o du.c
ne^n tu` kho^ng he^` pha.m no^.i quy, pha?i ngoan ngoa~n mo.i be^`.
Ngu+o+.c la.i, tu` dde^? cho ca'n bo^. kha'c ba('t ga(.p pha.m no^.i
quy du` nhe., y cu~ng kho^ng tha, to? ra(`ng cu+'ng ra('n, chuye^n
chi'nh vo+'i ke? thu`.
To'm la.i, to^i dda~ na('m ddu+o+.c y' cu?a te^n Du+. Sau dda^'y,
ne^'u ca^`n hoa.t ddo^.ng hay nha^'p nho?m gi`, cu+' ddo+.i gio+`,
nga`y la~o a^'y tru+.c.
Ngay chie^`u ho^m a^'y, to^i go.i chi. Ba('c ddu+'ng le^n, dde^? da(.n
do` mo^.t va`i quy ddi.nh cho cha('c a(n: khi chi. ra sa^n, ne^'u to^i
ho mo^.t tie^'ng la` y' ho?i co' ca'n bo^. ddu+`ng ri`nh kho^ng; ne^'u
y ngo^`i o+? ba`n, chi. ho tra? lo+`i mo^.t tie^'ng. Im la(.ng la` co'
ca'n bo^. ri`nh. Khi to^i dda~ ddu+'ng, to^i chi? ca^`n dde^? y' phi'a
co^?ng so+. ba^'t cho+.t co' ca'n bo^. na`o kha'c o+? co^?ng ddi va`o.
Va^.y, ne^'u ca'n bo^. o+? ba`n ddu+'ng da^.y ddi ra sa^n, chi. ddu+a
tay ga~i dda^`u, to^i se~ hie^?u va` thu.t xuo^'ng; hoa(.c y ddu+'ng
le^n ddi va`o phi'a trong, co' nghi~a la` y va`o ri`nh mo+? cu+?a
nho?, chi. cu+' ra hie^.u tay va^~y ngo^`i xuo^'ng.
Thu+.c ra, khi mo^.t ngu+o+`i ra sa^n, giu+~a sa^n, giu+~a a'nh sa'ng
chang chang o+? ngoa`i tro+`i, mi`nh co' ddu+'ng le^n cu~ng chi? la`
dde^? nhi`n nhau, thi?nh thoa?ng cu+o+`i, dde^? cho ma('t mi`nh tha^'y
mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n ddo^`ng loa.i; chu+' nga`y na`o cu~ng nhi`n tha^'y
te^n a'o va`ng, tuy cu~ng la` ddo^`ng loa.i nhu+ng kho^ng pha?i la`
ba.n, va^~n ca?m tha^'y kho^ khan, co^ ddo+n na(.ng tri~u mo^.t be^n
lo`ng.
Hai ho^m sau, chi. Ba('c la.i ddu+o+.c ra que't nu+~a. Khi chi. que't
ngang buo^`ng to^i, tu+. nhie^n to^i tha^'y mo^.t go'i gie? buo^.c
la.i, to ba(`ng ngo'n tay nho?, nhe't va`o khe cu+?a, nhu+ng ho+i
khi't, ne^n nhe't ma~i chi? va`o ddu+o+.c mo^.t nu+?a. To^i le. tay,
ca^`m la^'y ru't va`o, ro^`i giu'i ngay va`o ca.p qua^`n. Mo^.t lu'c
sau, nghe ngo'ng kho^ng co' gi`, to^i mo+'i mo+? ra: ddo' la` mo^.t
mie^'ng gie? cu~, to ba(`ng ba`n tay. Ke`m the^m ca'i kim chi. da('t
va`o be^n trong tra? la.i to^i. Mie^'ng gie? co' the^u chu+~, kie^?u
chu+~ in, ba(`ng chi? nhuo^.m ma'u; ma'u dda~ tha`nh ma`u na^u xa'm.
No^.i dung nhu+ sau: "Trang con ye^u quy'! DDa^y la` di va^.t ba(`ng
ma'u cu?a me.. DDo+`i me. sa('p ve^` vo+'i ca't bu.i. Chu' Bi`nh la`
ddo^`ng chi', la` chie^'n hu+~u cu?a me. se~ thua^.t la.i cho con
nhu+~ng nga`y cuo^'i cu?a ddo+`i me., ta.i xa` lim a'n che'm Ho?a
Lo`."
Mo^.t luo^`ng la.nh tu+` xu+o+ng so^'ng cha.y ngu+o+.c le^n ga'y, la`m
hai tay to^i ca^`m mie^'ng gie? cu~ng nhu+ run run. To^i vu+`a ca?m
ddo^.ng tru+o+'c mo^'i ti`nh ma^~u tu+? thie^n lie^ng, vu+`a thu+o+ng
cho mo^.t ngu+o+`i me. ta`n lu.i trong kho^? ddau, va` cay dda('ng.
To^'i ho^m ddo', to^i go.i chi. Ba('c. Chi. ddu+'ng le^n, ma('t dda~
ddo? hoe. Nhu+ va^.y la` chi. ddang kho'c tha^`m mo^.t mi`nh. Chi.
la^'y kha(n lau nu+o+'c ma('t ro^`i vie^'t cho to^i:
- Ro^`i dda^y, trong muo^n ne?o cuo^.c ddo+`i, anh ha~y co^' ga('ng
ti`m ho?i, giu'p ddo+~ cha'u Trang. Du` to^i co' nha('m ma('t, va^~n
mo^.t lo`ng tin no+i anh kho^ng bo? cha'u Trang. DDa^'y la` gio.t ma'u
duy nha^'t cu?a to^i co`n la.i tre^n co~i ddo+`i na`y.
Tha^'y chi. qua' kho^? ddau, la.i na(n ni? kha^?n khoa?n, to^i dda`nh
pha?i nha^.n lo+`i cho chi. vu+`a lo`ng. Chu+' trong lo`ng mi`nh, to^i
tu+. hie^?u, dda~ ro+i va`o tay CS, nga`y ve^` cu~ng nhu+ la' ba`ng
giu+~a mu`a DDo^ng va^.y.
Chi. cu~ng no'i le^n mo^.t u+o+'c nguye^.n cu?a chi. la` ne^'u sau
na`y, Tro+`i Pha^.t thu+o+ng cho chi. kho^ng che^'t, va` co' nga`y
ddu+o+.c tha? ra, chi. nguye^.n ti`m dde^'n ngo^i chu`a Cao o+? Ba('c
Ninh dde^? the^' pha't a(n ma`y cu+?a Pha^.t.
Qua y' kie^'n ddo', to^i tha^'y chi. tha^.t la.c ha^.u. La.c ha^.u o+?
cho^~ chi. nhi`n va` xe't ve^` CS 5 na(m ve^` tru+o+'c cu~ng gio^'ng
nhu+ 5 na(m ve^` sau. Chi. chu+a tha^'y ddu+o+.c ra(`ng, khi mo+'i
chie^'m ddu+o+.c toa`n bo^. mie^`n Ba('c, chu'ng co`n nhie^`u vie^.c
kha'c ca^`n pha?i lo ngay, lo tru+o+'c dda~: ddo' la` quo^'c pho`ng
va` an ninh. Quo^'c pho`ng pha?i ma.nh. Co`n an ninh, ba^'t cu+'
chuye^.n gi` ve^` chi'nh tri., chu'ng pha?i la`m ngay; la^'y ba.o
lu+.c cu?a quo^'c pho`ng gia?i quye^'t ta^.n go^'c. Co`n ca'c va^'n
dde^` kha'c, se~ da^`n da^`n. Vu+~ng ca'i na`y ro^`i mo+'i no'i to+'i
ca'i kia. Khi ddu+o+.c ca'i kia, mo+'i ho?i to^.i ca'i na`y,
v.v...Ve^` va^'n dde^` to^n gia'o, chu'ng chu? tru+o+ng se~ die^.t
sa.ch. Ne^'u co`n pha?i dde^? to^n gia'o, du+o+'i hi`nh thu+'c na`o
ddo', cha(?ng qua vi` nhu+~ng ddie^`u kie^.n kha'c, vi` ca'i the^'
cu?a chu'ng, vi` co`n mo^.t nu+?a nu+o+'c la` mie^`n Nam nu+~a; cho
ne^n, chu'ng chu+a the^? ra tay die^.t sa.ch to^n gia'o mie^`n Ba('c.
Nhu+ng, vi` va^'n dde^` an ninh xa~ ho^.i, chu'ng pha?i bo'p cha(.t
to^n gia'o, hoa(.c se~ thay ddo^?i no^.i dung. Bi`nh cu~, ru+o+.u
mo+'i. Hi`nh thu+'c to^n gia'o va^~n the^', nhu+ng do ngu+o+`i cu?a
chu'ng ddie^`u ha`nh. DDu+`ng ho`ng mo^.t ca' nha^n na`o ddo' tu+.
ti`m dde^'n chu`a, ti`m nha` tho+`, dde^? ddi tu theo y' mi`nh. Tuy
hie^?u nhu+ va^.y, nhu+ng trong ti`nh ca?nh na`y cu?a chi., ha~y dde^?
chi. hy vo.ng, u+o+'c mo+. Tha'i ddo^. cu?a to^i pha?i la`m nhu+
va^.y, trong lo`ng to^i la.i ca`ng da`o da.t thu+o+ng chi. ho+n. To^i
dda~ hi`nh dung tha^'y con ddu+o+`ng chi. se~ pha?i ddi to+'i. Ne^'u
kho^ng che^'t trong tay chu'ng, chi. cu~ng bi. dda^`y ddi mo^.t co^ng
no^ng tru+o+`ng he?o la'nh na`o ddo' cho to+'i khi chi. ta`n lu.i gu.c
xuo^'ng o+? dda^'y ma` tho^i, chu+' ddu+`ng ho`ng chu'ng buo^ng tha.
Ma^'y nga`y ho^m sau, te^n Du+ la.i mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng cho chi. ra
que't nu+~a, nhu+ng chi. dda~ me^.t qua' ro^`i. Ma^'y la^`n tru+o+'c,
chi. co^' ga('ng ra que't, mu.c ddi'ch la` dde^? ddu+a tra? ca'i kim
va` gu+?i la' thu+ ma'u cho to^i. Chi. a(n uo^'ng nhu+ va^.y, ngay
ddu+'ng hay ngo^`i, cu~ng hoa ma`y, cho'ng ma(.t, huo^'ng chi la`
que't do.n. Do ddo', cha(?ng hie^?u te^n Du+ ca^n nha('c, suy nghi~ ra
sao, y la.i mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng to^i, ba?o to^i la^'y cho^?i ra que't.
DDu+o+.c ra que't do.n, ddo^'i vo+'i ca?nh so^'ng o+? xa` lim, la`
mo^.t... a^n hue^.. Ba^'t cu+' ngu+o+`i tu` na`o cu~ng muo^'n ra kho?i
ca(n buo^`ng cha^.t he.p cu?a mi`nh. Ra ngoa`i, vu+`a the^nh thang,
vu+`a co' kho^ng khi' trong la`nh, chi? tru+` qua' o^'m ye^'u, kho^ng
ke^?.
Vi` la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n ddu+o+.c que't do.n, to^i to? ra he^'t
su+'c ngoan ngoa~n. Trong thu+.c te^', to^i chu+a he^` vi pha.m mo^.t
ddie^`u khoa?n no^.i quy na`o cu?a xa` lim ca?. Du`ng chu+~ thu+.c
te^' kho^ng ddu'ng la('m, pha?i no'i la` y chu+a ba('t ddu+o+.c to^i,
hoa(.c ca'n bo^. kha'c, cu~ng va^.y. Va? la.i, nhu+ to^i dda~ tri`nh
ba`y, y co' mo^.t chu't thie^.n ca?m vo+'i to^i. Tuy nhie^n, vi` to^i
dda~ co' la^`n toan vu+o+.t ngu.c, the^m va`o ddo' la` y' chi' pha^'n
dda^'u dde^? co`n so^'ng cu?a to^i, ma` y dda~ nhie^`u la^`n tha^'y,
cu~ng la`m y "ne^?" va` e nga.i. Vi` the^', tuy cho to^i ra ngoa`i
la`m ve^. sinh, nhu+ng y va^~n dde^? y' coi chu+`ng va` theo do~i.
Ngu+o+`i to^i, da.o na`y tro^ng dda~ ddo+~ ha(?n. Nhu+~ng ba('p tay,
ba('p cha^n cu?a to^i dda~ co' thi.t nhum nhu'm le^n. Nhu+~ng khi
ngo^`i kho^ng buo^?i to^'i, tay to^i xoa xoa bo'p bo'p cho^~ ba('p
thi.t, lo`ng to^i vui buo^`n la^~n lo^.n. Vui mu+`ng vi` tha^'y co+
the^? mi`nh co' su+'c ha(?n le^n, nu+o+'c da tay cha^n dda~ ddo+~ xa'm
xanh ddi; nhu+ng, buo^`n vi` ma'u thi.t na`y la` cu?a chi. Ba('c.
