The'p DDen - Ta^.p III (47 - 49)

[rangnguyen]

Saigon Times

Chu+o+ng 47 : Mo^.t chuye^.n ti`nh hi hu+~u

Cha? bie^'t Go^m xoay xo+? quan he^. sao ddo', quen ddu+o+.c vo+'i anh Khue^ la`
thu+ ky' nha` be^'p. Nghe dda^u 2 ngu+o+`i cu`ng o+? Ha` No^.i. la.i dda~ bie^'t
nhau tu+` khi chu+a ddi tu`. Chi'nh vi` the^' Go^m bie^'t ddu+o+.c mo^.t ca^u
chuye^.n ti`nh dda(.c bie^.t o+? du+o+'i khu nha` be^'p. To^'i ho^m qua,
tru+o+'c khi Go^m ke^? la.i cho to^i nghe ca^u chuye^.n ddo', Go^m dda~ ho?i
to^i:
- Anh Bi`nh co' co`n nho+', ho+n 2 tha'ng tru+o+'c, ca'i nha` hu?i o+? khu ca'ch
ly phi'a cuo^'i tra.i bi. cha'y kho^ng?
To^i vu+`a cu+o+`i, vu+`a nhi`n Go^m, chu+a hie^?u mu.c ddi'ch cu?a Go^m ddi.nh
no'i ca'i gi`, vi` va^.y, to^i va^~n tra? lo+`i tha(m do`:
- Anh cha`ng Lo^.c hu?i tro^'n tu` chu+' gi`?
Go^m tre^` mo^i xuo^'ng:
- DDa^'y, dda^'y... Ca^u chuye^.n ti`nh ba('t dda^`u tu+` dda^'y dda^'y!
To^i buo^`n cu+o+`i vi` anh cha`ng na`y du`ng nhie^`u chu+~ "dda^'y� qua'.
DDo+`i tu` kho^ khan nhu+ na(`m tre^n no^`i rang, to^i cu~ng muo^'n nghe mo^.t
ca^u chuye^.n ti`nh cho ddo+`i the^m a^m a^?m la.i. Ho+n nu+~a, ca^u chuye^.n
ti`nh na`y la.i o+? ngay du+o+'i nha` be^'p, vi` va^.y, to^i ha'o hu+'c giu.c
Go^m:
- Ba.n cu+' ke^? ddi, kho?i ca^`n pha?i mo+? dde^` nu+~a!
Nhi`n anh cha`ng Go^m cu+' mo' ca'i na`y, xe^'p ca'i kia, to^i no'ng ca? tie^'t.
To^i bie^'t ti'nh anh cha`ng na`y la` nhu+ va^.y. Cu+' go+.i mo^.t ca^u
chuye^.n, cho dde^'n khi na`o ngu+o+`i ta thi'ch nghe la` anh cha`ng ba('t da^`u
khe^.nh kha.ng, la`m ddie^.u. Bie^'t to?ng nhu+ the^', ne^n to^i ddu+'ng da^.y
ddi.nh tre`o xuo^'ng sa`n:
- Tho^i, to^i ddi ve^` cho^~ ddo.c sa'ch!
Go^m vo^` ca? 2 tay ke'o to^i la.i, mie^.ng he^`nh he^.ch:
- Tho^i ma`, xin huynh ddu+`ng no^?i gia^.n he^'t ca? dde.p trai ddi!
To^i ngo^`i la.i ma` nie^`m thi'ch thu' cu+' rung ma~i o+? trong bu.ng. Ne^'u
Go^m bie^'t ra(`ng, Go^m cha(?ng ke'o la.i thi` to^i cu~ng o+? la.i, dde^? giu.c
Go^m ke^? ca^u chuye^.n ti`nh o+? trong tu` a^'y ba(`ng ddu+o+.c. Go^m dda~ ke^?
no^.i dung ca^u chuye^.n ti`nh ddo' nhu+ sau:
Anh cha`ng Lo^.c cha? bie^'t bi. ca'i to^.i gi` be^n phi'a hi`nh su+., bi. ba('t
va`o tu` tu+` khi na`o, vi` sao anh ta bi. hu?i va` cu~ng hu?i tu+` bao gio+`
thi` cu~ng cha? ai ti`m hie^?u, va? la.i cu~ng kho^ng co' ddie^`u kie^.n. Chi?
bie^'t khi tra.i na`y xa^y du+.ng la.i, ma~i phi'a cuo^'i tra.i, ca'ch nha`
be^'p khoa?ng 50 me't, co' mo^.t ca(n nha` con, chung quanh co' ra`o nu+'a che
ki'n.
DDa^'y la` khu ca'ch ly cu?a ngu+o+`i hu?i. Nha` be^'p ha`ng nga`y va^~n ddu+a
mo^.t sua^'t co+m, thu+o+`ng dda(.t o+? co^?ng ha`ng ra`o. Be^.nh hu?i dda~ a(n
cu.t cu?a anh ta he^'t 3 ngo'n cha^n va` mo^.t go'c tai be^n pha?i. Anh chu+`ng
24 hay 25 tuo^?i. Co' le~ vi` con hu?i ne^n da ma(.t anh ta ra^'t ho^`ng ha`o,
sa'ng su?a. Mo^.t mi`nh anh so^'ng ddo+n ddo^.c trong ca(n nha` hoang va('ng
ddo' vo+'i ca(n be^.nh qua'i a'c cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i.
Cha(?ng bie^'t ai cho, hay anh kie^'m o+? dda^u va` tu+. bao gio+`, mo^.t cuo^'n
tho+ cu?a Ha`n Ma.c Tu+?. Lu'c na`o cu~ng tha^'y anh ca^`m o+? tay. Co' le~ vi`
do^`ng ca(n be^.nh ne^n cu`ng mo^.t nie^`m u ua^'t, ca^'u, xe' tim gan, anh dda~
gu+?i, buo^.c ho^`n anh va`o nhu+~ng va^`n tho+ nga^m, da^`m trong ma'u cu?a
Ha`n Ma.c Tu+?? Ro^`i cha(?ng bie^'t, anh co' nhu+~ng ti'nh toa'n sao ddo' ve^`
cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a anh, mo^.t dde^m anh dda~ ddo^'t ca(n nha` ca'ch ly vo+'i
loa`i ngu+o+`i ddo' cu?a anh. Lo+.i du.ng dde^m to^'i va` lu'c tu.i ca'n bo^.
ddang ho^~n loa.n chu+~a cha'y, anh dda~ tre`o qua tu+o+`ng tra.i dde^? tro^'n.
Nhu+ng chi? 15 phu't sau, anh dda~ bi. tro'i go^, giong ve^` tra.i, ddu+a ngay
va`o nha` ky? lua^.t.
Tho+`i gian o+? nha` ky? lua^.t na`y, duye^n ddo+`i lu'c na`o cu~ng bay bo^?ng
kha('p ddo' dda^y cu?a dda^'t tro+`i, dda~ dde^'n vo+'i anh. Trong tra.i nu+~,
nha` ky? lua^.t ddang su+?a la.i, ne^n co' mo^.t nu+~ tu+o+'ng dda^'m, dda'
Ho^`ng DDa`o bi. giong ra, nho+` ky? lua^.t o+? tra.i chi'nh; vi` to^.i dda~
dda'nh bi. thu+o+ng na(.ng mo^.t ddo^`ng pha.m.
Trong nha` ky? lua^.t, do nhu+~ng buo^?i ra a(n co+m nu+o+'c ga(.p nhau, ro^`i
do nhu+ng so+. to+ ddo+`i no^'i duye^n, Ho^`ng DDa`o va` Lo^.c hu?i dda~ nhi`n
nhau ma` say dda('m. Ti`nh ye^u trong sa'ng thi` kho^ng pha^n bie^.t tuo^?i
ta'c, gia^`u nghe`o, sang, he`n va` xa^'u, dde.p, chi? ddo+n thua^`n la` tie^'ng
no'i cu?a hai tra'i tim; no' ddo^.c la^.p vo+'i ngoa.i ca?nh. Ti`nh ye^u co'
ti'nh toa'n mo^.t i't, thi` va^?n ddu.c mo^.t i't; ti'nh toa'n nhie^`u thi`
va^?n ddu.c nhie^`u. Co' pha?i ai trong cuo^.c ddo+`i na`y cu~ng ddu+o+.c
hu+o+?ng ca'i ti`nh ye^u ky` die^.u nguye^n thu?y ddo' dda^u?
Co' le~, ai cu~ng pha?i nghi~ dde^'n ca'i no^~i thu+o+ng ddau, nie^`m ba^'t
ha.nh cu?a mo^.t kie^'p ngu+o+`i mang ca'i be^.nh hu?i. Cho ne^n, anh cha`ng
Lo^.c hu?i ba^'t ha.nh nhu+ng ddu+o+.c cuo^.c ddo+`i thu+o+ng. Chi? sau nu+?a
tha'ng va`o nha` ky? lua^.t, ca'n bo^. dda~ tha cu`m. Trong khi cho+` nha` ca'ch
ly la`m la.i, Lo^.c hu?i cu+' o+? trong nha` ky? lua^.t, nhu+ng kho^ng co`n la`
mo^.t ngu+o+`i bi. ky? lua^.t nu+~a. Vi` va^.y mo^.t dde^m, do nhu+~ng so+.i
da^y to+ ddo^`ng, anh dda~ du~ng ca?m tre`o tu+o+`ng sang cho^~ Ho^`ng DDa`o bi.
cu`m. Ro^`i nhu+~ng buo^.c, ne'n, go` e'p cu?a ca?nh ddo+`i tu` dda~ mau cho'ng
ta.o le^n mo^.t cuo^.c mu+a gio' tre^n ngo.n sa^`u ddo^ng. DDu+o+`ng ddi quen
lo^'i, cu+' nhu+ va^.y tie^'p die^~n ha`ng dde^m. Trong ca'i cho^~ cu`ng kho^?,
dden to^'i cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i va^~n co' the^? no+? nhu+~ng bo^ng hoa ha.nh phu'c
nga^'t nga^y cu?a loa`i ngu+o+`i. Ho?i ra(`ng tre^n co^~ long sa`ng cu?a ba^.c
dde^' vu+o+ng vo+'i cho^~ ngu.c to^'i, ngu+o+`i bi. hu?i, ngu+o+`i bi. cu`m, ai
dda~ me^ da.i dda~ dda^`y ho+n ai? A^u, dda^y cu~ng la` mo^.t su+. sa('p xe^'p,
an ba`i ky` die^.u cu?a ta.o ho'a. Su+. sung su+o+'ng va` kho^? ddau, ai cu~ng
ddu+o+.c hu+o+?ng ba(`ng nhau trong cuo^.c ddo+`i!
Nu+?a tha'ng, Ho^`ng DDa`o ke^'t ha.n ky? lua^.t tro+? ve^` tra.i nu+~. Nhu+ng
cu~ng chi? ho+n nu+?a tha'ng sau Ho^`ng DDa`o la.i bi. ky? lua^.t, dde^? pha?i
tro+? la.i nha` ky? lua^.t cu?a K1. DDo^'i vo+'i mo.i ngu+o+`i ddo' la` ca(n
nha` ky? lua^.t, nhu+ng ddo^'i vo+'i Ho^`ng DDa`o va` Lo^.c hu?i thi` ddo' la.i
la` ca(n nha` ha.nh phu'c. Cu+' nhu+ va^.y, do`ng tho+`i gian qua^'n qui't, o^m
cha(.t cuo^.c ti`nh cho dde^'n la^`n thu+' 3 Ho^`ng DDa`o la.i bi. ddi ky?
lua^.t nu+~a. Ne^'u cuo^.c ddo+`i cu+' tro^i dde^`u ddi nhu+ va^.y thi` qua? la`
kho^ng co`n thi vi., ma` cuo^.c ddo+`i thu+.c te^' la.i dda^`y thi vi. cho ne^n
no' dda~ cha(?ng tro^i dde^`u. Chi? vi` no' kho^ng tro^i dde^`u ne^n cuo^.c
ddo+`i mo+'i bie^'t ca^u chuye^.n ti`nh hi hu+~u a^'y. Ne^'u kho^ng, chi? giu+~a
hai ngu+o+`i thi` co' tro+`i mo+'i bie^'t ma` tho^i.