Ga^`n hai tha'ng nay, tru+` nhu+~ng ho^m ca' bie^.t do ca'n bo^. kha'c
kho^ng ke^?, co`n thi` nga`y na`o cu~ng co' the^m nu+?a sua^'t co+m.
To^i co' xu+o+ng thi.t ra, trong khi chi. Ba('c la.i ca`ng nga`y ga^`y
dde't la.i, la`m sao lo`ng to^i ye^n ddu+o+.c. DDa~ co' la^`n, to^i
go.i chi. Ba('c va` vo+` no'i la` ky` na`y to^i hay bi. ddau bu.ng
la('m; cho ne^n kho^ng the^? a(n the^m co+m ddu+o+.c nu+~a. To^i cu~ng
no'i vo+'i te^n Du+ nhu+ va^.y. Mu.c ddi'ch cu?a to^i la`, ne^'u to^i
kho^ng a(n nu+~a, chi. Ba('c pha?i co^' ma` a(n he^'t. Nhu+ng, sau
ddo' 5 nga`y lie^`n, to^i va^~n tha^'y chi. dde^? co+m du+ nhu+ va^.y,
kho^ng bie^'t pha?i la`m sao ho+n, dda`nh pha?i xin te^n Du+ dde^? a(n
la.i.
Trong lo`ng to^i va^~n bi. da(`n va(.t, giu+~a vie^.c nhi`n tha^'y
su+'c kho?e mo^~i nga`y mo^~i hao mo`n cu?a chi. Ba('c va` ca'i ddo'i
cu?a ba?n tha^n mi`nh tru+o+'c nhu+~ng ba't co+m thu+`a, cha('c se~
ddo^? ddi khi tra? ve^` nha` be^'p. Nga`y nga`y, nhi`n ta^'m tha^n
o^'m ye^'u, tie^`u tu.y cu?a chi. Ba('c, ta^m tra.ng cu?a to^i nhu+
trong gia ddi`nh co' ngu+o+`i ruo^.t thi.t bi. be^.nh na(.ng sa('p
che^'t va^.y.
Da^`n da`, ngay vie^.c ddu+'ng le^n vie^'t, no'i chuye^.n vo+'i to^i,
chi. cu~ng chi? chi.u ddu+.ng ddu+o+.c 5, 10 phu't la` cu`ng, ro^`i
la.i ngo^`i xuo^'ng. Nhi`n chi. thie^?u na~o, mo^~i khi ddu+'ng le^n
ngo^`i xuo^'ng pha?i vi.n hai tay va`o tu+o+`ng, ma'i dda^`u co' cho`m
to'c ba.c ca`ng tra('ng ra ddang ngoe.o mo^.t be^n gu.c va`o tu+o+`ng.
tu+. du+ng nie^`m xu'c ddo^.ng da`o da.t da^ng le^n trong lo`ng la`m
to^i muo^'n kho'c. Ti`nh ddo^`ng chi', nghi~a ddo^`ng ba`o tra`n
nga^.p ho^`n to^i.
Mo^.t buo^?i sa'ng, sau khi co+m nu+o+'c va` tra? ba't xong, to^i
ddang na(`m ngo'ng cho+` te^n Du+ ra kho?i xa` lim, dde^? go.i chi.
Ba('c no'i chuye^.n, thi` la.i co' tie^'ng cha^n y ddi va`o. Mo+?
cu+?a buo^`ng to^i, te^n Du+ no'i nho? ddu? mo^.t mi`nh to^i nghe:
- Anh ra dda^y, to^i nho+` mo^.t ti'!
To^i vo^.i va`ng theo y ra! To+'i buo^`ng so^' 13, y la.i no'i cu~ng
vo+'i gio.ng nho nho?:
- Anh ve^` buo^`ng, la^'y ca'i bo^ cu?a anh, va` ca'i cho^?i, la^'y
nu+o+'c do^.i, ro^`i que't sa.ch tu+` tre^n sa`n tro+? xuo^'ng hai
buo^`ng so^' 13 va` buo^`ng so^' 2.
To^i nhanh nhe.n ve^` buo^`ng la^'y ca'i bo^ va` cho^?i va`o nha`
ta('m la^'y nu+o+'c. Vu+`a mo+? vo`i, to^i vu+`a suy nghi~: cu~ng may,
tu+` nga`y to^i va`o xa` lim I dde^'n nay dda~ ga^`n hai na(m ro^`i,
to^i va^~n co' y' muo^'n nhi`n hai ca(n buo^`ng na`y xem no' ra la`m
sao, ma` chu+a co' di.p, ho^m nay la.i ddu+o+.c que't ru+?a. DDie^`u
na`y, nhu+ va^.y, cu~ng no'i le^n la` te^n Du+ co' pha^`n tin tu+o+?ng
to^i the^m. Co' le~ y tha^'y to^i nhie^`u la^`n ra que't do.n, cha?
co' to` mo`, hoa(.c vi pha.m nhu+~ng ddie^`u ca^'m ky. quy ddi.nh
trong xa` lim.
Hai buo^`ng na`y, lu'c mo+'i bu+o+'c cha^n va`o, ddie^`u dda^`u tie^n
dda^.p va`o ma('t to^i la` ca'i ma`u ghe^ ro+.n cu?a toa`n bo^. ca(n
buo^`ng: bo^'n bu+'c tu+o+`ng va` ca? du+o+'i ne^`n dde^'n tre^n
tra^`n, ta^'t ca? dde^`u que't vo^i dden, la`m cho toa`n bo^. ca(n
buo^`ng to^'i om, ddu+o+.m dda^`y kho^ng khi' tu` ngu.c, the^ lu+o+ng,
a?m dda.m. Hai ca'i cu`m na(`m hai be^n sa`n cu~ng dden ngo`m. Tre^n
tu+o+`ng, ngay tha(?ng ddo^'i die^.n vo+'i cu+?a ra va`o, co' treo
mo^.t ta^'m ba?ng go^~ ki'ch thu+o+'c khoa?ng 80x40, vie^'t ba(`ng
so+n tra('ng tre^n ne^`n ddo? loe't: "DDa^y la` no+i thu+.c da^n Pha'p
dda~ giam ha~m, cu`m ke.p, dda^`y ddo.a ddo^`ng chi' Tra^`n DDa(ng
Ninh".
DDo' la` ca^u o+? buo^'ng so^' 13, co`n o+? buo^`ng so^' 2 cu~ng
vie^'t nhu+ va^.y, chi? thay va`o te^n kha'c la` "Hoa`ng Va(n Thu.".
Lu'c que't do.n xong, cu~ng la` lu'c he^'t gio+` buo^?i sa'ng, to^i
ve^` buo^`ng. Buo^?i tru+a ho^m ddo', to^i loay hoay la^'y dda^`u mu~i
kim ca^.y nhie^`u cho^~ tre^n tu+o+`ng trong buo^`ng mi`nh, to^i
tha^'y co' cho^~ to+'i 8 lo+'p vo^i que't. Nhu+ va^.y, tu+` khi xa^y
le^n xa` lim na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c que't vo^i i't ra la` 8 la^`n ro^`i.
Trong 8 lo+'p vo^i ddo', to^i tha^'y chi? co' hai la^`n ma`u va`ng,
va` 6 la^`n ma`u tra('ng. Kho^ng he^` co' mo^.t la^`n que't vo^i dden
na`o ca?. Nhu+ va^.y, ro~ ra`ng lo+'p vo^i dden o+? hai buo^`ng so^'
13 va` so^' 2 la` do chu'ng que't the^m le^n, mu.c ddi'ch lo`e bi.p
vo+'i nhu+~ng pha'i ddoa`n tham quan la` thu+.c da^n Pha'p da~ man,
du`ng ma`u dden dde^? uy hie^'p tinh tha^`n ngu+o+`i tu`, va` dde^?
cho ca?nh ngu.c tu` cu?a thu+.c da^n Pha'p the^m ru`ng ro+.n, da~ man,
ta`n kho^'c ho+n.
Ho^m nay, la` nga`y ta('m. Khi chi. Ba('c ra sa^n pho+i qua^`n a'o,
to^i ddu+'ng le^n nhi`n chi.. To^i gia^.t mi`nh, ngo+~ nga`ng, da.
to^i xo't xa nhu+ vo` muo^'i. Hai ba`n cha^n cu?a chi. phu`, ta'i
nho+.t. Hai mi ma('t cu?a chi. mo.ng le^n. Bo^`i ho^`i va` xu'c
ddo^.ng, to^i pha?i cu'i ma(.t xuo^'ng, kho^ng da'm nhi`n chi. nu+~a.
Mo+'i chi? bo^'n, na(m nga`y kho^ng nhi`n tha^'y chi., ma` chi. dda~
thay ddo^?i nhanh dde^'n nhu+ va^.y! To^i tha^'y thu+o+ng chi. qua'!
Lu'c na`y, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ho. ha`ng tha^n thi'ch cu?a chi., nhu+~ng
ngu+o+`i cu?a ti`nh ba'o mie^`n Nam dda~ dda^?y chi. xuo^'ng vu+.c
tha(?m cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i, co' ai bie^'t la` chi. sa('p che^'t kho^ng?
Co' ai co`n hi`nh dung ra chi. ddang dde^'m tu+`ng nga`y, ddo+.i cho+`
gio+` ve^` lo`ng dda^'t trong ta(m to^'i, tu?i nhu.c cu?a mo^.t kie^'p
ngu+o+`i ha^?m hiu, ba^'t ha.nh kho^ng?...
Gio+` dda^y, to^i ngo^`i vie^'t la.i nhu+~ng gio`ng na`y, dda~ vu+`a
ddu'ng 19 na(m ro^`i. Kho^ng hie^?u chi. Ba('c co`n so^'ng, ddang
chi`m no^?i no+i dda^u, hay chi? co`n la` mo^.t na('m xu+o+ng kho^,
vu`i no^ng o+? mo^.t xo' ru+`ng heo hu't na`o ddo'? Co`n cha'u Tra^`n
Ngo.c Trang, ma?nh gie? di va^.t cu?a me. cha'u, chu' va^~n co`n
giu+~. Ma?nh gie? ddo' co`n ma'u kho^ va` ho+i hu+o+'ng cu?a me.
cha'u. Lu'c na`y, cha'u o+? dda^u? Phu+o+ng tro+`i na`o? Co`n so^'ng,
hay dda~ nhu+ the^' na`o trong nhu+~ng bie^'n thie^n, ddo^?i thay cu?a
cuo^.c ddo+`i, cu?a dda^'t nu+o+'c? La`m sao, chu' thu+.c hie^.n
ddu+o+.c lo+`i ky' tha'c cu?a me. cha'u ba^y gio+`?...

Sa'u Mu+o+i Ta'm

Bi' ma^.t ve^` nu+~ si~ Thu.y An!... DDa`o Thi. Ba('c ro+`i Ho?a Lo`!

Tha^'m thoa't tho+`i gian la.i sa('p to+'i He`, nhi`n nhu+~ng chie^'c
la' ba`ng mo+'i ho^m na`o, chi? nhu' mo^.t chu't ma`u xanh xanh o+?
nhu+~ng dda^`u ca`nh, the^' ma` gio+` dda^y dda~ ca(ng tro`n ma`u con
ga'i. Nga`y nga`y ddo'n a'nh ma(.t tro+`i dde^? khoe hu+o+ng vo+'i
gio', dde^? la('c lu+, la? lo+i vo+'i ddo+`i. Ma^'y con se? la.c dda`n
dda ti`nh cu+' ru'c ma~i va`o nhu+~ng chu`m la'. Nhu+~ng chie^'c ca'nh
nho nho? kho?a dda^.p la`m nhu+~ng chie^'c la' non rung rinh. Va`i
so+.i to+ tro+`i, bo^`ng be^`nh va('t ngang sa^n xa` lim. Lo'ng la'nh
ma`u va`ng o'ng cu?a na('ng, nhu+ muo^'n cuo^'n buo^.c, ni'u ke'o
na`ng Xua^n sa('p tu+` gia~ khung tro+`i na`y dde^? ve^` mo^.t
phu+o+ng tro+`i kha'c. Mo^.t co+n gio' thoa?ng nhe. dda^?y mu`i
hu+o+ng cuo^'i Xua^n va`o trong buo^`ng. Tu+. nhie^n ngu+.c to^i cao
da^`n, mu~i to^i cong le^n, hi't sa^u ma~i va`o cho dda^`y a('p, ca'i
hu+o+ng nga^`y nga^.y cu?a chie^`u Xua^n ga^`n ta`n.
Mo^.t tie^'ng ddo^.ng ma.nh va`o ca'nh co^?ng xa` lim la`m to^i gia^.t
mi`nh. Ca'nh co^?ng tu+` tu+` mo+? to, to^i vo^.i va`ng ngo^`i thu.p
xuo^'ng, lo`ng ha~y co`n la^ng la^ng luye^'n tie^'c ba^`u tro+`i
cuo^'i Xua^n. Nhu+~ng tie^'ng bu+o+'c cha^n le.p xe.p ddi qua sa^n xa`
lim. Ba^'t cho+.t vang le^n mo^.t ca^u: "turn right here!" cu?a mo^.t
ngu+o+`i Vie^.t no'i tie^'ng Anh la`m tai to^i ve^?nh le^n nghe
ngo'ng. Kho^ng mo^.t tie^'ng no'i na`o kha'c nu+~a, chi? co' nhu+~ng
tie^'ng bu+o+'c cha^n ddi da^`n ve^` phi'a buo^`ng to^i, ro^`i tie^'ng
mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng so^' 10, ngay ca.nh buo^`ng to^i. Ha(?n pha?i la`
ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c! Ngoa.i quo^'c ma` pha?i va`o xa` lim lu'c
na`y, cha.y dda(`ng tro+`i cu~ng chi? la` My~. To^i ye^n la(.ng nghe
ngo'ng. To^i chi? nghe ddu+o+.c gio.ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t lu'c na~y, ca'i
gi` cu~ng ba(`ng tie^'ng Anh, nhu+ng ra^'t nho?, nghe tie^'ng
ddu+o+.c, tie^'ng ma^'t. Kho^ng he^` nghe tie^'ng dda'p la.i cu?a ai.
To^i ddang ddu+'ng ddo+` ngu+o+`i, va^.n du.ng mo.i gia'c quan dde^?
theo do~i, ddo^.t nhie^n cu+?a so^? nho? buo^`ng to^i ba^.t mo+?
khie^'n to^i gia^.t tho't ngu+o+`i la.i. Te^n Du+, y tro? mo^.t ngo'n
tay va`o ngoay ngoa'y, mie^.ng no'i:
- Anh do.n he^'t ddo^` cu?a anh la.i, chuye^?n buo^`ng!
To^i vu+`a vo+ go.n cha(n chie^'u va` mo^.t so^' thu+' la(.t va(.t,
vu+`a nga^?n ngo+ tie^'c nuo^'i lo la('ng, kho^ng bie^'t ba^y gio+`
chu'ng chuye^?n to^i ddi dda^u. Vu+`a xa chi. Ba('c, vu+`a kho^ng co`n
ddie^`u kie^.n dde^? nhi`n tha^'y ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c (cha('c cu~ng
vi` ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c na`y to^i mo+'i pha?i chuye^?n buo^`ng va`o
da^~y trong, hoa(.c xa` lim kha'c?), va` mo^.t ddie^`u to lo+'n
kha'c...ma^'t nguo^`n tie^'p te^' ha`ng nga`y.
Khi te^n Du+ mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng, to^i nhi`n y nhu+ luye^'n tie^'c ma`
co' le~ to^i co' thie^.n ca?m nha^'t o+? Ho?a Lo`, be^n phi'a ke?
thu`. To^i ra kho?i buo^`ng vo+'i mo^.t ta^m tra.ng ba^ng khua^ng.
La.i tha^'y y mo+? buo^`ng so^' 12! Lo`ng to^i ngu'ng ngua^?y mu+`ng
vui, nhu+ vu+`a dda'nh ma^'t mo^.t mo'n tie^`n, la.i ti`m tha^'y
ddu+o+.c. Nhu+ va^.y, chu'ng chi? so+. to^i o+? ca.nh buo^`ng so^' 10
tho^i. O+? buo^`ng so^' 12 na`y, ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u kie^.n
thua^.n lo+.i, to^i tu+o+?ng ma^'t, va^~n co`n.
To^i loay hoay que't do.n la.i sa.ch se~ ca(n buo^`ng. Cho+.t, to^i
nhi`n tha^'y tre^n tu+o+`ng, cho^~ ga^`n phi'a cu`m, co' ma^'y do`ng
chu+~ kha('c sa^u va`o tu+o+`ng: "Ta.i no+i na`y, to^i dda~ du`ng
ddu~a cho.c, hu?y bo? mo^.t con ma('t cu?a to^i, dde^? pha?n ddo^'i
che^' ddo^. CS ddo^.c ta`i phi nha^n dda`n a'p da~ man va(n nghe^.
si~. Thu.y An: Lu+u Thi. Ye^'n".
To^i ma^`n mo` ma~i mo+'i ddo.c ddu+o+.c he^'t nhu+~ng gio`ng tre^n.
Pha^`n vi` bo'ng cu?a chie^'c cu`m la`m to^'i ddi; pha^`n kha'c, vi`
la^u nga`y dda~ que't the^m mo^.t lo+'p vo^i (cu~ng may, gio`ng chu+~
lu'c kha('c kha' sa^u, ne^n lo+'p vo^i kho^ng la^'p he^'t ddu+o+.c).
Nhu+ng, ne^'u ai va`o buo^`ng chi? ddu+'ng nhi`n ca'i cu`m, vo^ ti`nh
se~ kho^ng nhi`n tha^'y gio`ng chu+~ vie^'t o+? cho^~ ho+i khua^'t
na`y.
To^i la.i ca`ng to` mo`, ti`m kha('p chung quanh bo^'n bu+'c tu+o+`ng,
ca? nhu+~ng cho^~ khua^'t dde^? xem, may ra co`n tha^'y gi` kha'c
nu+~a kho^ng, trong khi o'c to^i la^`n gio+? la.i do`ng tho+`i gian xa
xu+a...Khi ddo', to^i co`n o+? mie^`n Nam, co' la^`n to^i ddu+o+.c
ddo.c tre^n to+` nha^.t ba'o Tu+. Do, thie^n pho'ng su+. "Be^n Kia
Bu+'c Ma`n Sa('t" cu?a o^ng Hoa`ng Ha?i Thu?y, trong ddo' co' no'i
dde^'n cuo^.c ddo+`i ti`nh ca?m, cu~ng nhu+ su+. nghie^.p cu?a nu+~
si~ Thu.y An. Mo^'i ti`nh cu?a ba` co' lie^n quan dde^'n Hoa`ng Quo^'c
Vie^.t. Theo o^ng Hoa`ng Ha?i Thu?y, Hoa`ng Quo^'c Vie^.t la` te^n
ddie^.p vie^n so^' mo^.t cu?a mie^`n Ba('c. Hie^.n, y la` chu? ti.ch
To^?ng Co^ng DDoa`n. Y la` mo^.t trong 5 te^n dda^`u so?. Nhu+~ng
nga`y lang thang dda^y ddo' tre^n mie^`n Ba('c, to^i thu+o+`ng tha^'y
mo^.t ca'i khung 5 ta^'m hi`nh, ddu+o+.c treo mo.i no+i: o+? nhu+~ng
co^?ng cha`o, o+? nhu+~ng co+ quan kha('p ca'c ti?nh tre^n mie^`n
Ba('c. Chi'nh giu+~a la` ca'o Ho^`, sa't hai be^n la` Tru+o+`ng Chinh
va` Pha.m Va(n DDo^`ng, hai be^n ngoa`i nu+~a la` Vo~ Nguye^n Gia'p
va` Hoa`ng Quo^'c Vie^.t.
Nhu+ va^.y, nu+~ si~ Thu.y An dda~ bi. giam o+? buo^`ng na`y. Ba^y
gio+`, kho^ng bie^'t ba` o+? dda^u? DDa~ che^'t hay co`n so^'ng o+?
tra.i na`o?... Cha(?ng hie^?u sao, to^i cu+' hi`nh dung tu+o+?ng
tu+o+.ng nu+~ si~ Thu.y An cha('c la` dde.p la('m. Sau na`y, khi ddi
tra.i trung u+o+ng, to^i ddu+o+.c ga(.p nhie^`u nha^n va^.t trong ddo'
co' Thu.y An, Nguye^~n Va(n Tie^'n, To^n Tha^'t Ta^`n, Ly' Ca` Sa,
Nguye^~n Chi' Thie^.n, v.v... mo+'i bie^'t bao nhie^u va^'n dde^`.
Lu'c ddo', to^i mo+'i co' ddie^`u kie^.n dde^? hie^?u cu. the^? ve^`
nhie^`u su+. vie^.c.
Chie^`u ho^m a^'y, la.i tha^'y ddu+a mo^.t ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c
nu+~a va`o buo^`ng so^' 8. Vi` co' hai ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c, ne^n
da.o na`y co' nhie^`u ca'n bo^. ra va`o xa` lim. DDa so^' la` ca'n
bo^. la.! Qua nhu+~ng nga`y tru+o+'c dda^y, to^i dda~ tha^'y buo^`ng
so^' 7 giam hai ngu+o+`i: mo^.t ngu+o+`i ga^`y, cao, chu+`ng 35
tuo^?i, nu+o+'c da ba'nh ma^.t; co`n ngu+o+`i kia ta^`m thu+o+'c,
khoa?ng 30 tuo^?i, dda(.c bie^.t co' hai con ma('t lo^`i ra ngoa`i
nhu+ hai con ma('t ca' va`ng. Anh cao ddi cung thu+o+`ng xuye^n. Anh
ma('t lo^`i thi?nh thoa?ng mo+'i ddi. Nhu+ng, dda(.c bie^.t, nhie^`u
la^`n anh cao ddi ro^`i; anh ma('t lo^`i mo+'i ddu+o+.c go.i,
va`...la.i ve^` tru+o+'c. Va^.y, anh cao kho^ng the^? bie^'t anh ma('t
lo^`i co' ddi cung, ne^'u anh na`y muo^'n gia^'u.
Tha^'y hie^.n tu+o+.ng la., ne^n to^i dda(.t va^'n dde^`. DDa~ dda(.t
tha`nh va^'n dde^`, ta^'t nhie^n, pha?i dde^? y' theo do~i, nghe
ngo'ng vo+'i ddie^`u kie^.n co' the^? ddu+o+.c cu?a to^i. DDa~ hai
la^`n, khi anh cao ddi cung ro^`i, te^n Du+ mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng so^' 7
go.i anh ma('t lo^`i ra. Chu+`ng nu+?a gio+` sau, to^i tha^'y anh
ma('t lo^`i o^m mo^.t vo^'c vo? chuo^'i, la' ba'nh va` gia^'y ba'o
vu.n ra ngoa`i phi'a co^?ng xa` lim, mo^.t lu'c sau mo+'i tro+? va`o.
Tu+` ddo', to^i dda~ co' the^? ta.m ke^'t lua^.n: tu` ra kho?i co^?ng
xa` lim pha?i co' ca'n bo^. ddi theo; o+? dda^y, ha('n ddi mo^.t
mi`nh. Qua vie^.c na`y, to^i la.i hie^?u the^m la`, cho^~ ba`n tru+.c
cu?a te^n Du+ co' mo^.t ca'i tu? nho?, kho^ng chi? dde^? ddu+.ng
gia^'y to+`, ho^` so+, ma` co`n la` cho^~ dde^? thu+'c a(n, ba'nh
tra'i. DDa~ bie^'t ve^` te^n ma('t lo^`i nhu+ va^.y, ne^n to^i kho^ng
bao gio+` le^n tie^'ng no'i chuye^.n vo+'i ca'c buo^`ng kha'c. Nha^'t
la` ddo^'i vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ngoa.i quo^'c mo+'i va`o. Nhu+ng,
vi` ti'nh to` mo`, to^i cu~ng quye^'t se~ go.i thu+? hai buo^`ng 10
va` 8 khi na`o ddie^`u kie^.n cho phe'p dde^? to^i no'i chuye^.n, may
ra bie^'t ddu+o+.c ti' chu't, du` tie^'ng Anh cu?a to^i chi? thuo^.c
loa.i co'c ke^u.
Hai nga`y sau, khoa?ng nu+?a dde^m, to^i ddang ngu? bo^~ng gia^.t
mi`nh, nghe nhu+ co' tie^'ng ga^'u ke^u o+? trong ru+`ng. To^i mo+?
ma('t, bo` da^.y, ve^?nh tai nghe. Thi` ra, tie^'ng buo^`ng so^' 10...
kho'c! Pha?i no'i, dda^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n to^i nghe tha^'y
tie^'ng mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda`n o^ng My~ kho'c. Nghe o^`ng o^.c, ho^
ho^', ra^'t la. tai. Mo+'i thoa'ng nghe, tie^'ng kho'c y he^.t tie^'ng
ngu+o+`i Da DDo? ha't o+? tre^n... ma`n a?nh ma` to^i va^~n thu+o+`ng
coi tru+o+'c dda^y. Ma~i mo^.t lu'c sau, vi` co' tie^'ng na^'c va`
tie^'ng xu.t xi.t to^i mo+'i bie^'t ddo' la` tie^'ng kho'c. Sau ddo',
bo^~ng mo^.t tie^'ng kho'c kha'c la.i u+ u+? ru'c le^n o+? buo^`ng
so^' 8. Co' le~ vi` nghe tha^'y buo^`ng so^' 10 kho'c, vi` ddo^`ng
ca?nh, la.i la` ddo^`ng ba`o, ne^n cu~ng cha.nh lo`ng da`o da.t
nguo^`n co+n...