Te^n Ta^.p ca'n bo^. gia'o du.c dda~ dda(.t va^'n dde^`. Khi dda(.t va^'n dde^`,
thi` y pha?i dde^? y' theo do~i, ri`nh mo`. Ma` dda~ ri`nh thi` pha?i ba('t
ddu+o+.c ca? ddo^i chim ddang ddu ddu+a tre^n ngo.n ca^y sa^`u ddo^ng. Khi ddo'
Ho^`ng DDa`o co' thai ho+n 2 tha'ng. Ba('t ddu+o+.c nhu+ va^.y, ban gia'm thi.
gia^.n la('m, nhu+ng kho^ng the^? ky? lua^.t Ho^`ng DDa`o ddu+o+.c nu+~a ma`
ba('t ve^` tra.i nu+~. DDe^? cho Ho^`ng DDa`o o^m tro.n mo^.t kho^'i ti`nh, co'
xuo^'ng tuye^`n dda`i va^~n chu+a tan. Hie^.n gio+` Lo^.c hu?i va^~n co`n ddang
na(`m trong nha` ky? lua^.t.
Go^m dda~ ngu+`ng ke^? mo^.t lu'c ro^`i, ma` to^i va` Go^m va^~n cu+' ngo^`i im.
Hi`nh nhu+ lo`ng mo^~i ngu+o+`i ddang la('ng ddo.ng va`o ca'i no^~i dda^`y vo+i,
bo^`ng be^`nh cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i.
Tru+a ho^m nay, to^i vu+`a no'i chuye^.n vo+'i anh Tha`nh vu+`a lu.c ti`m trong
ca'i thu+ vie^.n con con cu?a tra.i trung u+o+ng so^' I. To^i co^' ga.n lo.c,
may ra co`n cuo^'n na`o co' the^? ta.m xem ddu+o+.c. Mo'c o+? ma~i trong ke~
cu?a mo^.t nga(n tu? sa'ch, tha^'y mo^.t cuo^'n sa'ch mo?ng bi`a bo.c ba(`ng
mo^.t mie^'ng gia^'y xi ma(ng dda~ cu~. Nhan dde^` cu?a cuo^'n sa'ch vie^'t da`i
thoo`ng: Nhu+~ng Phong Tra`o Va(n Ho'a DDa^'u Tranh Cho^'ng Thu+.c Da^n Pha'p
Tru+o+'c Ca'ch Ma.ng Tha'ng Ta'm. Vie^'t theo da.ng ho^`i ky'. To^i la^`n do+?
mo^.t va`i trang, cho+.t to^i nhi`n tha^'y mo^.t ta^'m hi`nh chu.p 5 ngu+o+`i.
Ta^'m hi`nh co' chu' thi'ch phi'a du+o+'i: Ban chu? tru+o+ng, bie^n ta^.p cu?a
to+` ba'o "Le travail� o+? Ha` No^.i. Ta^'m hi`nh chu.p ngay tru+o+'c cu+?a to`a
ba'o. 4 ngu+o+`i bie^n ta^.p vie^n la`: Tra^`n Huy Lie^.u, Vo~ Nguye^n Gia'p,
DDa(.ng Tha'i Mai va` Pha.m Va(n DDo^`ng. Chu? nhie^.m la` o^ng Nguye^~n Va(n
Tie^'n.
Nhi`n tha^'y ta^'m a?nh ba'c Tie^'n, to^i bo? ca? cuo^.c no'i chuye^.n vo+'i anh
Tha`nh coi thu+ vie^.n. To^i mu+o+.n cuo^'n sa'ch cha.y ve^` buo^`ng. Ba'c
Tie^'n co`n ddang lu.c ddu.c o+? ngoa`i nha` a(n. Vui mu+`ng nhu+ na(m ngoa'i
nghe tin Ho^` Chi' Minh ho^.c ma'u ra che^'t, to^i ro^'i ri't khoe:
- Ba'c o+i! Co' a?nh cu?a ba'c chu.p tru+o+'c to`a ba'o Le Travail dda^y na`y!
Ma(.t ba'c Tie^'n tu+o+i ha(?n le^n, quay la.i, trong khi ba'c co`n cho tay va`o
tu'i a'o mo'c ca'i ki'nh ra, to^i cu+' li'u lo:
- Co' ca? Pha.m Va(n DDo^`ng, Tra^`n Huy Lie^.u nu+~a ba'c a`!
Mo^.t so^' ngu+o+`i, trong ddo' co' ca? 3 anh tu si~ la`: Si~ An, Quo^'c Anh va`
Phu`ng Va(n Ta.i cu~ng xo^ dde^'n ma` coi. Qua bu+'c hi`nh na`y, ba'c Tie^'n
ca`ng ddu+o+.c anh em ki'nh ne^? ho+n. Ngu+o+.c la.i, nhu+~ng te^n ca'n bo^.,
nha^'t la` te^n DDu+'c, thie^'u u'y tru+o+?ng ban gia'o du.c, he^~ khi na`o
tha^'y ba'c, chu'ng la.i sai ba?o, ha`nh ha. cho+i, coi nhu+ mo^.t ca'i thu' vui
cu?a chu'ng.
Sa'ng ho^m qua, buo^?i ga^`n tru+a, lu'c tra.i ddi lao ddo^.ng ve^`, co' mo^.t
nho'm 4 ngu+o+`i tu` mo+'i. Nghe dda^u thuo^.c Bie^.t Ha?i, Ngu+o+`i Nha'i vu+`a
chuye^?n tu+` tra.i Thanh Lie^.t dde^'n. Tro^ng 4 ngu+o+`i tuy xanh xao ga^`y
guo^.c nhu+ng dde^`u cao lo+'n. Ho. dde^`u co`n tre? ca?, chi? trong khoa?ng
tu+` 24 dde^'n 27 tuo^?i la` cu`ng. Buo^?i chie^`u, mo^.t anh ddu+o+.c pha^n
ve^` toa'n xe? la` Ly' Gio^`ng Slau, co`n la.i la` 2 anh pha^n ve^` toa'n 2 la`:
La^`u Chi' Cha(n, Du+o+ng Long Sang va` Vo`ng Ho+.p Va(n. Ca? 4 anh dde^`u la`
go^'c Ta^`u, quo^'c ti.ch Vie^.t. Nghe Nguye^~n Va(n Go^m ke^? la.i, ca'c anh
dde^`u o+? be^n Cho+. Lo+'n.
So+? di~ to^i nghe Go^m va` Tra^`n Nhu+ ke^? la.i loa'ng thoa'ng nhu+ va^.y chi?
vi` to^i chu+a vo^.i va`ng, vo^` va^.p buo^?i dda^`u. Ma(.c du` trong lo`ng to^i
cu~ng ddang ngu+'a nga'y muo^'n bie^'t nhu+~ng ti`nh tie^'t, no^.i vu. cu?a
nho'm Ngu+o+`i Nha'i na`y. Cu~ng chi'nh vi` ca'i nho'm Ngu+o+`i Nha'i na`y
dde^'n tra.i nga`y ho^m qua, chie^`u nay o+? cho^~ nha` a(n trong lu'c cho+`
te^n ca'n bo^. tru+.c tra.i va`o "cho ga` va`o chuo^`ng�; ba'c Tie^'n, Go^m, Nhu
va` to^i ha~y ngo^`i ta'n chuye^.n ga^~u. Go^m, Nhu va` ba'c Tie^'n ha(?n tu+`
la^u dda~ ddu+o+.c nghe nhie^`u do chi'nh nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i bie^.t ky'ch, gia'n
ddie^.p trong Nam ra ke^? so+ lu+o+.c la.i ve^` ba?n tha^n mo^~i ngu+o+`i.
Chi'nh quye^`n mie^`n Nam hua^'n luye^.n bie^.t ky'ch, gia'n ddie^.p ro^`i tung
ra mie^`n Ba('c ra sao, ho. dde^`u dda~ co' nhu+~ng ca'i nha^.n ddi.nh chung,
nhu+ng ho^m nay ho. la.i ddem va^'n dde^` ddo' ra ho?i la.i to^i.
Lo`ng ngu+o+`i da^n mie^`n Ba('c, nhu+ to^i dda~ tri`nh ba^`y tru+o+'c dda^y,
khi to^?ng tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m bi. lu~ tu+o+'ng, ta' dda?o chi'nh ho^`i
cuo^'i na(m 1963, ho. va^~n hu+o+'ng ve^` ma?nh dda^'t phi'a Nam cu?a to^?
quo^'c. Nha^'t la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda~ pha?i va`o tu`, nhu+~ng lu'c lo`ng ho.
ti'm tha^~m, to^'i dden nha^'t, ho. la.i hu+o+'ng ve^` mie^`n Nam, mong mo?i
nhi`n tha^'y mo^.t nguo^`n tia sa'ng hy vo.ng, ho`ng gia?i thoa't ca'i ca?nh
ddo+`i ngu.c tu` cu?a ho..
Bo+?i the^', khi o+? trong tu` ho. la.i ddu+o+.c ga(.p chi'nh nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
mie^`n Nam ra Ba('c dde^? hoa.t ddo^.ng cho^'ng CS, ha^`u he^'t ho. dde^`u to`
mo` muo^'n ti`m hie^?u ve^` mie^`n Nam, no+i ma` lo`ng ho. va^~n va` ddang
ngu+o+~ng vo.ng trong mo?i mo`n. To'm la.i ho. dda~ ho?i to^i nhu+ sau:
- Ca'c anh, du` la` bie^.t ky'ch, bie^.t ha?i, lo^i ho^? hay gia'n ddie^.p,
chu'ng to^i tha^'y ca'c anh ddu+o+.c dda`o ta.o ra^'t co^ng phu, ddu+o+.c trang
bi. dda^`y ddu? dde^'n cha^n ra(ng, ke~ to'c. Nhu+ng co' mo^.t ddie^?m quan
tro.ng ba^.c nha^'t la` ca'c anh kho^ng ddu+o+.c trang bi. ve^` tu+ tu+o+?ng,
hoa(.c ne^'u co' thi` cu~ng chi? ho+`i ho+.t, tu`y tie^.n ma` tho^i. Co' pha?i
the^' kho^ng?
Tru+o+'c ma(.t to^i, tuy ho. kho^ng no'i tha(?ng ra, nhu+ng to^i hie^?u trong
lo`ng cu?a ho. muo^'n no'i tu+ tu+o+?ng o+? dda^y la` "Ly' tu+o+?ng va` lo`ng
ca(m thu` gia(.c.� To^i hie^?u dda^y la` mo^.t ca'i lo^~i, cha(?ng pha?i cu?a
rie^ng ai, ma` no' dda~ na(`m sa(~n trong ca'i dda'y cu?a ca'i xa~ ho^.i cu?a
nhu+~ng nu+o+'c tu+ ba?n ro^`i, nghi~a la` ngay tu+` nu+o+'c My~ chu+' kho^ng
pha?i chi? o+? mie^`n Nam VN. Do lo`ng tu+. ma~n tin va`o vu~ khi' va` su+'c
ma.nh cu?a tie^`n ba.c ne^n dda~ coi nhe. ca'i kha^u tinh tha^`n na`y. Tha^.m
chi', ha^`u he^'t dde^`u mang mo^.t quan ddie^?m, cu+' dde^? tu`y tie^.n lo`ng
cu?a mo^~i ngu+o+`i ddo^'i vo+'i ke? thu`. To^i cu+' ca^'p su'ng, giao tie^`n
cho anh dde^? anh ddi dda'nh CS. Ne^'u gia ddi`nh anh co' no+. ma'u vo+'i CS
thi` anh dda'nh ha(ng, ne^'u kho^ng, anh co' dda'nh ke? ho+`i ho+.t thi` cu~ng
tu`y anh.