To^i hie^?u, hai anh o+? My~ su+o+'ng quen ro^`i, ba^y gio+` pha?i o+?
ca?nh na`y. DDi`u hiu, ti.ch mi.ch, hoang va('ng nhu+ nghi~a ddi.a tha
ma suo^'t dde^m nga`y, ba?o sao kho^ng buo^`n. DDa^'y la` ca'c anh
kho^ng bi. cu`m, ne^'u cu`m nhu+ chu'ng to^i, cha('c ca'c anh cha?
chi.u no^?i dda^u.
To^i dda~ bie^'t cha('c ca'c anh la` phi co^ng My~. Vi` sa'ng ho^m
qua, khi go.i buo^`ng so^' 10 ddi cung, to^i dda~ lie^`u ddu+'ng le^n
quan sa't theo kie^?u cu?a to^i. To^i dda~ tha^'y mo^.t anh ma(.c bo^.
ddo^` so.c ma`u ddo? sa^.m nhu+ cu?a to^i. Vi` cao le^u nghe^u ne^n
dda^`u cu?a anh ga^`n sa't xa` tre^n, cu?a co^?ng xa` lim. Anh ddang
no'i va` chi? tro? ra sa^n tra.i chung vo+'i te^n ca'n bo^. la. ma(.c
qua^`n a'o thu+o+`ng da^n. Anh so^' 10 co' bo^. ma(.t du+~ tu+o+'ng.
Bo^. ra^u quai no'n nhu+ cho^?i xe^? ca`ng la`m cho ddo^i ma('t anh
xanh the^m. Ngu+o+`i tro^ng nhu+ va^.y, ma(.t nhu+ the^' ma` la.i...
kho'c! Du` trong lo`ng ra^'t tho^ng ca?m va` to^.i nghie^.p cho anh,
nhu+ng cu+' tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng ra ne't ma(.t anh khi kho'c, to^i cu~ng
pha?i mi?m cu+o+`i mo^.t mi`nh.
To^i cu~ng dda~ tha^'y mo^~i nga`y hai la^`n, mo^.t te^n ca'n bo^.
da^~n mo^.t anh tu` hi`nh su+. be^ hai tay hai ca'i ddi~a to, tre^n
mo^~i ddi~a thu+o+`ng co' khu'c ba'nh mi`, mo^.t qua? chuo^'i va`
mo^.t mie^'ng thi.t to ba(`ng ba ddo^'t ngo'n tay. Nhi`n kha^?u pha^`n
a(n cu?a phi co^ng My~, to^i dda~ pha?i dda(m chie^u suy nghi~. DDo+`i
la` the^'! Con nha` gia^`u bao gio+` cu~ng ho+n. Ngu+o+`i da^n cu?a
nu+o+'c lo+'n, du` the^' na`o cha(ng nu+~a, du` ai co' ho^ bi`nh
dda(?ng da^n chu? dde^'n ra'ch me'p, va^~n cu+' ho+n ngu+o+`i da^n
mo^.t nu+o+'c nho?.
Ra^'t nhie^`u va^'n dde^`, tre^n co~i ddo+`i na`y, no'i la` mo^.t
vie^.c, nhu+ng trong thu+.c te^' la.i la` mo^.t vie^.c kha'c, hoa`n
toa`n kho^ng gio^'ng nhau. Nhu+ng, dda~ ba?o "ddo+`i la` the^'", thi`
co`n nghi~ suy la`m qua'i gi` cho me^.t o'c. Tho^i, ha~y tro+? ve^`
vo+'i xa` lim.
Bo+?i a'nh na('ng, nhu+~ng chie^'c la' ba`ng tho+`i ky` con ga'i tu+`
ma`u la' chuo^'i non, nay dda~ ddo^?i tha`nh ma`u xanh tha^~m. Nhu+~ng
chu`m hoa nho nho? dda~ ba('t dda^`u xua^'t hie^.n. Ha`ng nga`y,
nhu+~ng tra^.n gio' no^`m Nam tho^?i bay ra('c tu+' tung dda^`y sa^n
nhu+~ng ca'nh hoa ba`ng va`ng hoe be' ti'. Tha^.t cu~ng la., ca^y
ba`ng to nhu+ va^.y, ma` bo^ng la.i be' ti' teo! Cu+' hai nga`y, te^n
Du+ la.i mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng cho to^i ra que't sa^n mo^.t la^`n. Chi?
que't hoa ba`ng ma` mo^~i la^`n cu~ng ho^'t ddu+o+.c ca? thu'ng.
Nhie^`u lu'c tay to^i vo^'c tu+`ng vo^'c hoa va`ng nga.t nga`o hu+o+ng
sa('c bo? va`o so.t, to^i tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng ne^'u kho^ng pha?i la`
tu`, ddu+o+.c so^'ng trong ca?nh na`y tho^i, cu~ng tuye^.t ro^`i!
Nhu+~ng khi que't sa^n, thi?nh thoa?ng te^n Du+ cu'i xuo^'ng ba`n hi'
hoa'y vie^'t, to^i la.i lie^'c nhe. ve^` phi'a buo^`ng so^' 10, mong
anh phi co^ng ddu+'ng le^n dde^? nhi`n mo^.t ca'i cho ddo+`i ddo+~
te^.
Nhu+~ng khi que't sa^n, thi?nh thoa?ng te^n Du+ cu'i xuo^'ng ba`n hi'
hoa'y vie^'t, to^i la.i lie^'c nhe. ve^` phi'a buo^`ng so^' 10, mong
anh phi co^ng ddu+'ng le^n dde^? nhi`n mo^.t ca'i cho ddo+`i ddo+~
te^. To^i lie^'c hoa`i, ma` khung cu+?a so^? cu?a anh va^~n la` ma`n
a?nh tro^'ng tro+n ma~i cha? tha^'y no^?i hi`nh.
To^i bie^'t anh nho+' que^ hu+o+ng, nho+' gia ddi`nh, anh buo^`n
nhie^`u la('m. Nhu+ng, suo^'t nga`y cu+' ngo^`i gu.c trong ca(n
buo^`ng nho? ddo' dde^? ma` suy nghi~, anh cu~ng cha(?ng gia?i quye^'t
ddu+o+.c gi` ho+n. Ha~y thi?nh thoa?ng ddu+'ng le^n, nga('m thie^n
nhie^n, tha? ho^`n bay bo^?ng vo+'i tro+`i ma^y, hoa la'... Anh ba.n
chie^'n hu+~u o+i! To^i cu~ng hie^?u, tru+o+'c khi tu.i chu'ng ddu+a
anh va`o xa` lim, chu'ng cu~ng ba('t ca'c anh ho.c thuo^.c no^.i quy
xa` lim ro^`i. Nhu+ng, ho.c la` mo^.t chuye^.n, vi` dda^'y la` y' cu?a
chu'ng. Chu'ng ta va^~n co`n pha?i co' y' cu?a chu'ng ta nu+~a chu+'!
Ma^'y ho^m tru+o+'c, hai dde^m lie^`n ma'y bay My~ xa^m nha^.p ba^`u
tro+`i Ha` No^.i. To^i dda~ ddu+o+.c thu+o+?ng thu+'c nhie^`u tra^.n
ma` to^i go.i la` ho^.i hoa dda(ng. To^i da'm ba?o dda?m tu+` xu+a
dde^'n gio+`, chu+a co' ai to^? chu+'c ddu+o+.c mo^.t dde^m hoa dda(ng
sinh ddo^.ng va` vi~ dda.i nhu+ va^.y.
To^'i nay, to^i ddi ngu? so+'m dde^? dde^'n dde^m, ne^'u co' mo+?
ho^.i, to^i co`n thu+'c ma` tham gia. Cho+.t, nghe tie^'ng ca'n bo^.
va`o mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng so^' 6: buo^`ng cu?a chi. Ba('c. To^i vo^.i
cu'i xuo^'ng sa't ne^`n, nhi`n qua khe~ cu+?a, tha^'y chi? co' mo^.t
ca'n bo^.. Nhi`n ddo^i de'p ra^u, to^i chu+a the^? pha'n ddoa'n
ddu+o+.c la` te^n ca'n bo^. na`o thi` chi. Ba('c dda~ ddi ra. To^i
ho^`i ho^.p va` tha^'y lo`ng ba^ng khua^ng, vi` chi. Ba('c o^m he^'t
cha(n ma`n ddi. Nhu+ va^.y, la` chuye^?n buo^`ng? Chuye^?n xa` lim?
Hay chuye^?n tra.i?...
Khi hai ngu+o+`i ra to+'i sa^n xa` lim, to^i la('ng nghe va` ti'nh qua
tie^'ng bu+o+'c cha^n, khi ra ga^`n to+'i co^?ng xa` lim, to^i mo+'i
da'm ddu+'ng da^.y. Lu'c na`y, ne^'u te^n ca'n bo^. no' quay ha(?n
ngu+o+`i la.i, y mo+'i nhi`n tha^'y to^i. Nhu+ng ne^'u muo^'n quay
nhu+ va^.y, qua nhu+~ng ddo^.ng ta'c cu?a co+ the^? tru+o+'c khi xoay
ngu+o+`i, to^i co' the^? bie^'t tru+o+'c ddu+o+.c. Ho+n nu+~a, quay
ha(?n ngu+o+`i la.i 180 ddo^. nhu+ va^.y nhanh nha^'t cu~ng pha?i 1
pha^`n 10 gia^y, tho+`i gian na`y cu~ng ddu? dde^? to^i thu.p ngu+o+`i
ngo^`i xuo^'ng. Cha(?ng ai xa la., chi'nh la` te^n The^' "mu~i ca`
chua". Tha?o na`o, y va`o lu'c na`o to^i cu~ng kho^ng hay, te^n na`y
qua'i la('m!
Nhi`n hi`nh a?nh chi. Ba('c ma(.c chie^'c a'o ca'nh na^u, dda^`u
ddo^.i chie^'c kha(n vuo^ng ma^`u xanh nha.t, hai tay tu'm o^m bo.c
cha(n ma`n khe^. ne^., i` a.ch, ta^.p te^~nh bu+o+'c ra kho?i co^?ng
xa` lim, lo`ng to^i bo^`i ho^`i, xo't xa thu+o+ng ca?m. Nhu+ va^.y la`
chi. Ba('c dda~ chuye^?n kho?i xa` lim na`y ro^`i! Chu'ng se~ ddu+a
chi. ddi dda^u? Qua xa` lim kha'c cu?a Ho?a Lo`? Hay ddi tra.i trung
u+o+ng?... DDo', cu~ng la` hi`nh a?nh cuo^'i cu`ng cu?a chi. Ba('c ma`
to^i nhi`n tha^'y, dde^? ro^`i, kho^ng co`n bao gio+`, du` nghe mo^.t
ai no'i ve^` chi.. Lu'c ba^'y gio+`, tro+`i dda~ ba('t dda^`u va`o
He`, na(m 1966, va` nhu+ va^.y, chi. Ba('c dda~ o+? xa` lim I na`y
ddu+o+.c 6 tha'ng.
Hai anh phi co^ng My~, ca`ng ve^` sau ca`ng kho'c nhie^`u, cu+' va`o
lu'c dde^m khuya. Co' nhie^`u dde^m, tie^'ng kho'c cu?a hai anh cu~ng
la`m to^i cha.nh lo`ng nho+' nha`. Khie^'n to^i cu~ng bi. lo^i cuo^'n
va`o vo`ng bo^`i ho^`i tho^?n thu+'c. To^i kho^ng muo^'n nghe hai anh
kho'c nu+~a. To^i va^~n co`n nhu+~ng no'ng na?y, bu+.c bo^.i cu?a
tuo^?i tre?, ne^n dda~ kho^ng da(`n ddu+o+.c, to^i qua't le^n:
- Don’t cry anymore!
Ca? hai anh dde^`u im ba(.t tie^'ng kho'c, co' le~ ca'c anh tu+o+?ng
te^n ca'n bo^. na`o qua't! Qua't ca'c anh xong, ca'c anh im la(.ng,
to^i la.i tha^'y buo^`n cu+o+`i, xen la^~n mo^.t chu't a^n ha^.n. Ca'c
anh co' bie^'t kho^ng, to^i ra^'t thi'ch no'i chuye^.n vo+'i ca'c anh.
Du` sao, cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a ca'c anh va` to^i dda~ co' mo^.t khoa?ng
tho+`i gian cu`ng tho+? hi't mo^.t ba^`u kho^ng khi' cu?a Ho?a Lo`.
Ma` ca'c anh va^~n go.i la` "Kha'ch sa.n Hilton" ddo'! Cu`ng chung
mo^.t ky? nie^.m, chu'ng ta de^~ tro+? tha`nh ba.n la('m chu+', pha?i
kho^ng ca'c chie^'n hu+~u? So+? di~, to^i pha?i nghi~ va` no'i vo+'i
ca'c anh nhie^`u, bo+?i vi`, trong dda'y lo`ng to^i, to^i va^~n
ngu+o+~ng mo^. va` bie^'t o+n ca'c anh dda~ chie^'n dda^'u cho que^
hu+o+ng to^i, mo^.t dda^'t nu+o+'c ma` ngu+o+`i da^n qua' kho^? cu+.c,
la^`m than na`y.
Tha^.t la` nhanh, mo+'i ho+n mo^.t tua^`n le^~, tu+` nhu+~ng chu`m la'
ba`ng sum sue^ dda~ nhu' ra nhu+~ng cu.m qua? xanh be' ti'; chi? va`i
nga`y kho^ng nhi`n, lu'c xem la.i, dda~ tha^'y qua? to ga^`n ga^'p
ddo^i ro^`i. Tha^.m chi', to^i co' ca?m tu+o+?ng la` to^i nhi`n tha^'y
nhu+~ng qua? ba`ng lo+'n da^`n tu+`ng gio+`, to da^`n theo su+'c no'ng
cu?a mu`a He`.
He` na(m nay cu~ng tha^.t la., cha(?ng tha^'y chu' ve sa^`u ke^u?
Cha(?ng bie^'t ca'c chu' ddi dda^u, hay na(m nay dda(.c bie^.t ngu?
muo^.n! A`, pha?i ro^`i, co' le~ nhu+~ng tie^'ng dda.n ro+i, bom no^?
nhu+ rung chuye^?n tro+`i dda^'t cu?a loa`i ngu+o+`i dda~ la`m cho
ca'c chu' gia^.n, hay so+., bo? ddi no+i kha'c, dde^? ngu? ye^n mo^.t
gia^'c da`i DDo^ng Xua^n cha(ng? Chu+' la`m sao gia?i dda'p ddu+o+.c
la`, na(m nay to^i cha? nghe tha^'y nhu+~ng tie^'ng vi vu re^`n ri~
cu?a ba?n nha.c co^.ng ddo^`ng vi~ dda.i cu?a da^n to^.c ca'c chu'
ta^'u le^n: "ddie^.u nha.c tru+a He`" ha`ng na(m!
Chi? khoa?ng mu+o+`i nga`y sau, ca? hai anh phi co^ng My~ dda~
ddu+o+.c ra tra.i chung. Ra^'t tie^'c, to^i chu+a ti`m ddu+o+.c di.p
na`o ho?i chuye^.n ca'c anh. To^i chi? ddoa'n, vie^.c ca'c anh pha?i
va`o xa` lim co' the^? la` vi` khi o+? ngoa`i tra.i chung, ca'c anh
quen ti'nh ngang ta`ng cu?a ngu+o+`i hu`ng, trong the^' gio+'i tu+. do
ma` to^i va^~n nhi`n tha^'y tre^n ca'c phim a?nh, ne^n dda~ to? chi'
khi' qua^.t cu+o+`ng ba^'t khua^'t vo+'i tu.i CS. Nhu+ng, ca'c ba.n
cu~ng nhu+ to^i, chi? bie^'t chua^?n bi. ddu+o+ng dda^`u vo+'i dao
bu'a, su'ng dda.n ma` dda~ kho^ng bie^'t va` kho^ng ngo+`, la` ke?
thu` cu?a chu'ng ta la.i kho^'n na.n va` ti tie^.n tu'm ngay ca'i
huye^.t cu?a con ngu+o+`i dde^? chi pho^'i. DDo' la` ca'i da. da`y
cu?a chu'ng ta! Chu'ng he`n tha^.t, nhu+ng cu~ng pha?i co^ng nha^.n
mo^.t ddie^`u la` ca'i he`n ddo' cu?a chu'ng dda~ tu+`ng la`m cho
nhu+~ng qua'i kie^.t anh hu`ng, ba dda^`u sa'u tay, pha?i chi.u phe'p
mo^.t be^`; hoa`n toa`n ngoan ngoa~n theo su+. chi? huy cu?a chu'ng!
Hai anh phi co^ng My~ o+? buo^`ng so^' 10 va` so^' 8 ra tra.i chung
va`o buo^?i sa'ng, thi` ngay buo^?i chie^`u ho^m a^'y, to^i nghe co'
nhu+~ng tie^'ng le'o nhe'o ba'o ca'o. Qua ddo', to^i bie^'t ddu+o+.c
la` chu'ng se~ ddu+a va`o buo^`ng so^' 9 hai ...co^ ga'i.
Tu+` nga`y chi. Ba('c ddi, to^i cu~ng tha^'y buo^`n. Vu+`a va('ng
mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n ddo^`ng chi', ddo^`ng nghie^.p, vu+`a ma^'t mo^.t
nguo^`n "chi vie^.n" quan tro.ng cho cuo^.c so^'ng ha`ng nga`y. Ca'i
bu.ng dda~ quen ddu+o+.c hu+o+?ng the^m tie^u chua^?n, ba^y gio+`
pha?i tro+? ve^` mu+'c cu~ mo^.t ca'ch ddo^.t ngo^.t, ca'i mu+'c chi?
dda'p u+'ng ddu+o+.c 1/3 so^' lu+o+.ng da. da`y mong muo^'n ha`ng
bu+~a. Vi` va^.y, i't nga`y sau, to^i pha?i ba('t buo^.c a'p du.ng
la.i ca'i phu+o+ng pha'p... nhi.n buo^?i sa'ng, dde^? da`nh buo^?i
chie^`u a(n hai kha^?u pha^`n va`o mo^.t, va` chi? hai nga`y thu+' Ba
va` thu+' Sa'u mo^~i tua^`n. Vi` ma?i lo cho ca'i a(n, ne^n co' mo^.t
so^' ngu+o+`i va`o, to^i cha? ddo^n dda'o ne'p cho^~ na`y, ngo' cho^~
kia dde^? to` mo` ti`m hie^?u ve^` ngu+o+`i mo+'i to+'i nhu+ mo.i khi.
Chie^`u ho^m nay, sau khi ca'c buo^`ng dda~ tra? ba't xong, tu+.
nhie^n te^n Du+ va`o mo+? cu+?a buo^`ng to^i. Va^~n ba(`ng gio.ng no'i
nho nho?, nhu+ng ho^m nay co' ve? ti`nh ca?m ho+n:
- Anh ddi ra ba`n to^i ga(.p!
Khi to^i dda~ ngo^`i ghe^' dda^u dda^'y, y to? ve? tha^n ma^.t:
- Nga`y mai, to^i nghi? phe'p ha`ng na(m, se~ co' ca'n bo^. kha'c
dde^'n thay. Va^.y, anh pha?i nho+' lo+`i to^i: trong tho+`i gian to^i
kho^ng co' ma(.t o+? xa` lim, anh ddu+`ng dde^? cho ca'n bo^. na`o
ba('t ddu+o+.c anh vi pha.m no^.i quy. Ne^'u to^i ve^`, nghe ca'c
ddo^`ng chi' pha?n a?nh, anh ddu+`ng tra'ch to^i!
Qua ca^u da(.n do` a^n ca^`n cu?a y, to^i tha^'y y cu~ng thu+`a hie^?u
"ti'p" ngu+o+`i nhu+ to^i hay to` mo`, su.c sa.o; chi? co' ddie^`u y
chu+a ba('t ddu+o+.c to^i ta.i tra^.n, hoa(.c la` y bie^'t nhu+ng lo+`
ddi, kho^ng muo^'n ba('t. Nhu+ng du` the^' na`o, to^i cu~ng kho^ng
the^? phu? nha^.n la` y co' thie^.n ca?m vo+'i to^i. Thu+.c va^.y,
theo nguye^n ta('c, cha? co' mo^.t te^n ca'n bo^. na`o la.i go.i tu`
trong xa` lim ra ba?o mi`nh sa('p ddi phe'p ca?, la.i co`n da(.n do`
ddie^`u na`y, ddie^`u no.. Nghi~ nhu+ va^.y, ne^n to^i cu~ng tu+o+i
ne't ma(.t:
- O^ng ve^` phe'p o+? dda^u?
- Ve^` que^.
- Que^ o^ng o+? dda^u a.?
- Ha` Nam.
- O^ng cho to^i gu+?i lo+`i tha(m ho?i va` cha`o mu+`ng gia ddi`nh!
Y co' ve? xu'c ddo^.ng, dda^`u cho'p mu~i y ddo? le^n ro^`i rung rung,
ma('t y nhi`n to^i dda(m dda(m va` ga^.t ga^.t dda^`u. Tha^'y tho+`i
co+ thua^.n lo+.i, to^i ho?i luo^n mo^.t va^'n dde^` tha('c ma('c
trong lo`ng ma` chu+a co' di.p:
- Thu+a o^ng, ho^m no. co' mo^.t o^ng ddi vo+'i o^ng Tri` va` o^ng Le^
va`o buo^`ng tha(m to^i, o^ng bie^'t la` ai kho^ng?
Y ho+i nga^.p ngu+`ng, nhi`n to^i mo^.t lu'c, ro^`i no'i cha^.m ra~i:
- O^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Long, gia'm ddo^'c so+? Co^ng An Ha` Ho^.i.
A` , ra the^'! Tha?o na`o hai te^n Tri` va` Le^ ne^? so+. la` pha?i.
Te^n Long na`y co`n la` dda.i ta', thu+o+`ng vu. Tha`nh U?y Thu? DDo^
cu?a ca? nu+o+'c "xa~ ho^.i chu? nghi~a" na`y nu+~a dda^'y. Tre^n
dda`i truye^`n thanh Ha` No^.i, to^i va^~n thu+o+`ng xuye^n nghe no'i
nhie^`u ve^` y.
Sau khi tra? lo+`i to^i ca^u na`y, hi`nh nhu+ te^n Du+ ca?m tha^'y
ra(`ng y dda~ no'i ho+i nhie^`u; ma` la.i no'i ca? nhu+~ng ddie^`u
kho^ng ddu+o+.c phe'p no'i; vi` va^.y y to? y' ba?o to^i va`o...

Sa'u Mu+o+i Chi'n

Nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng ba^?n thi?u cu?a bo.n qua?n gia'o vo+'i nu+~ tu`
Sa'ng ho^m sau, te^n ca'n bo^. tru+.c xa` lim thay Du+, kho^ng ai xa
la., chi'nh la` te^n The^' "mu~i ca` chua"! Ngay tu+` tra^.n thu+?
lu+?a trong nga`y dda^`u tie^n to^i bu+o+'c cha^n va`o Ho?a Lo`,
giu+~a to^i vo+'i y ca'ch dda^y ddu'ng 4 na(m ve^` tru+o+'c; cho to+'i
ba^y gio+`, ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o ga(.p nhau, to^i va` y va^~n bo^'n
ma('t gu+o+`m gu+o+`m. To^i ra^'t ha^.n y, nhu+ng kho^ng the^? la`m
gi` ddu+o+.c. Co`n y, la` mo^.t te^n ra^'t nho? nhen, va(.t va~nh,
va^~n sa(~n lo`ng thu` ghe't to^i, ne^n he^~ co' di.p la` y ha`nh to^i
dde^'n no+i , dde^'n cho^'n. Du` sao to^i chi? la` mo^.t te^n tu`,
ne^n va^~n cu'i ma(.t la`m theo y' y, nhu+ng ruo^.t gan to^i ha(?n
pha?i ti'm ba^`m la.i. Va^.y ma`, ba^y gio+` no' la.i tru+.c xa` lim
nu+~a. Do ddo', vo+'i te^n hung tha^`n luo^n nghi~ ca'ch "tru` e^'m"
to^i na`y, to^i quye^'t ddi.nh, trong tho+`i gian na`y, to^i pha?i
na(`m im nghi? ngo+i.