Chi'nh ngay ba?n tha^n to^i, cu~ng a^'m u+'c ca'i tha('c ma('c na`y. To^i nhi`n
chung, bao nhie^u toa'n bie^.t ky'ch ddi ra mie^`n Ba('c, dda so^' dda~ va`o
tra.i giam mie^`n Ba('c, ne^'u kho^ng no'i la` co`n cao ho+n nu+~a. Tha^.m chi'
cu+' gu+?i toa'n na`y ra, bi. ma^'t ti'ch, la.i gu+?i toa'n kha'c ra, la.i cu~ng
bie^.t ta(m. Va^.y ma` sau ddo' va^~n cu+' gu+?i tie^'p. No^~i a^'m u+'c na`y
dda~ thu'c ho^'i to^i cu~ng ddi pho?ng va^'n ddu? tha`nh pha^`n, tu+` trong Nam
xa^m nha^.p va`o mie^`n Ba('c dde^? hoa.t ddo^.ng cho^'ng CS. DDe^? ro^`i, to^i
ddu+o+.c nghe ngu+o+`i ta gia?i thi'ch nhu+ mo^.t giai thoa.i nghe ma` cu+o+`i
me'o ca? mie^.ng the^' na`y. Ngay tu+` khi co`n o+? ca'c tra.i Long Tha`nh (Ba`
Ri.a), My~ Khe^, So+n Tra` (DDa` Na(~ng) cu~ng dda~ co' nhie^`u anh em tha('c
ma('c. Anh em tha^'y toa'n na`o ra ddi cu~ng thu+o+`ng kho^ng ve^`, ma` ba^y
gio+` dde^'n la^`n ho. la.i pha?i ra ddi, cho ne^n ho. dda~ ho?i tha(?ng ngay
nhu+~ng co^' va^'n My~. Nhu+~ng co^' va^'n My~ na`y co+?i vo`ng xoa('n ddo' nhu+
sau: "Ca'c anh cu+' ye^n ta^m ra ddi, ne^'u co' bi. ba('t cu~ng kho^ng sao. Chi?
ca^`n ca'c anh co^' giu+~ la^'y ca'i dda^`u (nghi~a la` ddu+`ng che^'t). Chu'ng
to^i muo^'n gu+?i ca'c anh ra ddo', dde^? CS hua^'n luye^.n tu+ tu+o+?ng cho
ca'c anh. Sau na`y tu+ tu+o+?ng cu?a ca'c anh se~ ddu+o+.c to^i luye^.n gia`
da(.n, tro+? tha`nh sa('t the'p dde^? cho^'ng la.i CS.�
DDa`nh ra(`ng dda^y chi? la` mo^.t lo+`i gia? ta.o, mo^.t lo+`i khi'ch le^.,
hu+'a he.n dde^? ye^n lo`ng ngu+o+`i ddi. Nhu+ng ve^` mo^.t khi'a na`o ddo', i't
nhie^`u no' cu~ng co' gia' tri. thu+.c te^'. Thu+.c tie^~n dda~ cho tha^'y,
nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ca`ng o+? tu` la^u trong tay CS bao nhie^u, lo`ng ho. ca`ng
cu+'ng ra('n cho^'ng CS ba^'y nhie^u. Co' nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i lu'c ra ddi, du`
chu+a co' y' thu+'c cho^'ng CS, thi` ro^`i cu~ng tro+? tha`nh ngu+o+`i cho^'ng
co^.ng tu+` trong ma'u. Vi` va^.y, to^i cu~ng ta.m la^'y ca'i y' na`y, gu+o+.ng
ga.o tra? lo+`i ba'c Tie^'n, Go^m va` Nhu, tuy trong lo`ng to^i la.i nghi~ hoa`n
toa`n kha'c.
Ho+n mo^.t tua^`n le^~ sau, to^'i ho^m nay, te^n ca'n bo^. Y tru+.c tra.i vu+`a
va`o ddie^?m buo^`ng ddi ra. Tu+` ga^`n 3 na(m xu+a, nga`y dda^`u to^i le^n
tra.i, cu~ng te^n Y na`y dda~ da^~n to^i va`o pha^n tra.i E. Khi tro+? ra tra.i
na`y, cu~ng 6 - 7 tha'ng ro^`i, ma~i ho^m nay to^i mo+'i la.i tha^'y y. Va^~n
da'ng da^'p qua^n su+., vo+'i nhu+~ng bu+o+'c ddi da`i, do~ng da.c, chi? co'
kha'c, ca^`u vai cu?a y ba^y gio+` mang ca'i lon thu+o+.ng si~. Do`ng tu+
tu+o+?ng cu?a to^i co`n ddang la~ng dda~ng, ba^`n tha^`n suy nghi~ ve^` te^n Y
na`y, bo^~ng anh cha`ng Go^m no^?i hu+'ng ba^'t tu+?, ddu+'ng o+? giu+~a buo^`ng
cao gio.ng tuye^n bo^':
- DDo^`ng ba`o ha~y chu' y': Mo^.t nguo^`n tin no'ng ho^?i vu+`a tho^?i vu+`a
a(n a`... nghe, to^i vu+`a mo+'i nha^.n ddu+o+.c 10 phu't tru+o+'c dda^y!
Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i im la(.ng quay la.i, Hoa`ng DDu+'c Tu`ng tu+` sa`n tre^n no'i
vo.ng xuo^'ng:
- No'i ngay ddi, ddang cho+` nghe dda^y!
DDe^? nu+?a phu't cho ca? buo^`ng im la(.ng, ba'n ti'n, ba'n nghi vo+'i ca'i
te^'u cu?a Go^m, ba^'y gio+` Go^m mo+'i do~ng da.c tu+`ng lo+`i:
- Mo^.t thie^'u nu+~ 17 tuo^?i dda~ ba('t co'c 4 thie^'u nie^n mang va`o ru+`ng
ho+n 3 tha'ng nay. Sa'ng ho^m nay mo+'i ti`m tha^'y thi` 4 cha`ng thie^'u nie^n
dda~ bo` ddi kho^ng ddu+o+.c.
Go^m tuye^n bo^' xong, quay ngoa('t va`o nha` ca^`u dde^? ddi dda'i. Trong khi
ca(n buo^`ng so^i no^?i, ra^m ran la^~n lo^.n tie^'ng cu+o+`i, tie^'ng no'i.
Ngu+o+`i ho?i the^' na`y, ngu+o+`i ho?i the^' kia, cha? ai nghe ro~ ca?. Cho
dde^'n lu'c ca'c to^? va`o ngo^`i sinh hoa.t buo^?i to^'i. Nhie^`u anh co`n
ha^'p ha'y, tha^'p tho?m ve^` ca^u chuye^.n 4 ca^.u thie^'u nie^n, cha? bie^'t
anh cha`ng Go^m na`y no'i thu+.c hay no'i ddu`a.
To^i cu~ng hie^?u Go^m thi?nh thoa?ng hay te^'u, bo^'c ddo^`ng nhu+ng cu~ng
pha?i thu+`a nha^.n anh ta co' ca'i ta`i sa(n tin, nha^'t la` ve^` nhu+~ng mo^'i
ti`nh dda(.c bie^.t trong ca'i the^' gio+'i nha` tu` na`y. Buo^?i to^'i ho^m
a^'y, cha(?ng co`n pha?i do to^i dde^'n vo+'i anh cha`ng Go^m dde^? ti`m ca'ch
bie^'t ve^` ca^u chuye^.n no'ng ho^?i ddo' nu+~a. Ra^'t nhie^`u ngu+o+`i trong
buo^`ng, sau khi sinh hoa.t xong dda~ ddo^? xo^ dde^'n va^y quanh cho^~ Go^m,
ba('t Go^m pha?i no'i ro~ su+. vie^.c.
Trong mo^.t ca'i xa~ ho^.i ha`ng nga`n ngu+o+`i, la^~n lo^.n chi'nh tri., hi`nh
su+. na`y. Cha? hie^?u Go^m dda~ nha^.n ddu+o+.c mo^.t nguo^`n tin tu+` mo^.t
ddu+o+`ng da^y na`o ddo' thi` kho^ng bie^'t. DDu+o+`ng da^y na`o thi` cu~ng
kho^ng ngoa`i nhu+~ng bo^. pha^.n tu+. gia'c, ma` tra.i tu` na`o cu~ng pha?i
co'. Go^m dda~ ke^? no^.i dung nhu+ sau:
Ca'ch dda^y 3 ngo.n ddo^`i va` mo^.t khoa?ng ru+`ng gia`, nghi~a la` xa dde^'n 7
- 8 ca^y so^' ve^` hu+o+'ng Ta^y, co' mo^.t tra.i tu` thie^'u nie^n tuo^?i tu+`
12 dde^'n 17. Tra.i na`y co' ca'i te^n my~ mie^`u, tie^'n bo^. dda'nh lu+`a
thie^n ha.: "Tru+o+`ng pho^? tho^ng co^ng nghie^.p I�, chu+'a chu+`ng tre^n
du+o+'i 400 em, vu+`a trai, vu+`a ga'i. Con ga'i chi? co' mo^.t pha^`n ma` con
trai chie^'m dde^'n 3 pha^`n. Tuy co' ha`ng ra`o nga(n chia 2 khu trai, ga'i o+?
rie^ng bie^.t nhu+ng be^'p chung va` ho.c chung mo^.t da^~y nha`. Tra.i na(`m
chi? ca'ch 2 ca^y so^' be^n tra'i ti?nh lo^. La`o Cai vo+'i Ye^n Ba'i. Tra.i
cu~ng co' ban gia'm thi. va` qua?n gia'o nhu+ng ddu+o+.c go.i thay la` ban gia'm
ddo^'c va` ca'c tha^`y co^. Mo^.t dda.i ddo^.i co^ng an vu~ trang, ha`ng nga`y
mang su'ng ddu+a ca'c em ra ngoa`i tra.i lao ddo^.ng. Ca'c em cu~ng ddu+o+.c
chia tha`nh to^?, toa'n. Nu+?a nga`y o+? nha` ho.c va(n ho'a va` ho.c nghe^`
re`n, mo^.c, xe?; nu+?a nga`y ddi lao ddo^.ng tro^`ng khoai, tro^`ng sa('n,
tro^`ng rau va` la`m ruo^.ng. DDe^? cho ca'c tha^`y co^ co' the^? ddi sa't vo+'i
ca'c em, va` cu~ng dde^? kha'c vo+'i tra.i tu` mo^.t ti', ca'c tha^`y co^ tuy
co' pho`ng rie^ng nhu+ng cu~ng o+? cu`ng khu vo+'i ca'c em.
Trong mo^.t khung ca?nh nu+?a nha` tu`, nu+?a tru+o+`ng ho.c, trai ga'i la^~n
lo^.n nhu+ va^.y, cu+' hi`nh dung, tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng thi` bie^'t bao nhie^u
ca^.u chuye^.n xa^?y ra ha`ng nga`y, ha`ng tua^`n, ha`ng tha'ng. Nhu+ng ngu+o+`i
ta va^~n no'i, the`m ca'i gi` thi` hay nghi~ va` hay no'i ve^` ca'i ddo'.
Nhu+~ng tin tu+'c kha'c, co' the^? Go^m dda~ loa.i bo?, ma` chi? chu' y' ve^`
nhu+~ng giai nha^n va` nhu+~ng chuye^.n ti`nh gia^.t ga^n. Na`o la`, co' tha^`y
gia'o cu+' mang rie^ng tu+`ng nu+~ sinh va`o ru+`ng da^.y ta^.p the^? du.c,
dde^? ro^`i nhie^`u tha^`y gia'o ma^'t lon, ma^'t vie^.c, co' khi pha?i va`o
a^'p. Na`o la`, co' hai ho.c sinh nhi`n tha^'y co^ gia'o ngon tho^m nhu+ mu'i
mi't, ddang dde^m ru? nhau ddo^.t ky'ch va`o buo^`ng co^ gia'o, tro'i tay cha^n
co^ gia'o xuo^'ng giu+o+`ng ro^`i he` nhau ddu ddu+a tre^n ngo.n ca^y sa^`u
ddo^ng. Tru+o+'c khi bi. tro'i, co^ gia'o dda~ ha`nh ddo^.ng ra^'t tho^ng minh
ddu'ng ba^.c tha^`y. Trong bo'ng dde^m dda~ va?y ki.p ca'i bu't ma'y co' mu+.c
va`o nhu+~ng ke? "ong non ngu+'a no.c cha^m cho.c hoa ru+~a�, dde^? ro^`i sa'ng
ho^m sau dda~ ti`m ra ddi'ch thu? pha.m la` 2 chu' "de^ con buo^`n su+`ng thi'ch
hu'c da^.u thu+a.�
Nhu+ng ca^u chuye^.n so^'t de?o ddu+o+.c Go^m chu' y' nha^'t la` co^ Ye^'n Co^?
Am, nghe dda^u co^ la` ga'i cu?a la`ng Co^? Am, Ba('c Ninh. Co^ na`y co' ddo^i
ma('t mo^.t mi' va` mo^.t chie^'c ma' lu'm ddo^`ng tie^`n. DDa(.c bie^.t, co^
co' mo^.t co+ the^? ra^'t na^?y no+? cu?a tuo^?i tra(ng ga^`n tro`n.. Ra^'t
na(ng ddo^.ng va` tha'o va't, vi` va^.y kho^ng nhu+~ng co^ la` toa'n tru+o+?ng
cu?a mo^.t toa'n 32 ngu+o+`i, co^ co`n la` tu+. gia'c cu?a tru+o+`ng nu+~a.