Khi y mo+? to+'i cu+?a buo^`ng to^i, o^m bo^ ddi va`o nha` ta('m ma`
to^i bie^'t la` ca(.p ma('t ti hi' ddang dda(m dda(m nhi`n to^i soi
mo'i, nhu+ ma('t cu?a con ra('n nhi`n con e^'ch va^.y. Nhu+ng, ca'i
the^' cu?a mo^.t te^n tu`, to^i pha?i lo+` ddi coi nhu+ kho^ng bie^'t.
Sau khi cho tu` a(n co+m nu+o+'c xong, y va`o mo+? cu+?a cho hai co^
buo^`ng so^' 9 ra sa^n cho+i! Hai co^ na`y, mo+'i va`o xa` lim
ddu+o+.c ba, bo^'n nga`y, ma` te^n The^' la.i mo+? cu+?a cho ra sa^n
cho+i? DDie^`u na`y la`m cho to^i to` mo`, muo^'n nhi`n xem hai co^
la` loa.i ngu+o+`i na`o. Tuy nhie^n, cu~ng bie^'t te^n The^' na`y
ra^'t qua'i quy?. Y cu~ng chi? ho+n to^i 1, 2 tuo^?i tho^i; nhu+ng,
nhi`n ddo^i ma('t lu+o+n cu?a y, to^i bie^'t y qua? thu+.c kho^ng
vu+`a. To^i cu~ng hie^?u ddie^`u la`m y thi'ch nha^'t, la` ba('t
ddu+o+.c to^i pha.m no^.i quy. Vi` the^', to^i la.i ca`ng pha?i ca^?n
tha^.n. Kho^ng hie^?u sao, tu+. trong lo`ng to^i, to^i la.i tha^'y ham
muo^'n tranh dda^'u, thu? ddoa.n vo+'i te^n The^' na`y, mo^.t te^n
qua'i nha^'t trong nhu+~ng te^n qua?n gia'o o+? Ho?a Lo` Ha` No^.i.
To^i ddang ba(n khoa(n nghi~ ngo+.i, ti'nh ca'ch la`m sao dde^?
ddu+'ng le^n nhi`n hai co^ buo^`ng so^' 9 ddang o+? ngoa`i sa^n;
cho+.t gia^.t mi`nh vi` tie^'ng qua't cu?a te^n The^':
- Anh kia, ddu+'ng le^n la`m gi` dda^'y?
Bie^'t ngay ma`, to^i tu+. nhu?, the^' na`o y cha(?ng ri`nh! Tie^'ng
cha^n ra^`m ra^.p ddi vo^.i va`o buo^`ng so^' 10. Buo^`ng 10 cu~ng
mo+'i va`o ddu+o+.c hai nga`y sai khi anh phi co^ng My~ ra tra.i
chung, va^.y ma` dda~ bi. ba('t pha.m no^.i quy. Tha^.t xui xe?o!
Tie^'ng cu`m ru't nghe dde^'n "xoa.ch", kho^ng he^` co' mo^.t tie^'ng
ho?i, chi? co' gio.ng te^n The^' kho^ ddanh:
- Bo? cha^n va`o!
Tho+`i co+ dde.p, lu'c na`y chi'nh la` lu'c an toa`n nha^'t, nhanh
nhu+ mo^.t con ca('t, to^i ddu+'ng ngay le^n sa`n, nhi`n ra sa^n.
Tro+`i! To^i cu~ng pha?i ba`ng hoa`ng gia^.t mi`nh. Mo^.t phu. nu+~
chu+`ng 25, 26 tuo^?i, da'ng cao, ga^`y ddang cu'i dda^`u ddi ddi,
la.i la.i phi'a sa't tu+o+`ng nga(n sa^n tra.i chung xa` lim. Co`n co^
kia, chu+`ng 21, 22 tuo^?i, dde.p nhu+ mo^.t na`ng tie^n tre^n tra^`n,
hai tay cha('p ngu+o+.c le^n phi'a sau ga'y, ddang nhi.p nha`ng xoay
mo^.t ddie^.u Valse la? lo+i, nhu'n nha^?y cu?a mo^.t khu'c nghe^
thu+o+`ng!
To^i nhu+ ddo+` ngu+o+`i ra va` ngo+~ nga`ng vi` kho^ng the^? ngo+`
no^?i. Bo^'n na(m tru+o+'c dda^y, ho+n mo^.t tha'ng tro+`i lang thang
kha('p pho^' phu+o+`ng Ha` No^.i, to^i cha(?ng tha^'y mo^.t ngu+o+`i
dde.p na`o ca?. Va^.y ma`, trong lu'c na`y, o+? ngay trong xa` lim,
ta.i sao la.i co' mo^.t giai nha^n tuye^.t the^' nhu+ va^.y?! Tha?o
na`o ma` te^n The^' dda~ vo^.i va`ng cho hai ngu+o+`i ra sa^n. Va`,
buo^`ng so^' 10 mo+'i va`o xa` lim dda~ bi. cu`m.
To^i ma?i me^ suy nghi~, ma('t va^~n dda(m dda(m nhi`n ta^'m tha^n
nga` ngo.c ddang nhi.p nha`ng, uye^?n chuye^?n du+o+'i a'nh na('ng
va`ng. DDo^i tay tra^`n cha('p sau ga'y nhu+ muo^'n khoe vo+'i the^'
nha^n, dda^y la` tuye^.t ta'c cu?a ho'a co^ng. La`n to'c ma^y, o'ng
le^n ma`u na('ng, pha^'t pho+ buo^ng tha? phu? nu+?a ki'n, nu+?a ho+?
ddo^i vai tra^`n.
Hi`nh nhu+ co^ a^'y ca?m tha^'y co' mo^.t tia lu+?a ddie^.n vo^ hi`nh
ddang cha`, xa't chie^'u tha(?ng va`o kha('p ngu+o+`i co^, ne^n ddo^.t
nhie^n, co^ ngu+?ng dda^`u le^n nhi`n ve^` phi'a cu+?a so^? buo^`ng
to^i. Tha^'y bo'ng ngu+o+`i lo+` mo+` sau khung cu+?a so^?, co^ du'm
ngu+o+`i nhu+ mo^.t pha?n xa. tu+. nhie^n, khuy.u xuo^'ng, he't le^n
mo^.t tie^'ng tha^'t thanh, ro^`i nha`o thu.t va`o sa't phi'a cha^n
tu+o+`ng, du+o+'i cu+?a so^?, khua^'t ta^`m ma('t to^i. Co^ lo+'n quay
la.i, nho+'n nha'c, ho?i gia^.t gio.ng:
- Ca'i gi`? Ca'i gi` va^.y?
Kho^ng co' tie^'ng co^ be' tra? lo+`i. Lu'c ddo', to^i dda~ ngo^`i
thu.t ngu+o+`i xuo^'ng. Tu+` phi'a trong, te^n The^' dda~ cu`m xong
so^' 10 va` cha.y vo^.i ra sa^n, qua't ho?i:
- Ca'i gi` the^'!
Tim to^i nhu+ tha('t la.i, ho^`i ho^.p cho+` ca^u tra? lo+`i cu?a co^
be'. Im la(.ng mo^.t lu'c. Ro^`i mo^.t tie^'ng co^.c lo^'c:
- Kho^ng!
Ngu+o+`i dde.p co' kha'c, tu` ma` da'm tra? lo+`i vo+'i qua?n gia'o
nhu+ the^'! Va^.y ma` cu~ng kho^ng nghe tie^'ng ha.ch sa'ch gi`.
Pha^`n to^i, o+? trong buo^`ng, to^i cu~ng tho+? ra mo^.t ho+i da`i
nhu+ vu+`a tru't ddu+o+.c mo^.t mo^'i u+u lo.
Chie^`u ho^m a^'y, sau khi ca'c buo^`ng dda~ co+m nu+o+'c xong xuo^i
va` ca'c cu+?a cu~ng kho'a ro^`i. Lu'c na`y, mo+'i ddo^. 4 gio+`
chie^`u, co`n mo^.t gio+` nu+~a mo+'i he^'t gio+` ha`nh chi'nh, (ca'ch
go.i cu?a CS la` he^'t gio+` la`m vie^.c, hay gio+` "tan ta^`m").
Vo+'i thi'nh gia'c be'n nha^.y cu?a mi`nh, ro~ ra`ng to^i nghe co'
tie^'ng cha^n se^`n se^.t, nhe` nhe. ddi va`o. Vo^.i va`ng ghe' ma('t
sa't xuo^'ng ne^`n, to^i nhi`n qua khe cu+?a. Cha`! Mo^.t ddo^i ba`n
cha^n kho^ng de'p ddang ro'n re'n ddi va`o phi'a trong, phi'a buo^`ng
so^' 9. To^i ve^?nh tai, la('ng cho+` nghe tie^'ng mo+? cu+?a. Nhu+ng,
tuye^.t nhie^n kho^ng he^` co' mo^.t a^m thanh hay tie^'ng ddo^.ng
na`o kha'c, ngoa`i thi?nh thoa?ng co' tie^'ng ddo^.ng ke'o bo^,
tie^'ng nu+o+'c gia?i to^` to^`, ro'c ra'ch, ho`a la^~n vo+'i nhu+~ng
tie^'ng re^n, tie^'ng tho+? da`i cu?a ca'c buo^`ng chung quanh...
Nhu+ va^.y, te^n The^' va`o trong ddo' dde^? la`m gi`? Ne^'u muo^'n
ri`nh ba('t ca'c buo^`ng no'i chuye^.n, y ngo^`i ngay ngoa`i buo^`ng
tru+.c cu~ng ddu? bie^'t. Ho+n nu+~a, o+? Ho?a Lo` 4 na(m nay, la^`n
dda^`u tie^n to^i mo+'i tha^'y hie^.n tu+o+.ng tu.t de'p, ro'n re'n
kie^?u na`y. Va^.y, dda^y la` mo^.t ha`nh ddo^.ng mo+` a'm. Do ddo',
chi? co' hai va^'n dde^`: mo^.t, y le'n va`o buo^`ng so^' 9, ma` lu'c
na~y y dda~ kho^ng ddo'ng cu+?a buo^`ng na`y, ne^n to^i kho^ng nghe
tie^'ng mo+? cu+?a. Hai, y dda~ la`m mo^.t vie^.c ba^?n thi?u la`
nhi`n qua khe cu+?a, dde^? theo do~i nhu+~ng sinh hoa.t rie^ng cu?a
phu. nu+~.
Tru+o+`ng ho+.p mo^.t, kho' co' the^? xa?y ra, vi` buo^`ng so^' 9 co'
nhu+~ng hai ngu+o+`i, dda^u co' the^? la`m nhu+ the^' ddu+o+.c. Va^.y,
chi? co`n tru+o+`ng ho+.p hai. Qua va^'n dde^` na`y, to^i tha^'y te^n
The^' cu~ng cho+`n ca'c buo^`ng kha'c dde^? y', bie^'t ddu+o+.c vie^.c
la`m mo+` a'm cu?a y. Nhu+ng no'i chung, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i pha?i va`o
xa` lim, ai cu~ng che^'t ca? co~i lo`ng ve^` to^.i lo^~i, ve^` cuo^.c
ddo+`i, dde^? y' la`m qua'i gi` nhu+~ng vie^.c chung quanh. Do ddo',
so^' ngu+o+`i to` mo` chi? la` so^' i't. To` mo` ma` tinh ranh, y
mo+'i nga'n. Qua nhu+~ng ca'i nhi`n va` tha'i ddo^. cu?a y, to^i
bie^'t te^n The^' cu~ng ky. to^i la('m. To^i tu+. no'i mo^.t mi`nh:
"ddu+o+.c, nhu+~ng nga`y to+'i, tao se~ bie^'t ro~ ve^` ma`y!".
Ho^m sau la` nga`y ta('m gia(.t. To+'i buo^`ng to^i ra sa^n pho+i
qua^`n a'o. To^i gia(.t va` pho+i ddo^i "bi' ta^'t" vi~ dda.i cu?a
mi`nh, tro^ng chu'ng nhu+ ddo^i hia, va' cha(`ng va' ddu.p bao nhie^u
ma`u va?i. Ca? hai co^ buo^`ng so^' 9 dde^`u ddu+'ng le^n nhi`n to^i.
Bie^'t te^n The^' ddang ddu+'ng cho^~ ba`n tru+.c ri`nh, ne^n to^i
kho^ng la`m mo^.t cu+? chi? kha'c la. na`o, chi? ho+i mi?m cu+o+`i
dda'p la.i buo^`ng so^' 9.
Cha('c ha(?n ca'c co^ ddang da'n ma('t va`o ddo^i "bi' ta^'t" qua'i
di. cu?a to^i pho+i tre^n da^y, va` nga.c nhie^n tha('c ma('c kho^ng
the^? hie^?u ddu+o+.c la` ta.i sao mo^.t ngu+o+`i tu`, kho^ng co'
qua^`n a'o rie^ng kha'c ma^'y bo^. ddo^` tu`, ma` la.i co' mo^.t ddo^i
"bi' ta^'t" vi~ dda.i nhu+ va^.y? DDo^i "bi' ta^'t" na`y muo^'n kho^,
du` ddu+o+.c na('ng, pha?i hai ba nga`y. Chu'ng da`y dde^'n ga^`n
mo^.t pha^n a^'y!
Chie^`u ho^m ddo', khi buo^`ng so^' 9 ra sa^n la^'y qua^`n a'o pho+i,
buo^`ng so^' 14 la.i co' ngu+o+`i nu+~a bi. cu`m! Hai co^ so^' 9 mo+'i
va`o xa` lim chu+a ddu+o+.c mo^.t tua^`n, dda~ hai ngu+o+`i bi. cu`m
ro^`i. DDa`n ba`, nha^'t la.i la` dda`n ba` dde.p, dda'ng so+. tha^.t!
O^i! Tu+` xu+a to+'i nay dda~ la`m kho'c me^'u bao vi. anh hu`ng!
Tha^.m chi' tan xu+o+ng, na't thi.t cu~ng vi` giai nha^n!
Hai co^ buo^`ng so^' 9, kho^ng bie^'t la` loa.i ngu+o+`i gi` va` bi.
ba('t vi` to^.i chi? Ne^'u kho^ng so+. buo^`ng so^' 7 (na(`m vu`ng)
va` te^n The^' tinh qua'i, to^i co' the^? ti`m ca'ch ho?i chuye^.n
dde^? bie^'t ddu+o+.c.
Te^n The^' cho' che^'t na`y, kho^ng nhu+~ng cu+' cuo^'i gio+` ddi
cha^n kho^ng va`o trong phi'a buo^`ng so^' 9; la.i co`n, ca? trong
gio+` tru+.c to^'i cu?a ca'n bo^. kha'c, y cu~ng va`o xa` lim. Co' khi
y va`o nha` ta('m ddi ca^`u, ro^`i la.i vo+` ra co^?ng xa` lim ddo'ng
cu+?a nghe "thi`nh" mo^.t ca'i, xong la(?ng la(.ng ru't de'p ra ca^`m
tay, ro'n re'n ddi tro+? va`o phi'a buo^`ng so^' 9. Tha'i ddo^. cu?a y
nho+'n nha'c, la^'m le't, qua? "ca` chua" chi'n o+? giu+~a ma(.t y
da.o na`y hi`nh nhu+ ca`ng to ra va` kho^ng co`n mo.ng nhu+ 4 na(m
tru+o+'c; tra'i la.i, ba('t dda^`u sa^`n su`i du+o+'i ca(.p ma('t
lu+o+n nha^'p nha'y, va` ddo^i ma('t da^`y xa'm ngoe't nhu+ hai
mie^'ng thi.t tra^u xa`o vo+'i rau muo^'ng. Tro^ng y tha^.t buo^`n cho
con ma('t. A^'y the^' ma` xem y' ra, hai co^ so^' 9 la.i... chi.u
dda^'y!? The^' mo+'i bie^'t, hai thu+' tie^`n va` quye^`n ma~nh lu+.c
cu~ng ghe^ go+'m tha^.t!?
Co' nhie^`u buo^?i to^'i, to^i dda~ nghe tha^'y nhu+~ng tie^'ng thi`
tha^`m; va` tha^.m chi', hai co^ co`n ddu+o+.c mang thau va`o nha`
ta('m nu+~a. To^i bie^'t, hai co^ dda~ lo+.i du.ng te^n The^', dde^?
va`o nha` ta('m la`m ve^. sinh phu. nu+~, ta('m ru+?a, hoa(.c la^'y
nu+o+'c va`o buo^`ng. Hai co^ co' hai ca'i thau men ra^'t dde.p.
Tro+`i dda~ va`o He`, nga`y ca`ng no'ng, nha^'t la` o+? xa` lim. To^i
co+?i tra^`n ma(.c qua^`n ddu`i, mo^` ho^i va^~n nho+'p nha'p kho'
chi.u. Vi` va^.y, thu+o+`ng khoa?ng 9 gio+` to^'i, tru+o+'c khi ddo'ng
bo^. ddi ngu?, bao gio+` to^i cu~ng pha?i ... "ta('m" mo^.t ca'i cho
he^'t mo^` ho^i. DDa~ co' kinh nghie^.m nhie^`u, cho ne^n khi tra?
ba't buo^?i chie^`u, ca^`m ga'o du+`a dde^'n thu`ng nu+o+'c, to^i
uo^'ng no ngay ta.i cho^~. Ro^`i mu'c mo^.t ga'o, dde^? ca^?n tha^.n
trong mo^.t go'c sa`n. To+'i 9 gio+`, ddo+.i va` nghe ngo'ng kho^ng
co' te^n ca'n bo^. na`o lai va~ng, ra va`o, to^i tu.t qua^`n ra ...
"ta('m". Vo+'i mo^.t ga'o nu+o+'c (dde^? uo^'ng) va` mo^.t mie^'ng
gie? (thay kha(n ma(.t), to^i "go^.i" u+o+'t ca? dda^`u, va` lau
suo^'t ca? ngu+o+`i. "Ta('m" xong, cu~ng ca?m tha^'y ngu+o+`i ma't
me?, nhe. nha`ng de^~ chi.u ho+n, va` khoan khoa'i "ddo'ng bo^." ddi
ngu?.
O+? xa` lim la^u, to^i dda~ bie^'t la` khi he^'t gio+` ha`nh chi'nh,
kho^ng bao gio+` tu` la.i ddu+o+.c mo+? cu+?a cho ra ngoa`i, tru+`
tru+o+`ng ho+.p dda(.c bie^.t, co' le^.nh cu?a Ban Gia'm Thi.. O+?
dda^y, ca? hai co^ buo^`ng so^' 6 dde^`u ddu+o+.c ra va`o. Nhu+ng co'
ddie^`u, tuy ddi ra, ddi va`o giu+~a ba`n tru+.c vo+'i trong buo^`ng,
te^n The^' va` hai co^ dde^`u pha?i ddi cha^n dda^'t, nhu+ va^.y, la`
ho. co^' y' gia^'u kho^ng cho ca'c buo^`ng bie^'t. Cao ho+n nu+~a,
ca'c co^ co' the^? nho+` te^n The^' ra pho^' lie^n la.c vo+'i gia
ddi`nh, hoa(.c mua ba'n nhu+~ng thu+' ca^`n thie^'t. DDie^`u na`y la`
ra^'t nghie^m ca^'m ddo^'i vo+'i mo^.t bi. can co`n ddang trong tho+`i
gian khai tha'c, ke^? ca? ve^` chi'nh tri. hay hi`nh su+.. Sau khi
te^n "na(`m vu`ng" so^' 7 chuye^?n ddi ro^`i, te^n The^' ca`ng nga`y
ca`ng ngang nhie^n ho+n; ha^`u nhu+ kho^ng to^'i na`o kho^ng co' ma(.t
y, thi` tha^`m to nho? o+? trong buo^`ng so^' 9. Mo+'i dda^`u, to^i
tu+o+?ng ca'c co^ la` nha^n va^.t na`y, nha^n va^.t kia the^' na`o
ddo', to^i mo+'i quan ta^m, muo^'n ti`m hie^?u. Ba^y gio+`, tha^'y
ca'c co^ nhu+ the^', to^i cu~ng cha? muo^'n dde^? y' la`m gi`.
Co`n te^n The^', tuy giu+~a ca' nha^n vo+'i ca' nha^n, to^i kho^ng u+a
no'; nhu+ng, trong vie^.c na`y, ve^` khi'a ca.nh kha'c, y la` loa.i
ngu+o+`i xa^'u cu?a xa~ ho^.i (ba^'t cu+' mo^.t to^? chu+'c, hay mo^.t
nha` nu+o+'c na`o ddu+'ng dda('n cu~ng kho^ng bao gio+` du`ng nhu+~ng
loa.i ca'n bo^. nhu+ te^n The^'). Nhu+ng, rie^ng trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p
na`y ddo^'i vo+'i to^i y la.i ra^'t... "to^'t". To^i mong y tie^'n
to+'i nu+~a; va`, ne^'u co' ddie^`u kie^.n, to^i co`n "u?ng ho^."
hoa(.c che gia^'u cho y.
Va^.y ma` y cha? hie^?u cho lo`ng to^i u?ng ho^. y. Ngay buo^?i sa'ng
ho^m sau, y xuo^'ng tra.i tho+. go.i anh tho+. ca('t to'c le^n xa`
lim. Y mo+? cu+?a tu+`ng buo^`ng, ba('t ra ca('t to'c. "To^ng ddo+"
ddie^.n, giu~i mo^.t ca'i dda^`u chi? 2 phu't, ke^? ca? ra^u. To^i
dde^? y', nhu+~ng buo^`ng kha'c te^n The^' thu+o+`ng dde^? te^n tu`
"tho+." ca('t theo kie^?u cu~, chi? co' ca('t cao le^n tho^i. Rie^ng
dde^'n lu+o+.t to^i, cha(?ng bie^'t nghi~ the^' na`o, y la.i ba?o anh
tho+. ca('t to'c ha~y giu~i tro.c dda^`u to^i. To^i pha?n ddo^'i, y
cu+o+`i dde^?u no'i:
- Mu`a he`, cho no' ma't!
Te^n tho+. hu'i to'c pha?i theo le^.nh, ne^n sau mo^.t lu'c, to^i so+`
tay le^n dda^`u, nhu+ dda^`u su+ cu.! Tha^.t la` gia^.n ti'm ruo^.t,
ba^`m gan! Co' the^? te^n The^' cu~ng bie^'t to^i tu` dda~ la^u va`
ba^y gio+` kho^ng co`n ddi cung nu+~a, cho ne^n y mo+'i da'm la`m nhu+
va^.y.
Ve^` buo^`ng, to^i soi ma(.t va`o "gu+o+ng", ga'o ddu+.ng nu+o+'c va`
bo^ khi co' nu+o+'c gia?i la` hai ca'i "gu+o+ng" cu?a xa` lim, tro^ng
ma(.t tha^.t la` nga'o! Tha(`ng cho' che^'t, tha^.t he`n ha., y? co'
quye^`n ne^n ha`nh to^i nhu+~ng ddie^`u va(.t va~nh.
Mo^.t buo^?i, ca'c co^ buo^`ng so^' 9 ra sa^n cho+i; trong buo^`ng
to^i cu~ng ddang ddi ba'ch bo^.. To^i cu+' dde^'m vu+`a ddu'ng 8
bu+o+'c la` mo^.t vo`ng trong ca'i khung giu+~a hai sa`n. DDa^`u o'c
thi` va^?n vo+ cho+i vo+i, thi?nh thoa?ng la.i ddu+a ma('t ra nhi`n
le^n ca^y ba`ng.Co' nhi`n ca^y ba`ng mo+'i tha^'y tho+`i gian ddi vu`n
vu.t. Nhu+~ng tra'i ba`ng, tu+`ng chu`m, tu+`ng chu`m tha^.t dda^~y
dda` lo^'m ddo^'m nhu+~ng qua? chi'n va`ng hoe. Sa^n xa` lim cu~ng
dda~ la'c dda'c nhu+~ng qua? ba`ng chi'n li`a ca`nh ve^` vo+'i co^.i.
He^'t giai ddoa.n tho+? hi't mu`i hoa ba`ng, la.i dde^'m tho+`i gian
ngu.p la(.n trong hu+o+ng ba`ng chi'n. Cha^n to^i va^~n bu+o+'c
dde^`u, o'c to^i va^~n cha?y da`i ve^` dda^u dda^u, ddo^.t nhie^n,
to^i tha^'y tu+` ca'i lo^~ o+? du+o+'i ne^`n cho^~ sa't cha^n
tu+o+`ng, tho^ng nu+o+'c ra ca'i ra~nh phi'a be^n ngoa`i sa^n xa` lim,
co' ma^'y qua? ba`ng chi'n ddu+o+.c dda^?y va`o buo^`ng to^i. Ngo^`i
thu.p xuo^'ng, to^i cho^.p la^'y ca'i que cho^?i thanh hao ddang tu+`
ngoa`i tho.c va`o. Be^n ngoa`i, ke'o ra, trong na`y to^i ke'o ma.nh
va`o. To^i nghe be^n ngoa`i hai co^ cu+o+`i ru'c ri'ch. Thi` ra hai
co^ buo^`ng so^' 9 nghi.ch ngo+.m, muo^'n pha' to^i cho ddo+~ buo^`n.
Lu'c tro+? va`o, ngang qua buo^`ng to^i, ca'c co^ dda~ "da'm" lie^`u
li~nh go~ "ca.ch , ca.ch" hai tie^'ng va`o ca'nh cu+?a buo^`ng to^i.