Toa'n cu?a co^ tro^`ng che` va` ha'i che`. Be^n khu con trai co' 4 ca^.u choai
choai cho+i mo^.t ba(ng vo+'i nhau la` Minh Co`, DDa.t Cho^.p, Ho^? Mu+u, co`n
mo^.t ca^.u nu+~a que^n te^n, tuo^?i tu+` 15 dde^'n 17. Cha? bie^'t co^ Ye^'n
Co^? Am he.n ho`, do^~ du. la`m sao ddo', bo^'n ca^.u quye^'t ta^m ddi theo
tie^'ng go.i cu?a ddo` ddu+a dde^? cho co^ Ye^'n da^~n le^n mo^.t ngo.n ddo^`i
hoang co' mo^.t ca(n ha^`m ta(ng xe^ bo? phe^' tu+` tho+`i cho^'ng Pha'p. Vi`
co^ Ye^'n la` tu+. gia'c ne^n dda~ le'n mang ddu+o+.c cha(n chie^'u va` mo^.t
va`i thu+' ddo^` du`ng to^'i thie^?u cho ca'c ca^.u o+? mo^.t no+i ca'ch xa
tru+o+`ng dde^'n ga^`n 2 ca^y so^'. Thi?nh thoa?ng ddo^i nga`y, co' khi mo^.t
nga`y co^ Ye^'n la.i mo` le^n vu+`a tie^'p te^' thu+'c a(n vu+`a cu`ng ca'c
ca^.u thu+o+.ng dda`i giao dda^'u.
Tho+`i gian cu+' the^' tro^i ddi. Trong tru+o+`ng cu~ng nhu+ ban gia'm ddo^'c
dde^`u nghi~ ra(`ng ca'c ca^.u dda~ bie^'n ve^` mie^`n xuo^i ro^`i, cho ne^n
cu~ng chi? ra le^.nh ta^`m na~ thu+o+`ng le^., vi` ca? nu+o+'c ddang co' chie^'n
tranh cho^'ng My~. Ca^u chuye^.n, 4 ca^.u thanh nie^n tro^'n tra.i, da^`n da^`n
chi`m va`o que^n la~ng cu?a tho+`i gian dde^'n nay dda~ ho+n 3 tha'ng.
Te^n Du~ng la` mo^.t ha. si~ quan vu~ trang, 25 tuo^?i. Tuy dda~ co' vo+., mo^.t
con o+? que^ nha` mie^`n Thanh Nghe^., nhu+ng y la`m co^ng ta'c o+? no+i nu'i
ru+`ng heo hu't dde^m, nga`y chi? nghe tha^'y gio' nga`n re^n ri?, lo`ng y ca`ng
na(.ng tri~u nhu+~ng lu'c gio' mu+a va` nhu+~ng buo^?i to^'i tro+`i. Trong
nhu+~ng xe^ di.ch, quan he^. cu?a cuo^.c so^'ng o+? tru+o+`ng tu` na`y, dda~
nhie^`u la^`n y nhi`n tha^'y Ye^'n Co^? Am mo+n mo+?n dda`o to+. DDe^m nga`y y
de^.t chie^'c lu+o+'i ti`nh mong bu?a ddu+o+.c con chim Ye^'n la`ng Co^? Am.
Ba?n ti'nh pho'ng dda~ng cu?a con mo^`i nhu+ va^.y, ne^n lu+o+'i cu?a y cha?
ca^`n de^.t xong thi` con mo^`i dda~ ngoan ngoa~n chui va`o vo`ng tay cu?a y.
Ro^`i tu+` dda^'y, co^ ga'i Co^? Am 17 kho^ng pha?i chi? be? ga^~y mo^.t su+`ng
tra^u ma` nhu+~ng 4 -5, dde^? ddu+o+`ng ddi pha?i re~ 3 -4 nga?.
Te^n Du~ng dda~ ddu ddu+a nhie^`u la^`n tre^n ngo.n ca^y sa^`u ddo^ng vo+'i co^
Ye^'n. Y tha^'y co^ Ye^'n co' nhu+~ng tho+`i gian, va` nhu+~ng hu+o+'ng ddi
ba^'t thu+o+`ng ne^n y la^.p ta^m theo do~i. Va`o mo^.t nga`y dde.p tro+`i co'
nhie^`u ma^y bay, gio' tho^?i, te^n Du~ng dda~ theo, ri`nh va` ba('t ta.i tra^.n
4 ca^.u de^ non. Tuy ca^.u na`o cu~ng chi? co`n da bo.c xu+o+ng vo+'i nhu+~ng
ddo^i ma('t tha^'t tha^`n tra('ng he^'u, va^.y ma` va^~n ha(m ho+?, la^`n
lu+o+.t thay phie^n nhau "a^'y� vo+'i co^ ga'i Ba('c Ninh. Tha^.t la` cha(?ng
sai, mo?i go^'i cho^`n cha^n va^~n muo^'n tre`o...ddo^`i. Tha^'y va^.y y gia^.n
qua'! Ne^'u anh cha`ng Du~ng chi.u suy xe't, hie^?u chuye^.n ddo+`i... la` nhu+
va^.y thi` cu+' nga^.m mie^.ng tie^'n bu+o+'c tre^n con ddu+o+`ng ddi nhu+ cu~.
Co' the^? vi` gia^.n ne^n ma^'t kho^n; nhu+ng co' le~ y tu+o+?ng, pha't hie^.n
ddu+o+.c 4 te^n vu+o+.t ngu.c na`y, vai y se~ the^m mo^.t sao nu+~a va` dda?ng
cu~ng se~ ti'n nhie^.m y the^m, ne^n y dda~ ca^'p to^'c ve^` ba'o ca'o vo+'i ban
gia'm ddo^'c. The^' la` ca? mo^.t to^? chim lo+'n tre^n ddo^`i hoang bi. ba('t
go.n, 4 chu' "ong non� dda~ pha?i vu+`a ddi vu+`a bo` ve^` tra.i.
Cuo^'i cu`ng ca^u chuye^.n vo+~ banh ra he^'t. Anh cha`ng Du~ng vu~ trang co'
co^ng dda~ pha't hie^.n ddu+o+.c to^? chim, ne^n chi? bi. lo^.t lon cho ve^`
nha` dduo^?i ga` cho vo+.. DDe^'n dda^y ca^u chuye^.n cu?a co^ Ye^'n Co^? Am
va^~n chu+a he^'t. Sa'ng ho^m sau, Nguye^~n Va(n Go^m ddu+o+.c le^.nh o+? la.i
tra.i dde^? ga(.p ca'n bo^.. DDe^'n tru+a, chu'ng to^i ddi la`m ve^` thi`
ddu+o+.c bie^'t Go^m dda~ bi. ddi ky? lua^.t ro^`i. Chu'ng to^i chu+a da'm ke^'t
lua^.n vi` sao, tuy va^.y Bu`i Ta^m DDo^`ng va^~n no'i ddu`a:
- Cha('c ban gia'm thi. gu+?i Go^m va`o nha` ky? lua^.t ga(.p Lo^.c hu?i dde^?
ti`m hie^?u the^m ve^` cuo^.c ti`nh giu+~a Ho^`ng DDa`o va` Ho^.c hu?i.
Ho+n mo^.t tua^`n sau, Go^m o^m cha(n chie^'u tro+? ve^` buo^`ng, ma(.t buo^`n
ru+o+`i ru+o+.i no'i nho? vo+'i to^i:
- Me. cha no', cha('c tha(`ng Phi to^? to^i chu+' kho^ng ai. Ban gia'm thi.
ke^'t to^.i to^i la`m a?nh hu+o+?ng dde^'n tinh tha^`n lao ddo^.ng cu?a tra.i
vie^n.
To^i ddu`a, cu~ng no'i nho? vo+'i Go^m:
- Ho. ke^'t to^.i nhu+ va^.y qua? kho^ng sai, ma^'y dde^m nay to^i va^~n co`n
mo+ ma`ng ve^` ca^u chuye^.n cu?a co^ Ye^'n Co^? Am dda^'y, cu+' kha('c khoa?i
ma~i gia^'c ngu? co' ye^n dda^u.
Ma(.t Go^m co`n me^.t va` xanh ta'i, va^.y ma` mie^.ng va^~n toe't ra cu+o+`i:
- Ho+n mo^.t tua^`n le^~ dde^? cha^n trong ca.m, to^i ca`ng gia^.n tha^'u
xu+o+ng co^ ga'i la`ng Co^? Am na`y. Sau na`y, ne^'u to^i ga(.p mo^.t co^ Ye^'n
kha'c na`o, to^i se~ cha.y tra'nh ngay ra xa.
To^i dda~ bie^'t to?ng anh cha`ng Go^m na`y. Tha^'y ga'i nhu+ ngu+o+`i kha't
nu+o+'c tha^'y qua? mo+, nhu+ng ba'c Tie^'n ngo^`i be^n ca.nh dda~ nga.c nhie^n,
quay la.i ho?i Go^m:
- Mi`nh kho^ng thi'ch ngu+o+`i ta thi` tho^i, chu+' vie^.c gi` ma` pha?i cha.y?
To^i dda~ bie^'t to?ng anh cha`ng Go^m na`y. Tha^'y ga'i nhu+ ngu+o+`i kha't
nu+o+'c tha^'y qua? mo+, nhu+ng ba'c Tie^'n ngo^`i be^n ca.nh dda~ nga.c nhie^n,
quay la.i ho?i Go^m:
- Mi`nh kho^ng thi'ch ngu+o+`i ta thi` tho^i, chu+' vie^.c gi` ma` pha?i cha.y?
Nhu+ giu~ sa.ch ca'i buo^`n vu+`a ddi ky? lua^.t ve^`, Go^m dda~ ddon dda?:
- Cha'u cha.y ra xa la^'y cho+'n, dde^? lao va`o cho ma.nh ho+n ba'c a.!
DDu'ng la` ca'i ne^'t, cho ky? lua^.t che^'t cu~ng kho^ng chu+`a.

Chu+o+ng 48: Ai cho Shihanouk a(n... cu+'t ga` sa'p?

Ho^m nay, toa'n 2 ddi lao ddo^.ng o+? la'n mo^.c thu? co^ng ve^`, vu+`a va`o
dde^'n co^?ng tra.i dda~ nghe tha^'y tie^'ng loa oang oang, la`m cho ma(.t ai
cu~ng tu+o+i ti?nh ha(?n le^n. Nhi`n tha'i ddo^. pha^'n cha^'n cu?a mo.i
ngu+o+`i, vu+`a ddi ve^` buo^`ng to^i vu+`a suy nghi~. Ta^m ly' con ngu+o+`i
tha^.t cu~ng ky` la.! Tru+o+'c dda^y, tie^'ng loa cu+' nheo nhe'o suo^'t nga`y
dde^m, thi` ai cu~ng ddau dda^`u, nhu+'c o'c, chu+?i no' la` �con me. chu+?i
thue^ dda^`u ddu+o+`ng, xo' cho+..� Va^.y ma` ba(~ng ddi kho^ng co' no', la.i
tha('c ma('c, la.i mong. Lo`ng con ngu+o+`i tha^.t cu~ng kho' ma` chie^`u!
Tu+` ma^'y nga`y tru+o+'c, co' ma^'y ngu+o+`i tho+. ddie^.n cu?a tra.i va`o
ma('c he^. tho^'ng da^y va` loa cho ca'c buo^`ng. Nho+' dde^'n Phan Thanh Va^n,
to^i ho?i tha(m ma^'y anh tho+. ddie^.n. Khi nghe to^i ho?i, ma(.t anh na`o
cu~ng ngo+ nga'c, ro^`i nhu+ cho+.t nho+' ra, mo^.t anh dda~ tra? lo+`i la^'p
lu+?ng: �Hi`nh nhu+ Phan Thanh Va^n dda~ ddu+o+.c chuye^?n ve^` Ha` No^.i ga^`n
mo^.t na(m nay ro^`i, chu'ng to^i la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i mo+'i, ne^n kho^ng bie^'t
ro~.� Tha^'y ho. kho^ng bie^'t gi` ho+n, to^i kho^ng ho?i nu+~a. Lo`ng to^i
cu~ng tha^'y vui vui vi` ddu+o+`ng ddi cu?a Va^n ca`ng nga`y, ca`ng mo+? ro^.ng
mo+?.