Chi? co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i go~ cu+?a, kho^ng bie^'t co^ na`o dda^y?
Sa'ng ho^m sau, ngu+o+`i mo+? ca'c buo^`ng la.i la` te^n Du+. Y dda~
ve^`! Khi y mo+? to+'i buo^`ng to^i, to^i tha^.t mu+`ng ro+~, no'i
nho? ddu? y nghe:
- O^ng mo+'i ve^`?
Chi? la` mo^.t ca^u ho?i ddo+n gia?n nhu+ va^.y, nhu+ng dda~ the^?
hie^.n tra`n nga^.p no^~i ha^n hoan. Y ga^.t ga^.t dda^`u, mo^`m
nhe^'ch mo^.t nu. cu+o+`i, ma('t cu+' nhi`n le^n dda^`u to^i.
Lu'c to^i o+? nha` ta('m ddo^? bo^ ve^`, tu+` ba`n tru+.c, te^n Du+
ddu+'ng da^.y, ddi va`o ha(?n trong buo^`ng to^i. DDa(.t mo^.t ta^'m
mi'a va` mo^.t chie^'c ba'nh ne^'p le^n chie^'c chie^'u cu?a to^i, y
no'i nho?, gio.ng ti`nh ca?m:
- Qua` nha` que^ dda^'y!
Cu?a cho kho^ng ba(`ng ca'ch cho. To^i tha^.t ca?m ddo^.ng. To^i cu~ng
kho^ng hie^?u tu+` nguye^n nha^n na`o, y la.i ddo^'i xu+? vo+'i to^i
nhu+ va^.y. Co' le~, mo^.t pha^`n do y tro^ng coi to^i dda~ la^u
nga`y, tha^'y ddu+o+.c i't nhie^`u ti'nh ne^'t cu?a to^i, ne^n y mo+'i
da'm la`m va^.y. Ne^'u to^i thie^'u y' thu+'c, khi ga(.p cha^'p pha'p,
hay qua?n gia'o kha'c khoe, ke^? la.i chuye^.n qua` ca'p na`y, y se~
bi. kie^?m ddie^?m na(.ng. Nhu+ng vo+'i to^i, vi` ngu+o+`i a^n, mi`nh
pha?i co' y' thu+'c, tha` che^'t ddu+`ng ho`ng to^i ke^? la.i nhu+~ng
chuye^.n nhu+ va^.y.
Te^n Du+ chi? tay le^n dda^`u to^i gio.ng tha^n ma^.t:
- DDa^`u anh la`m sao la.i ca('t tro.c nhu+ va^.y?
Cha(?ng muo^'n ti`nh tie^'t la`m gi`, ne^n to^i tra? lo+`i cho qua:
- Mu`a He`, ca('t nhu+ va^.y cho no' ma't!
To^i cho+.t nho+' la.i va` mi?m cu+o+`i, vo^ ti`nh to^i dda~ nha('c
la.i ddu'ng ca^u no'i cu?a te^n The^'. To^i ho?i tie^'p:
- Thu+a o^ng, gia ddi`nh nha` kho?e ca??
Y cha^.m ra~i:
- Ma^'y ddu+'a chu'ng no' ddi nghi~a vu. he^'t, chi? co`n mi`nh nha`
to^i o+? nha`. Co? mo.c dda^`y sa^n, to^i ve^` ga^`n mo^.t tha'ng,
chi? suo^'t nga`y la`m co? vo+'i cuo^'c vu+o+`n.
- Thu+a o^ng, vu+o+`n nha` co' ro^.ng kho^ng a.?
- Co' che^'t dda^u ma` ro^.ng. DDu+o+.c co' 5 pha^`n tra(m dda^'t
da`nh cho "ca?i thie^.n" gia ddi`nh, co`n la` cu?a ho+.p ta'c xa~
he^'t.
Qua ca'ch no'i chuye^.n, to^i tha^'y y tha^.t la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i no^ng
da^n cha^'t pha'c, la.i que^ mu`a nu+~a. Ta^'t nhie^n, cu~ng cha?
pha?i ngu+o+`i tu` na`o, y cu~ng ddo^'i xu+? nhu+ va^.y.
Ga^`n he^'t gio+` la`m vie^.c, y va`o buo^`ng so^' 10 va` 14 ma('ng
tha^.m te^., vi` khi y ddi va('ng hai buo^`ng na`y dda~ pha.m no^.i
quy.
Buo^?i to^'i ho^m a^'y, to^i cu~ng thoa'ng nghe tie^'ng cha^n ngu+o+`i
ddi ra^'t nhe.. Cha('c la.i la` te^n The^' mo` va`o buo^`ng so^' 9.
Kho^ng hie^?u sao, da.o na`y i't tha^'y y va`o? Nhu+ng, mo.i khi pha?i
dde^'n 9, 10 gio+` to^'i y mo+'i mo` va`o, ba^y gio+` mo+'i khoa?ng 8
gio+`? Nghi~ va^.y, to^i cu'i xuo^'ng xem sao. Ba`n cha^n cu~ng tu.t
de'p ra, nhu+ng la.i ra^'t to va` tho^. Kho^ng pha?i te^n The^'.
Nhu+ng to^i cu~ng kho^ng the^? ddoa'n ra ba`n cha^n cu?a te^n qua?n
gia'o na`o? Va^.y ma`, sao cu~ng pha?i tu.t de'p ra la`m gi`? Ca`ng
nghi~, to^i ca`ng tha('c ma('c, va` o'c to` mo` cu?a to^i la.i ca`ng
ddu+o+.c ki'ch thi'ch ho+n. DDe^? cho sa'ng to? va^'n dde^`, to^i co^'
theo do~i, la('ng nghe. Ra^'t la^u, cu~ng kho^ng co' a^m thanh gi`
dda(.c bie^.t ca?...
Ma~i to+'i ho+n 9 gio+`, mo+'i la.i tha^'y ddo^i ba`n cha^n ddo', ro'n
re'n ddi ra. Cha('c pha?i ra to+'i cho^~ ba`n tru+.c ro^`i mo+'i da'm
xo? de'p. To^i nghe tha^'y bu+o+'c cha^n ra to+'i ga^`n co^?ng, to^i
du`ng phu+o+ng pha'p "ngu+?a ma(.t" dde^? quan sa't. To^i gia^.t tho't
ngu+o+`i la.i! Ngu+o+`i ddi le'n lu't ddo' la` te^n Tri`, Thu+o+.ng
U'y Pho' Gia'm Thi.. Ngu+o+`i y nhu+ lu+.c ddie^`n, ca'i ma(.t to
tu+o+'ng, dda^`y thi.t, ddo^i ma('t ddo? nhu+ ma('t ca' ro'i, vo+'i
ha`ng lo^ng mi ra^.m ri`. Y va`o buo^`ng so^' 9 dde^? la`m gi`? Tro^ng
y cu~ng dda^`y ve? ha?o ngo.t.
Ro^`i tu+` dda^'y, te^n Tri` ra va`o lie^n tu.c. Co`n te^n The^'?
Tuye^.t nhie^n kho^ng da'm be'n ma?ng gi` dde^'n xa` lim I nu+~a. Va`,
cho dde^'n sau na`y, to^i cu~ng kho^ng ga(.p te^n The^' o+? Ho?a Lo`,
cha(?ng hie^?u vi` sao. Nhie^`u la^`n to^i muo^'n ho?i te^n Du+ ve^`
buo^`ng so^' 9, nhu+ng la^`n na`o cu~ng kho^ng da'm. To^i bie^'t y se~
kho^ng tra? lo+`i va` co' the^? co`n dda'nh gia' la` to^i dda~ lo+.i
du.ng ti`nh ca?m cu?a y dde^? la`m to+'i. Cuo^'i cu`ng, va`o mo^.t
buo^?i to^'i, sau khi xa'c ddi.nh cha('c cha('n kho^ng co' te^n ca'n
bo^. na`o, to^i dda`nh le^n tie^'ng go.i:
- So^' 12 go.i so^' 7 ne`! So^' 7 kho?e kho^ng?
O+? buo^`ng so^' 7 te^n na(`m vu`ng dda~ ddi ra ro^`i, chi? co`n la.i
mo^.t anh cao cao, cho ne^n to^i go.i cha`o cho+i, mu.c ddi'ch la`
dde^? sau ddo' ba('t chuye^.n vo+'i buo^`ng so^' 9. To^i kho^ng tha^'y
so^' 7 tra? lo+`i, ma` la.i co' tie^'ng so^' 9, nghe trong tre?o nhu+
tie^'ng kha'nh cha.m nhau:
- Anh 12 kho?e kho^ng?
Ma('t va^?n kho^ng ro+`i me'p tre^n ca'nh cu+?a co^?ng, to^i tra?
lo+`i:
- Ca'm o+n, kho?e! So^' 9 o+? Ha` No^.i pha?i kho^ng?
Hai tie^'ng cu+o+`i ru'c ri'ch:
- Ha` No^.i!
To^i ho?i tie^'p:
- To^.i gi` the^'?
- "Da.t vo`m ngoa.i!" Co`n anh, to^i dda~ bie^'t ro^`i nhe'!
Ho+i choa'ng ngu+o+`i, co^ na`y no'i ddu`a hay no'i tha^.t dda^y?
"Da.t vo`m ngoa.i" la` gi`? Ne^'u ho?i la.i, thi` chu+'ng to? mi`nh
"ca` quy?nh"; ma` kho^ng ho?i thi` kho^ng bie^'t. Nhu+ng ca'c co^ tra?
lo+`i vo+'i to^i kie^?u nhu+ va^.y, to^i ddoa'n ngay la` ca'c co^
kho^ng bie^'t thu+.c ve^` to^i. Ne^'u thu+.c bie^'t to^i o+? mie^`n
Nam ra, ca'c co^ se~ kho^ng du`ng tie^'ng "lo'ng" ddo' vo+'i to^i,
la`m sao to^i hie^?u ddu+o+.c? Nghi~ the^', to^i ho?i mo^.t ca^u nu+~a
do` da^~m:
- O+? ngoa`i so^' 9 la`m gi`?
Mo^.t gio.ng cu+o+`i re' le^n nga(.t nghe~o:
- Va(n Co^ng Trung U+o+ng!
A`, tha?o na`o! Vu+`a lu'c ddo', ca'nh co^?ng xa` lim he' ro^.ng ra,
to^i ngo^`i thu.t xuo^'ng. So^' 9 cu~ng im ba(.t. Thi` ra, ca'c co^
cu~ng canh co^?ng. Co' ngu+o+`i va`o ta('m gia(.t o+? trong nha` ta('m
xa` lim.
So^' 9 la` va(n co^ng Trung U+o+ng, kho^ng tra'ch ddu+o+.c dde.p
the^'! Co`n to^.i "da.t vo`m ngoa.i" la` the^' na`o? Cho+.t nghi~
dde^?n anh Nguye^~n La^n, so^' 4, to^i kha.c hai tie^'ng go.i anh. Sau
khi to^i ho?i ba(`ng ca'ch vie^'t chu+~ vi` ca'n bo^. trong nha` ta('m
to^i kho^ng le^n tie^'ng ddu+o+.c, va? la.i cu~ng cha(?ng muo^'n so^'
9 bie^'t mi`nh "to^`". Anh La^n cho bie^'t la` cu~ng gio^'ng to^.i
cu?a anh, nghi~a la` "cha.y ra nu+o+'c ngoa`i".
Ma~i ga^`n 10 gio+`, ngu+o+`i trong nha` ta('m mo+'i ra. To^i nghe
tie^'ng thau dde^? nhe. xuo^'ng ne^`n nha`, cha('c ha(?n la` nu+~
ro^`i. To` mo`, to^i khe~ ddu+'ng le^n nhi`n xem thu+? mu. Hoa, mu.
Tho+ hay mu. Da^.u? To^i tho't ngu+o+`i, nhi`n theo sau lu+ng mo^.t
co^ ga'i tha^.t tre?, ddang ca('p mo^.t ca'i thau men ma`u xanh
dda^.m. Ma'i to'c co^ tha^.t da`i, buo^ng xo~a phi'a sau vai xuo^'ng
dde^'n ngang... lu+ng. Co^ ga'i na`y la. hoa('c, to^i chu+a tro^ng
tha^'y bao gio+`. To^i cu+' nhi`n theo ma~i, cho to+'i khi co^ a^'y ra
khua^'t ngoa`i sa^n tra.i chung. Ra^'t tie^'c, to^i chi? nhi`n
ddu+o+.c phi'a sau lu+ng, cha? bie^'t ma(.t mu~i co^ ra sao. Nhu+ng,
co^ co' mo^.t tha^n hi`nh ddang ddo^. ca(ng dda^`y.

(co`n tie^'p)