Tha?o na`o ma` chu'ng ma('c dda`i, ma('c da^y ro^'i ri't ca? le^n. Du` chu'ng
to^i cha(?ng co`n la. qua'i gi` nu+~a, va^.y ma` va^~n pha?i no'i. He^? khi na`o
chu'ng ba('t tu` nghe dda`i, ddo.c ba'o la` ti`nh hi`nh co' lo+.i cho chu'ng.
Co`n khi na`o dda`i bi. hu+, ba'o bi. nghe~n ddu+o+`ng v.v... la` pha?i hie^?u,
chu'ng ddang bi. kho^'n ddo^'n, ti`nh hi`nh ddang ba^'t lo+.i cho chu'ng. DDa`i
cu+' ra ra? sa'ng, tru+a, chie^`u, to^'i, chu'ng chu+?i bo+'i Nixon la` con
die^`u ha^u. Ve^` ho^.i nghi. Paris, chu'ng chu+?i Nixon va` Thie^.u ngu xua^?n
va` ngoan co^'. Chu'ng se~ ta(ng cu+o+`ng su+'c ma.nh dde^? dde` be.p su+. ngoan
co^', thu+.c da^n cu?a My~ v.v... Nha^n da^n the^' gio+'i ddang so^i no^?i u?ng
ho^. chu'ng. Nha^n da^n My~ pha?n chie^'n cho^'ng chi'nh phu? My~. DDa(.c bie^.t
nha^'t, chu'ng la`m ru`m beng nha^'t la` mo^.t chie^'n di.ch to lo+'n quy mo^
cha`o mu+`ng ho^.i nghi. nha^n da^n DDo^ng Du+o+ng 3 nu+o+'c Vie^.t, Mie^n,
La`o.
Anh cha`ng Shihanouk dda~ ba.c dda^`u ra ro^`i, ma` va^~n hi' hu+?ng nhai cu+'t
ga` sa'p cu?a CS. To^i va^~n hie^?u ra(`ng, tru+o+'c dda^y, ba^y gio+` va` sau
na`y co`n nhie^`u ngu+o+`i to dda^`u, ta`i ba nu+?a ma` va^~n nhai cu+'t ga`
sa'p cu?a CS huo^'ng gi` Shihanouk. Ca'i ddie^`u dda'ng no'i la` ngu+o+`i na`o
ti?nh so+'m va` ngu+o+`i na`o ti?nh muo^.n ma` tho^i. Nhu+ng ha^`u he^'t, hoa(.c
dda.i dda so^', khi co`n kha^?u su'ng trong tay, khi co`n nhie^`u cu?a ca?i,
su+'c ma.nh dda^`y ddu?, khi co`n pha^y pha^y, nho+?n nho+ o+? mo^.t nu+o+'c
tu+. do thi` kho^ng bao gio+` ti?nh. Lu'c ddo' ai cu~ng nhi`n tha^'y CS la`
mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda.o ma.o, hie^`n tu+`, ye^u chuo^.ng ho`a bi`nh tre^n he^'t,
chi? chie^'n dda^'u cho co^ng ba(`ng va` ti`nh ngu+o+`i. Chi? khi na`o, ai ddo'
kho^ng co`n nhu+~ng ca'i u+u the^' o+? tre^n, ba^'y gio+` mo+'i nhi`n tha^'y
bo^. ma(.t thu+.c cu?a CS la` mo^.t con quy? co' nga`. Ba.n co`n vu~ khi' trong
tay, ba.n co' the^? ba('n che^'t no' thi` ha~y tin cha('c cha('n kho^ng bao
gio+` CS la`m ma^'t lo`ng ba.n, chu'ng se~ ti`m mo.i ca'ch ve va~n, na`o la`
ho`a bi`nh, ti`nh ngu+o+`i, hu+~u nghi., la`m sao cho ba.n lo?ng tay su'ng,
tha^.m chi' ca^'t su'ng, be? su'ng ddi. Lu'c ddo', ba.n se~ ba('t dda^`u hie^?u
CS, ma` mo^~i khi hie^?u thi` thu+o+`ng thu+o+`ng dda~ muo^.n.
Sa'ng ho^m nay, nhi`n ta^'m a?nh to tu+o+'ng ngay o+? trang nha^'t to+` ba'o
Nha^n Da^n, tha^'y Shihanouk va` vo+. (ba` hoa`ng Monic) ma(.t ho+'n ho+?,
tu+o+i nhu+ hoa, ddu+'ng be^n ca.nh To^n DDu+'c Tha('ng va` Pha.m Va(n DDo^`ng.
To^i ca^`m to+` ba'o tra^`m nga^m, nhi`n ta^'m hi`nh, do`ng tu+ tu+o+?ng cu?a
to^i cu+' tra`o le^n vo+i dda^`y. To^i dda(.t gia? thuye^'t: Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
na`y, ddang ho+'n ho+?, ca tu.ng nhau dda^y. Nhu+ng ne^'u Shihanouk va` Monic
ddu+o+.c toa`n quye^`n quye^'t ddi.nh so^' pha^.n cu?a To^n va` DDo^`ng, to^i
tin cha('c ra(`ng ho. chi? muo^'n Tha('ng va` DDo^`ng la` ba.n, so^'ng tha^n
thie^.n ho`a bi`nh. Ngu+o+.c la.i, ne^'u Tha('ng va` DDo^`ng ddu+o+.c toa`n
quye^`n quye^'t ddi.nh so^' pha^.n cu?a vo+. cho^`ng o^ng hoa`ng Shihanouk,
cha('c cha('n, ddo^i vo+. cho^`ng na`y pha?i ddi ca?i ta.o, mo^~i ngu+o+`i mo^~i
no+i. Vi` mu.c tie^u cu?a CS la` tie^u ddie^.t ca'c tu+ tu+o+?ng, mo.i quan
ddie^?m kho^ng la` CS (phi vo^ sa?n) nha^'t la` tu+ tu+o+?ng phong kie^'n,
muo^'n cu+o+~i co^? nhie^`u ngu+o+`i cu?a ma^'y o^ng hoa`ng ba` chu'a na`y.
Kha'c nhau mo^.t tro+`i, mo^.t vu+.c nhu+ va^.y dda^'y! Shihanouk co' hie^?u
nhu+ the^' kho^ng? Khi CS ca^`n ai thi` chu'ng na^ng ngu+o+`i ddo' le^n ta^.n
ma^y xanh. Shihanouk dde^'n Ha` No^.i, chu'ng ddo'n ru+o+'c nhu+ mo^.t o^ng
tha'nh. Chu'ng tra?i nhung do.c ddu+o+`ng pho^' tru+o+'c chu? ti.ch phu? dde^?
Shihanouk ddi. DDa`i, loa nga`y dde^m ra ra? ca ba`i ha't �Nha^n Da^n DDo^ng
Du+o+ng� ma` chu'ng bo^'c tho+m ra(`ng dda^y la` nha.c va` lo+`i cu?a tha'i tu+?
Shihanouk, chu'ng di.ch sang Vie^.t ngu+~. Ca? nu+o+'c, ngoa`i xa~ ho^.i cu~ng
nhu+ trong tu`, mo.i ngu+o+`i pha?i ta^.p ha't thuo^.c nhu+ ba`i ca �gia?i
pho'ng mie^`n Nam.�
Mo^~i toa'n ddi lao ddo^.ng, dde^`u cu+? mo^.t ngu+o+`i bie^'t nha.c o+? la.i
tra.i, dde^? ca'n bo^. va(n nghe^. tra.i pho^? bie^'t va` ta^.p cho ha't o+?
ho^.i tru+o+`ng. To^'i ve^` anh ddo' la.i da^.y cho toa`n the^? toa'n cu?a
mi`nh.
Chuye^.n ha't xu+o+'ng o+? trong tu` cu?a CS la` thu+o+`ng xuye^n. DDa^y la`
no^~i a^'m u+'c, kho^? ta^m cu?a nhie^`u ngu+o+`i. Ai cu~ng tha^'y, chu'ng no'
ddang ba('t mi`nh, giam mi`nh o+? trong tu`, chu'ng coi mi`nh la` ke? tu+? thu`
ddo^'i kha'ng, ma` chu'ng va^~n tuye^n bo^' co^ng khai la` pha?i tie^u die^.t.
Va^.y ma` ha`ng nga`y pha?i ngo^`i ca vang nhu+~ng ba`i ha't ca tu.ng dda?ng va`
ba'c, ma.t sa't, chu+?i bo+'i chi'nh ngay mi`nh. Ne^'u ai chi? ca^`n co' y'
thu+'c mo^.t chu't tho^i, cu~ng tha^'y ngu+o+.ng mo^`m. Chi'nh vi` ca'i oa'i
a(m, ngu+o+.c xuo^i trong lo`ng nhu+ the^', ne^n nhie^`u ngu+o+`i mo^~i khi
pha?i ha't ta^.p the^?, ngo^`i cu+' cu'i ga(`m ma(.t xuo^'ng, kho^ng chi.u ha't.
Nhu+ng ro^`i dda^u co' ye^n ddu+o+.c. Te^n ca'n bo^. phu. tra'ch ddu+'ng nhi`n,
quan sa't tu+`ng ngu+o+`i va` bi. chi? ddi'ch danh nhu+: Le^ Lie^~u, Quo^'c Anh,
ba'c Tie^'n dda~ bi. chu'ng na.t no^., ha.ch ho?i, quy cho la` co`n tu+ tu+o+?ng
pha?n kha'ng o+? trong ma'u, trong xu+o+ng. Cho ne^n ba^'t ky` ai, du` kho^ng
ha't cu~ng pha?i ha' mo^`m, nho'p nhe'p nhu+ mo.i ngu+o+`i mo+'i ye^n.
Nhu+ng pha?i thu+`a nha^.n, ca'i phu+o+ng pha'p ba('t ngu+o+`i ta ha't ma~i
mo^.t ba`i. Tre^n loa, tre^n dda`i, mo.i ngu+o+`i chung quanh dde^`u ha't, cu+'
nghe ddi nghe la.i ca'i ba?n ha't ddo', lo+`i ca, y' nha.c, no' nga^'m, no'
luo^`n, no' la'ch va`o trong lo`ng mi`nh lu'c na`o kho^ng hay.
To^i pha?n u+'ng tu+` y' thu+'c, du+'t khoa't kho^ng bao gio+` chi.u ha't hay
ho.c nhu+~ng ba`i ca cho' che^'t ddo', ne^'u chu'ng no' kho^ng ba('t to^i pha?i
ddu+'ng ha't mo^.t mi`nh hay hai ngu+o+`i. Ma` la.i cha? bao gio+` co' ca'i
ca?nh 1 hay 2 ngu+o+`i ha't, vi` to^i co' pha?i la`m va(n nghe^. dda^u, cho
ne^n, ha^`u nhu+ ra^'t i't khi to^i ha't nhu+~ng ba`i ca ddo' tha`nh lo+`i.
The^' ma`, sau na`y to^i thuo^.c dde^'n ga^`n chu.c ba`i ha't cu?a CS. DDe^?
dde^'n no^~i, o+? mo^.t lu'c na`o ddo', mo^~i khi tha^'y lo`ng die^.u vo+.i,
ba^ng khua^ng, mie^.ng bo^.c pha't le^n ma^'y lo+`i ca o^ng o^?ng. Thi` la.i la`
lo+`i ca, tie^'ng nha.c cu?a CS. DDa~ ra^'t nhie^`u la^`n, khi o'c to^i ddang
nghi~ mo^.t chuye^.n kha'c cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i, tu+. nhie^n to^i hu+'ng ti`nh,
ha't vang mo^.t lo+`i ca trong mo^.t ba?n nha.c na`o ddo'; da^`n da^`n ha't
dde^'n cho^~ �die^.t dde^' quo^'c My~, die^.t lu~ tay sai ba'n nu+o+'c�, hoa(.c
la.i �HCM muo^n na(m� thi` o'c to^i cho+.t mo+'i ti?nh, to^i vo^.i be? que.o
sang mo^.t ddie^.u nha.c, lo+`i ca cu?a mie^`n Nam tha^n ye^u. To^i va^~n bi.
va^'p nhu+ va^.y nhie^`u la^`n. The^' mo+'i kinh khu?ng chu+'!
Ngay nhu+ ba`i ca �Nha^n Da^n DDo^ng Du+o+ng.� Sau dde^'n ho+n 20 na(m ma` to^i
va^~n co' the^? nho+' ra ddu+o+.c mo^.t ddoa.n: �Ta ha't ba`i ca, ddi le^n
chu'ng ta be^n nhau Vie^.t, La`o, Khme anh em. Cu`ng chung do`ng so^ng...
Me^ko^ng dda('p xa^y mo^'i ti`nh... ke^'t ddoa`n cho^'ng ke? thu` chung. Ho^m
nay dda'nh My~... sa't vai cu`ng nhau dda^'u tranh... Ta nguye^`n ddo^`ng ta^m
gi`n giu+~ nu'i so^ng... Chung xa^y ho`a bi`nh... giu+~ gi`n dda^'t nu+o+'c
chu'ng ta... Sa'ng tu+o+i du+o+'i tro+`i tu+. do..."
No' de^~ thuo^.c, de^~ nho+' va` ma~i kho^ng que^n, nhu+ ba`i �Gia?i Pho'ng
Mie^`n Nam� cu?a chu'ng va^.y. Ba`i �gia?i pho'ng� na`y do Huy`nh Minh Sie^ng,
ma` Sie^ng la.i la` Lu+u Hu+~u Phu+o+'c, ta'c gia? ba`i �Tie^'ng Go.i Sinh
Vie^n�, sau ddu+o+.c ddo^?i tha`nh ba`i Quo^'c Ca ki'nh ye^u cu?a chu'ng ta.
Bo+?i va^.y, to^i tin ra(`ng: ba`i �Nha^n Da^n DDo^ng Du+o+ng� la` cu?a Lu+u
Hu+~u Phu+o+'c ro^`i CS ga'n cho Shihanouk, vu+`a dde^? dde^` cao bo^'c tho+m,
la^'y lo`ng y, la.i vu+`a co' y' nghi~a chi'nh tri. nu+~a.
DDa~ la^u la('m, tu+` nga`y chuye^?n ra tra.i na`y, do nhu+~ng ke'o lo^i cu?a
nhie^`u khi'a ca.nh trong cuo^.c so^'ng tu`, to^i chu+a he^` nghi? mo^.t nga`y
be^.nh na`o. Va? la.i ho^m qua, nho+` o^ng Tu., to^i dda~ mu+o+.n ddu+o+.c
cuo^'n �Tu+ Ba?n Lua^.n� cu?a Marx cho ne^n sa'ng nay to^i quye^'t ddi.nh xin
nghi? o^'m mo^.t nga`y dde^? ddo.c cho dda~.
Va^'n dde^` nghi? o^'m trong toa'n cu~ng tha^.t la` te^' nhi.. Do ca'i ty? le^.
2 pha^`n tra(m qua'i a'c, cha(?ng bie^'t co' tu+` bao gio+`, vi` the^' toa'n
na`o, ha`ng nga`y cu~ng chi? ddu+o+.c nghi? tu+` 1 dde^'n 2 ngu+o+`i la` cu`ng.
Bo+?i va^.y pha?i bie^'t nhi`n nhau ma` xin nghi? o^'m. Tru+` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
bi. o^'m na(.ng dda(.c bie^.t kho^ng ke^?, hoa(.c nhu+~ng tai na.n ddo^.t
xua^'t. Cho ne^n, cu+' trung bi`nh mo^.t tha'ng ru+o+~i nghi? mo^.t la^`n la`
bie^'t ddie^`u. Anh nghi? ro^`i co`n cho ngu+o+`i kha'c nghi? nu+~a chu+'! Anh
nghi? ho^m nay ro^`i, mai la.i xin nghi? nu+~a thi` ngay y ta' tra.i cu~ng
kho^ng cho anh nghi? ro^`i, huo^'ng chi co`n o+? toa'n nu+~a. Anh muo^'n nghi?
be^.nh, ngay lu'c ke?ng ba'o thu+'c 5 gio+`, pha?i dde^'n cho^~ toa'n tru+o+?ng
ba'o ca'o, xin ghi te^n va`o so^? kha'm be^.nh. Ngu+o+`i xin ghi te^n thu+o+`ng
pha?i ba'o ca'o to dde^? ca? buo^`ng cu`ng nghe; dde^? ngu+o+`i kha'c ddi.nh
nghi? thi` tu+. tho^i dde^? nga`y kha'c.
Sau ddo', ngu+o+`i xin nghi? nho+` ngu+o+`i kha'c dda(.t ro^? hay ba't la^'y
bu+~a sa'ng du`m ro^`i ca^`m cuo^'n so^?, co' toa'n tru+o+?ng dda~ ghi te^n
mi`nh, cho+` ca'n bo^. va`o ddie^?m xong, ho^.c to^'c cha.y xuo^'ng pho`ng y ta'
o+? du+o+'i khu nha` be^'p dde^? dda(.t la^'y cho^~, ddo+.i cho to+'i khi y ta'
go.i te^n toa'n mi`nh va`o kha'm bi.nh. Ne^'u nhu+ vi` ly' do na`o dda^'y y te^'
kho^ng cho nghi? thi` vo^.i va`ng ve^` ma` a(n sa'ng, co`n xe^'p ha`ng theo
toa'n ddi lao ddo^.ng.
Cuo^.c ddo+`i ma`, ba^'t cu+' o+? dda^u cu~ng va^.y. Nguye^n ta('c la` nhu+
the^', nhu+ng no' va^~n co' lua^.t tru+`. Cha(?ng bao gio+` co' su+. co^ng
ba(`ng theo ddu'ng nghi~a ca?. Va^~n co' ca'i ca?nh ngu+o+`i thi` a(n kho^ng
he^'t, ngu+o+`i la^`n kho^ng ra. Khi to^i ca^`m cuo^'n so^? cha.y xuo^'ng to+'i
pho`ng y te^', thi` dda~ co' ha`ng 30 � 40 ngu+o+`i o+? ma?nh sa^n con xe^'p
ha`ng, ddang cho+` sa't ca.nh pho`ng y te^'. Hi`nh su+. la^~n chi'nh tri., ke?
ddu+'ng ngu+o+`i ngo^`i; ngu+o+`i khoa'c cha(n, ngu+o+`i qua^'n a'o. Sau khi
to^i dda(.t so^? xong, cu~ng ra ti`m mo^.t cho^~ ngo^`i cho+`. To^i ddang lo+
dda~ng ddu+a ma('t nhi`n nhu+~ng ha`ng ca^y tre^n cho?m ddo^`i phi'a be^n kia
va^~n co`n ru'c dda^`u va`o dda'm su+o+ng so+'m thi` tie^'ng qua't tha'o trong
pho`ng y te^' la`m to^i tie^'n la.i nhi`n va`o. Kho^ng ngo+`, y ta' la.i va^~n
chi'nh la` te^n Tha'i tu+` trong tra.i E. Mo^.t ba'c gia`, hi`nh nhu+ o+? toa'n
6 be^n khu chi'nh tri. ddang nha(n nho', na(`n ni` vo+'i y xin cho nghi? vi`
ba'c bi. ddi i?a cha?y suo^'t dde^m qua. Tie^'ng Tha'i ddanh ddanh:
- To^i no'i, kho^ng ddu+o+.c la` kho^ng ddu+o+.c. DDa^y chi? la` xa'o tro^.n
cu?a bo^. tie^u ho'a, ve^` uo^'ng i't nu+o+'c ddi la` kho?i!
Ba'c gia` cuo^'n so^? ddi ra, ma(.t nha(n nhu+ bi.. La.i mo^.t ca^.u hi`nh su+.
chu+`ng 21 � 22 tuo^?i, hai cha^n le^`u khe^`u nhu+ cha^n con ha.c, khoa'c
chie^'c cha(n ra'ch, cu+' van xin y cho nghi?, vi` ca^.u ta bi. so^'t ca? dde^m
qua. Tie^'ng Tha'i ga('t go?ng:
- Ca(.p nhie^.t kho^ng le^n, ve^` ddi la`m!
DDe^'n lu+o+.t toa'n 2, to^i tie^'n va`o. Tha'i, ngu+?ng le^n tha^'y to^i, dda~
vo^`n va~ tha(m ho?i. Khi bie^'t to^i kho^ng co' bi.nh gi`, ma` chi? me^.t,
muo^'n xin nghi? mo^.t nga`y. Y ddon dda? ba('t tay, ba?o to^i ve^` nha` nghi?
ddi. Khi to^i ra to+'i cu+?a buo^`ng, y co`n ghe' tai no'i nho?:
- Ne^'u mai anh co`n me^.t, muo^'n nghi? nu+~a thi` cu+' ghi te^n va`o so^?
be^.nh, ma` kho^ng ca^`n pha?i xuo^'ng nu+~a.
To^i ca?m o+n va` cha`o y ra ve^`. Do`ng lie^n tu+o+?ng cu?a to^i cu+' cuo^.n
va`o trong o'c, ha(?n ra(`ng Tha'i chu+a que^n ddu+o+.c tra^.n to^i dda'nh te^n
Ta^n tra^.t tu+. o+? tra.i E va` tha'i ddo^. cu?a Hoa`ng Thanh ddo^'i xu+? vo+'i
to^i. Mo^.t tie^'ng tho+? da`i ma` to^i co^' ne'n la.i cu+' ri? da^`n ra. DDo+`i
la` the^'! Ngu+o+`i ta la`m ca'ch ma.ng, ngu+o+`i ta ddi chie^'n dda^'u dde^?
ddo`i ho?i su+. co^ng ba(`ng cho xa~ ho^.i. Nhu+ng ngu+o+`i ta la.i kho^ng la`m
ca'ch ma.ng, kho^ng chie^'n dda^'u vo+'i su+. ba^'t co^ng ngay trong lo`ng cu?a
chi'nh mo^~i ngu+o+`i. Bo+?i va^.y, su+. ba^'t co^ng trong xa~ ho^.i loa`i
ngu+o+`i cu+' co`n to^`n ta.i ma~i ma~i; ma(.c du` ro^`i dda^y co`n nhie^`u
the^' he^. kha'c se~ va^~n co`n chie^'n dda^'u vo+'i su+. ba^'t co^ng cu?a con
ngu+o+`i.

Chu+o+ng 49 : Vinh danh ngu+o+`i nha'i

Khi ca'c toa'n dda~ ddi lao ddo^.ng ro^`i, tra.i va('ng teo, mo^~i buo^`ng chi?
co`n le`o khe`o ma^'y ngu+o+`i me^.t, bi.nh. To^i ngo^`i ddo.c sa'ch mo^.t lu'c,
mo?i ca? ma('t. DDang ddi.nh ra sa^n la`m va`i ddo^.ng ta'c the^? du.c cho ddo+~
mo?i ngu+o+`i thi` ma('t to^i cho+.t nhi`n xuo^'ng sa`n du+o+'i, phi'a ddo^'i
die^.n, tha^'y mo^.t anh ngo^`i thu.t ma~i va`o trong go'c sa`n. Anh ngo^`i
xo^?m, qua^'n cha(.t ca'i cha(n chi? tho` ra dda^`u va` 2 con ma('t. Ma('t anh
cu~ng ddang ngu+o+'c nhi`n to^i dda(m dda(m, a'nh le^n nie^`m vui cha`o ddo'n;
trong khi to^i cu~ng tu+o+i ne't ma(.t nhi`n, dde^? dda'p la.i nha~ y' cu?a anh,
lo`ng to^i va^~n ba`ng ba.c, nga.c nhie^n: Anh la` mo^.t trong bo^'n Ngu+o+`i
Nha'i mo+'i dde^'n tra.i, anh cu~ng o+? toa'n 2. Sa'ng nay, ro~ ra`ng kho^ng
tha^'y anh xuo^'ng y te^' kha'm bi.nh ma`? Tuy trong lo`ng to^i ho+i ba(n
khoa(n, nhu+ng chu+a tie^.n ho?i. To^i tre`o xuo^'ng, ghe' sang cho^~ anh ddon
dda?:
- Co' bie^'t hu't thuo^'c la`o kho^ng?
Anh mo+? cha(n, xoay ha(?n ngu+o+`i ra nie^`m no+?:
- Co', hu't ky~ a^'y chu+'!
Nhi`n 2 ca'i dda^`u go^'i cu?a anh ngo^`i, cao ga^`n cha^'m tai anh. Anh ma(.c
mo^~i chie^'c qua^`n ddu`i, do qua^`n da`i cu~ cu?a tra.i xe' ra, ne^n ga^'u
qua^`n lo+`m xo+`m, lua tua. Tha?o na`o, anh pha?i qua^'n cha(n. Ngay tu+`
nhu+~ng phu't ban dda^`u, cha? hie^?u sao to^i ca?m tha^'y ra^'t me^'n anh, va`
hi`nh nhu+ anh cu~ng da`nh cho to^i lo`ng thie^.n ca?m dda(.c bie^.t. Nghe
gio.ng no'i cu?a anh ho+i mo^.t chu't co+.n, dde^? ro^`i khi bie^'t te^n anh la`
La^`u Chi' Cha(n, ngu+o+`i Nu`ng. To^i la.i ha^n hoan ca tu.ng gio.ng no'i
tie^'ng Kinh qua' so~i cu?a anh. Co`n mo^.t ddie^`u nu+~a, anh co' mo^.t
ngu+o+`i me. gia`, hie^.n ddang so^'ng o+? vu`ng ca^y Da Sa`, Cho+. Lo+'n.
Ngu+o+`i me. ddo' va^~n nga`y dde^m mo?i mo`n ngo'ng cho+` ngu+o+`i con trai
dda~ ddi phu+o+ng tro+`i na`o ma^'t ta(m, cu~ng tu+o+ng tu+. gio^'ng ti`nh ca?nh
me. cu?a to^i.
Sau va`i ca^u tha(m ho?i, to^i dda~ hie^?u, hai nga`y tru+o+'c anh bi. ddi
kie^'t ra ma'u. DDe^m qua mo+'i ca^`m, vi` va^.y y ta' cho anh nghi? the^m nga`y
ho^m nay. Ra^'t la. lu`ng la` chi? ho+n mo^.t gio+` sau, chu'ng to^i dda~ tha^n
nhau ngay. Ca? nga`y ho^m a^'y, to^i dda~ cha? ddo.c ddu+o+.c ti' sa'ch na`o.
To^i tre`o xuo^'ng sa`n du+o+'i, hai anh em na(`m dda('p cha(n chung, trao ho?i
chuye^.n cuo^.c ddo+`i. Tu+` va`i ca^u han ho?i lu'c Cha(n bi. ba('t, ca^u
chuye^.n cu+' go+.i da^`n tri' to` mo` cu?a to^i. Cuo^'i cu`ng, kho^ng da(`n
ddu+o+.c lo`ng, to^i dda~ dde^` nghi. Cha(n ha~y tu+o+`ng thua^.t la.i tu+` lu'c
ba('t dda^`u va`o nga`nh Bie^.t Ha?i cho to+'i khi bi. ba('t. Do lo`ng thie^.n
ca?m dda~ co' sa(~n vo+'i to^i, pha^`n kha'c, co' le~ cu~ng muo^'n co+?i mo+?
mo^.t ma?nh ddo+`i cho mo^.t ngu+o+`i ddang ha'o hu+'c, cha(m chu' la('ng nghe,
vi` va^.y so+ lu+o+.c, Cha(n dda~ ke^? la.i ddo+`i Cha(n nhu+ sau:
La` mo^.t ngu+o+`i da^n to^.c thie^?u so^' nhu+ng cu~ng la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, tuy
gia ddi`nh anh va^~n du`ng tie^'ng Qua?ng DDo^ng la` chi'nh, quan ddie^?m cu?a
Cha(n: dda^y la` cu~ng la` que^ hu+o+ng To^? Quo^'c cu?a Cha(n. Chi'nh vi`
the^', khi co' mo^.t chu't tri' kho^n, hie^?u bie^'t, anh dda~ xin va`o mo^.t
tru+o+`ng Kinh dde^? ho.c chu+~ quo^'c ngu+~. Cu~ng do ho.c o+? tru+o+`ng Vie^.t
ne^n Cha(n quen bie^'t ra^'t nhie^`u ba.n be` ngu+o+`i Kinh.
Ngay tu+` lu'c co`n 9 � 10 tuo^?i, (tu+` dda^y la` lo+`i ta^m su+. cu?a Cha(n)
to^i co' mo^.t o^ng chu' ho. tre^n vu`ng Blao. Mo^~i la^`n, o^ng chu' xuo^'ng
Cho+. Lo+'n dde^? tha(m bo^' me. to^i, thu+o+`ng da^~n to^i ddi cho+i. O^ng
ra^'t thu+o+ng to^i va` to^i cu~ng ye^u ki'nh o^ng nhu+ cha.
Khoa?ng na(m 1959, va`o mo^.t nga`y Chu? Nha^.t, ddo^.t nhie^n co' ngu+o+`i con
trai cu?a o^ng chu' tu+` Blao xuo^'ng ba'o cho bie^'t mo^.t tin ru.ng ro+`i:
Bo^' dda~ bi. CS ddem ra phi'a sau nha` cha(.t dda^`u dde^m ho^m qua. Tu+` lo`ng
me^'n thu+o+ng ngu+o+`i chu', mo^.t y' nie^.m dda~ ha(`n sa^u va`o bo^. o'c
nga^y tho+ cu?a to^i. Ta.i sao CS da~ man, ta`n a'c the^'? Du` con mo+ ho^`
chu+a ro~ ra`ng, nhu+ng to^i dda~ tha^'y CS la` ke? phi nghi~a. Ne^'u to^i
luye^.n ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng bi' ki'p nhu+ nhu+~ng cao thu? trong truye^.n
chu+o+?ng, to^i se~ ddi tie^u die^.t CS.
Sau na`y, ca`ng nga`y ca`ng lo+'n le^n, to^i nhi`n tha^'y chung quanh, co'
nhie^`u ba.n be` ngu+o+`i Kinh cu~ng nhu+ ngu+o+`i Nu`ng xin gia nha^.p qua^n
ddo^.i dde^? ddi dda'nh CS; lo`ng to^i ca`ng ha'o lu+'c tha(m ho?i ddo' dda^y.
Cuo^'i na(m 1963, lu'c na`y to^i dda~ 21 tuo^?i. Do co+ the^? cu+o+`ng tra'ng,
cao lo+'n, la.i ra^'t thi'ch bo+i lo^.i ne^n to^i dda~ nho+` mo^.t ngu+o+`i
Kinh, gio+'i thie^.u dde^? to^i xin gia nha^.p lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ngu+o+`i Nha'i. Do
su+. no^~ lu+.c, quye^'t ta^m cu?a to^i, to^i va^~n kie^n tri` la`m nhie^`u thu?
tu.c theo ye^u ca^`u, nha^'t la` kha^u kha'm su+'c kho?e. Ke^'t qua?, dda^`u
tha'ng 2 na(m 1964, to^i ddu+o+.c tuye^?n cho.n ddu+a ra DDa` Na(~ng dde^? du+.
lo+'p hua^'n luye^.n.
Hua^'n luye^.n go^`m nhie^`u mo^n, nhu+ng chu? ye^'u la` ti`nh ba'o va` pha'
hoa.i. Theo li.ch tri`nh tho+`i gian se~ ho.c ta^.p, hua^'n luye^.n trong vo`ng
8 tha'ng. Sau ddo' se~ ddu+o+.c hua^'n luye^.n bo^? tu'c theo ye^u ca^`u cu?a
mo^~i chuye^'n co^ng ta'c kha'c nhau. Trong tho+`i gian hua^'n luye^.n ddu+o+.c
chia la`m 3 giai ddoa.n:
Giai ddoa.n I. Go^`m 6 tua^`n le^~, chuye^n ve^` the^? du.c, the^? thao dde^?
thu+? nghie^.m the^? lu+.c va` su+'c chi.u ddu+.ng de?o dai cu?a mo^~i kho'a
sinh trong mo^i tru+o+`ng o+? ru+`ng nu'i cu~ng nhu+ o+? bie^?n ca?. Trong 6
tua^`n na`y, co' mo^.t tua^`n le^~ cuo^'i cu`ng, ddu+o+.c go.i la` �tua^`n le^~
ddi.a ngu.c.� Pha?i no'i ra(`ng ga^`n nhu+ 24.24 tho+`i gian cu?a mo^.t nga`y
kho^ng ddu+o+.c ngu?, nghi? ngo+i.
Hua^'n luye^.n vie^n ddu+o+.c chia la`m 3 to^'p, thay phie^n nhau dde^? qua^`n
tha?o kho'a sinh. Ho. cu~ng ddu+o+.c chia tha`nh 3 ca, mo^~i ca 8 gio+`. Kho^ng
ke^? nga`y hay dde^m, ba('t kho'a sinh pha?i lie^n tu.c cha.y, nha^?y, ta^.p
ta`nh to^'i dda. Trong tua^`n le^~ ddi.a ngu.c na`y, co' ra^'t nhie^`u kho'a
sinh bi. loa.i. Ne^'u kho'a sinh na`o vu+o+.t qua ddu+o+.c tua^`n le^~ ga('t gao
na`y thi` ddu+o+.c coi nhu+ ta.m ddu? tie^u chua^?n dde^? tie^'p tu.c theo ho.c
giai ddoa.n II. Tuy va^.y, va^~n co`n mo^.t tru+o+`ng ho+.p nu+~a, kho'a sinh
cu~ng se~ bi. loa.i. Nghi~a la`, kho'a sinh na`o dda~ vu+o+.t qua tua^`n le^~
ddi.a ngu.c, dde^`u pha?i ddu+o+.c thu+? ddeo bi`nh du+o+~ng khi' vo+'i mo^.t
ddo^. a'p sua^'t va` tho+`i gian nha^'t ddi.nh. Nhie^`u ngu+o+`i bi. ddau ma`ng
nhi~ ne^n cu~ng bi. loa.i luo^n.
Giai ddoa.n II. Go^`m ti`nh ba'o va` pha' hoa.i. Hua^'n luye^.n vie^n la^~n
lo^.n Vie^.t va` My~. Trong mo^~i tua^`n le^~, da`nh 2 buo^?i cho hua^'n luye^.n
vie^n VN, chuye^n ve^` ti`nh ba'o. Ti`m hie^?u ve^` su+. to^? chu+'c cu?a xa~
ho^.i CS mie^`n Ba('c VN, tu+` no^ng tho^n cho to+'i tha`nh thi.. Nha^'t la`
ve^` ma.ng lu+o+'i to^? chu+'c, bo^' pho`ng cu?a bo.n co^ng an bie^n pho`ng do.c
theo bo+` bie^?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Ho.c ca'ch khai tha'c tin tu+'c tu+` mo^.t
ngu+o+`i da^n thu+o+`ng cho dde^'n mo^.t ca'n bo^. no^`ng co^'t cu?a CS.
Pha^`n hua^'n luye^.n vie^n My~ chuye^n ve^` ky~ thua^.t pha' hoa.i, ba('t co'c
va` ca^'p cu+'u tu+` trong lo`ng dda^'t ddi.ch. Mo+? dda^`u hua^'n luye^.n, ho.c
su+? du.ng tu+` su'ng ca' nha^n cho dde^'n su'ng lo+'n 106mm, mi`n va` ca'c
loa.i cha^'t no^?. Ho.c ca'ch tu+. che^' bie^'n ca'c kie^?u mi`n ba(`ng cha^'t
no^? theo y' muo^'n, dde^? pha' hoa.i ca'c mu.c tie^u o+? dda^'t lie^`n cu~ng
nhu+ na(`m sa^u du+o+'i nu+o+'c. Hua^'n luye^.n phu+o+ng pha'p ddo^.t nha^.p,
ba('t co'c bo^. ddo^.i, ca'n bo^. hay tu+. ca^'p cu+'u ngay trong dda^'t cu?a
ke? thu`. Ho.c su+? du.ng va` ba?o tri` mo^.t so^' du.ng cu. ma'y mo'c dde^?
phu.c vu. co^ng ta'c.
Giai ddoa.n III. O^n ta^.p la.i toa`n bo^. nhu+~ng ddie^`u dda~ ddu+o+.c ho.c
tu+` dda^`u. Pho^'i ho+.p, thu+.c ta^.p vo+'i be^n lu+.c lu+o+.ng cu?a ba.n la`
Ha?i To^'c DDi~nh (P.T.F.) la` mo^.t loa.i chie^'n ha.m nho? cha.y vo+'i to^'c
ddo^. kha' cao. Giai ddoa.n na`y, loa.i PTF thu+o+`ng xuye^n co^ng ta'c o+? ha?i
pha^.n Ba('c Vie^.t. Thu+.c ta^.p mang bi`nh du+o+~ng khi' nha?y du` xuo^'ng
bie^?n theo to.a ddo^., dde^? la(.n to+'i mu.c tie^u...
No'i ve^` tho+`i gian va` nhu+~ng chi tie^'t cu?a tu+`ng chuye^'n co^ng ta'c
thi` to^i kho^ng the^? nho+' he^'t ddu+o+.c. Nhu+ng cha('c cha('n la` kho^ng
du+o+'i 20 chuye^'n.
No'i ve^` tho+`i gian va` nhu+~ng chi tie^'t cu?a tu+`ng chuye^'n co^ng ta'c
thi` to^i kho^ng the^? nho+' he^'t ddu+o+.c. Nhu+ng cha('c cha('n la` kho^ng
du+o+'i 20 chuye^'n xa^m nha^.p va`o ha?i pha^.n Ba('c Vie^.t ke^? tu+` nga`y
to^i gia nha^.p lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ngu+o+`i Nha'i cho to+'i chuye^'n ddi ddi.nh
me^.nh na`y. To^i se~ ke^? ve^` mo^.t va`i chuye^'n co^ng ta'c ma` to^i nho+'
ddu+o+.c cho anh nghe. Ca'i chuye^'n co^ng ta'c dda^`u tie^n thi` kho^ng the^?
na`o to^i co' the^? que^n ddu+o+.c. DDo' la` va`o cuo^'i tha'ng 11 na(m 1964.
To^i ddu+o+.c ghe'p chung vo+'i 2 ngu+o+`i nu+~a tha`nh mo^.t to^? 3 ngu+o+`i.
Hai anh na`y la` Ze^'nh va` Minh. Ca'c anh dda~ ddi co^ng ta'c nhie^`u la^`n
xa^m nha^.p bo+` bie^?n mie^`n Ba('c ro^`i. Ngay trong tha'ng 6 vu+`a qua, lu'c
chu'ng to^i co`n ddang du+. lo+'p hua^'n luye^.n, hai anh dda~ ddu+o+.c PTF
pho^'i ho+.p ddo^.t nha^.p va`o vu`ng bo+` bie^?n Thanh Ho'a. Ba^'t ngo+`, ca'c
anh dda~ du`ng ho?a lu+.c ma.nh, tie^u die^.t toa`n bo^. lu+.c lu+o+.ng da^n
qua^n ga'c chie^'c ca^`u Ho^?, ro^`i dda(.t cha^'t no^? pha' gu.c chie^'c ca^`u
na`y. Chie^'c ca^`u da`i ga^`n 100 me't tre^n quo^'c lo^. so^' I thuo^.c ddi.a
pha^.n ti?nh Thanh Ho'a.
Chuye^'n co^ng ta'c tha`nh co^ng my~ ma~n cu?a hai anh tro+? ve^` ddu+o+.c anh
em no^`ng nhie^.t ddo'n cha`o. Ho^m sau, tra.i mo+? tie^.c mu+`ng, chu'ng to^i
la` kho'a sinh mo+'i cu~ng ddu+o+.c du+..
Vi` la` la^`n dda^`u, ne^n to^i ddu+o+.c ddi vo+'i hai anh dde^? ho.c ho?i kinh
nghie^.m. Nhie^.m vu. ddu+o+.c giao cho to^? chu'ng to^i trong chuye^'n co^ng
ta'c na`y la` pho^'i ho+.p vo+'i PTF xa^m nha^.p va`o la~nh ha?i Ba('c Vie^.t.
Ba('n pha' mo^.t tra.m rada na(`m ca.nh bo+` bie^?n thuo^.c ddi.a pha^.n ti?nh
Nghe^. An. Sau ddo', PTF se~ kho^'ng che^' va` ye^?m tro+. dde^? 3 chu'ng to^i
ddo^.t nha^.p ba('t mo^.t so^' thu?y thu? thuo^.c ca'c ddo^.i dda'nh ca' cu?a
ti?nh Thanh Ho'a ddem ve^` Nam la`m ta`i lie^.u so^'ng dde^? khai tha'c mo^.t
so^' tin tu+'c ve^` ti`nh ba'o ddi.a phu+o+ng.
Khoa?ng 10 gio+` sa`ng, lu'c na`y ma(.t tro+`i dda~ cho'i chang tre^n khung
tro+`i DDa` Na(~ng. Chu'ng to^i go^`m 2 chie^'c Ha?i To^'c DDi~nh, no^? ma`y
ro+`i kho?i DDa` Tha`nh. Hai chie^'c ta^`u hi`nh con thoi xe' nu+o+'c tie^'n ra
cu+?a bie^?n hu+o+'ng ve^` phi'a Ba('c. Nhi`n ca?nh va^.t hai be^n bo+` so^ng
Ha`n, to^i co' ca?m tu+o+?ng 2 con ta^`u nhu+ 2 con cho' so'i ddang ho^`ng ho^.c
lu+o+'t nhanh tre^n ma(.t tuye^'t bao la dde^? sa(n dduo^?i con mo^`i. Ra dde^'n
bie^?n kho+i, giu+~a muo^n nga`n lo+'p so'ng ba.c dda^`u, to^i nhi`n chie^'c PTF
ddi che'o phi'a be^n; tro^ng no' nhu+ bay sa't tre^n ngo.n nhu+~ng lo+'p so'ng
co^`n vo+'i to^'c ddo^. 30 -40 da(.m mo^.t gio+`. DDe^? tra'nh rada va` ta^`m
nhi`n cu?a ddi.ch, ta^`u cu?a chu'ng to^i ddi ma~i ngoa`i kho+i ca'ch bo+` 50 �
60 ca^y so^'.
11 gio+` dde^m ho^m a^'y, nhu+ va^.y chi? sau 13 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`, ta^`u
chu'ng to^i dda~ to+'i mu.c tie^u. Ba^'t ngo+` 2 chie^'c PTF be? la'i tie^'n
va`o bo+`. Trong dde^m to^'i, khi co`n ca'ch gia`n rada cu?a ddi.ch 3 � 4 tra(m
me't. Ho?a lu+.c cu?a chu'ng to^i la` nhu+~ng mu~i su'ng 106mm va` 20mm, ba('t
dda^`u kha.c lu+?a va`o mu.c tie^u. Tuy co' va`i tra`ng dda.i lie^n ba('n tra?
nhu+ng cha? tha^'m gi` vo+'i ho?a lu+.c cu?a ta^`u chu'ng to^i. Chi? 5 phu't
sau, ca? mo^.t vo`ng lu+?a lo+'n, ddo? o^'i, sa'ng ru+.c dda~ bao tru`m mu.c
tie^u. Trong khi o+? ngoa`i kho+i, nhie^`u chie^'c ta^`u dda'nh ca' cu?a ddi.ch
nho^'n nha'o tha'o cha.y va`o phi'a dda^'t lie^`n.
Do 2 chie^'c PTF ke`m uy hie^'p, mo^.t chie^'c ta^`u dda'nh ca' cu?a ddi.ch dda~
chi.u tra^.n. Vo+'i nhu+~ng thao ta'c, nhua^`n nhuye^~n chuye^n mo^n, 3 chu'ng
to^i lao nhanh sang ta^`u dda'nh ca'. Tu+o+'c he^'t vu~ khi' va` la^`n lu+o+.t
giong ho. ve^` ta^`u cu?a chu'ng to^i. Ho. go^`m 9 ngu+o+`i, bao go^`m ca?
thuye^`n tru+o+?ng. DDe^? giu+~ an toa`n tuye^.t ddo^'i, chu'ng to^i pha?i tro'i
ca? 9 ngu+o+`i la.i. Tru+o+'c khi ru't lui, chu'ng to^i kho^ng que^n di`m con
ta^`u dda'nh ca' cu?a ddi.ch xuo^'ng dda'y bie^?n.
Vo+'i tho+`i gian cho+'p nhoa'ng, tu+` lu'c ba('t dda^`u nha? dda.n va`o gia`n
rada cho to+'i khi ba('t go.n dda'm thu?y thu? cu?a chie^'c ta^`u dda'nh ca'
chi? trong vo`ng 20 phu't. To^i va^~n kho^ng que^n ddu+o+.c, do ca'i ba?n ti'nh
tie^?u tu+ sa?n, qua^n tu+? Ta^`u ma` nhie^`u ngu+o+`i trong chu'ng ta dde^`u
co'. Khi ke? ddi.ch tha^'t the^' bi. ba('t trong tay mi`nh ro^`i, ti`nh ngu+o+`i
cu?a to^i la.i tro^~i da^.y. Tru+o+'c nhu+~ng bo^. ma(.t ta'i me't, run ra^?y
cu?a ho., to^i dda~ bo'c tu+`ng mu'i cam ddu't va`o mie^.ng cho ho. vi` tay ho.
bi. tro'i. To^i ddo^'t tu+`ng ddie^'u thuo^'c, ca^`m cho tu+`ng ngu+o+`i hu't.
To^i co`n nho+' ro~ ca'i o^ng thuye^`n tru+o+?ng te^n la` DDa'n, dda~ tho^?n
thu+'c, nga^.p ngu+`ng no'i vo+'i to^i:
- Anh tu+? te^' qua'!
To'm la.i, chuye^'n co^ng ta'c buo^?i dda^`u cu?a to^i hoa`n toa`n tha`nh co^ng.
Tu+` na(m 1965 tro+? ddi du+o+`ng nhu+ tha'ng na`o to^i cu~ng co' ma(.t, i't
nha^'t la` 3 la^`n ta.i bo+` bie^?n mie^`n Ba('c, tu+` vi~ tuye^'n 17 cho dde^'n
dda?o Ba.ch Long Vi~. Thu+o+`ng, thu+o+`ng, vo+'i nhie^.m vu. pho^'i ho+p cha(.t
che~ vo+'i PTF dde^? phong to?a, ba('n pha' ca'c mu.c tie^u qua^n su+. do.c theo
bo+` bie^?n tu+` Qua?ng Bi`nh cho dde^'n Mo'ng Ca'i. DDo^i khi, ddo^? bo^. do
tha'm va` du`ng cha^'t no^? dde^? pha' mo^.t so^' tra.m tie^'p te^' nhie^n
lie^.u. dda^y la` nhu+~ng tra.m du+`ng cha^n, chuye^?n ddo^?i dde^? ddi.ch mang
nhie^n lie^.u, tie^'p te^' va`o Nam.
To^i nho+' mo^.t chuye^'n va`o khoa?ng tha'ng 5 na(m 1965. Toa'n cu?a to^i go^`m
6 ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c chi? ddi.nh ddi co^ng ta'c, go^`m co': Quy', Ta(ng, Va(n,
Ba(`ng, Hoa va` to^i. Ngay tu+` to^'i ho^m tru+o+'c, hua^'n luye^.n vie^n dda~
tho^ng ba'o gio+` gia^'c, chu'ng to^i pha?i mang dda^`y ddu? vu~ khi', qua^n
trang, ddo^` nghe^` co' ma(.t ta.i pho`ng ha`nh qua^n. Sau khi nghe thuye^'t
tri`nh xong, chu'ng to^i ddu+o+.c chia la`m 2 nho'm, mo^~i nho'm 3 ngu+o+`i.
Chu'ng to^i ddu+o+.c nha^.n the^m ho+n mo.i khi 2 ca^y dda.i ba'c kho^ng gia^.t
106mm va` 6 thu`ng cha^'t no^?.
Mu.c ddi'ch cu?a chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y la` pho^'i ho+.p vo+'i PTF nha(`m
tie^u die^.t va` ba('t so^'ng mo^.t so^' ta`u, thuye^`n. Tin ti`nh ba'o khai
tha'c ddu+o+.c tu+` nhu+~ng ca'i lu+o+~i so^'ng cho bie^'t: Ha?i qua^n VC dda~
ngu.y trang tha`nh thuye^`n dda'nh ca' hoa(.c va^.n ta?i dde^? tra'nh su+. oanh
ki'ch cu?a kho^ng qua^n Hoa Ky`. Ma(.t kha'c, chu'ng ri`nh ra^.p nga`y dde^m
dde^? chuye^?n vu~ khi' dda.n du+o+.c va`o Nam cho ddo^`ng bo.n.
Xua^'t pha't ddie^?m cu~ng tu+` ha?i khu DDa` Na(~ng. Chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y
cu?a chu'ng to^i go^`m 3 chie^'c PTF. Toa'n to^i ddu+o+.c bo^' tri' xuo^'ng 2
chie^'c, mo^~i chie^'c 3 ngu+o+`i. Co`n la.i chie^'c thu+' 3 da`nh cho ngu+o+`i
cu?a toa'n ba.n. Ta^`u ro+`i be^'n tu+` lu'c giu+~a tru+a, cho dde^'n chie^`u,
chu'ng to^i dda~ vu+o+.t qua ho`n Co+ (tu+'c ho`n Co.p). Va`o khoa?ng 12 gio+`
dde^m, chu'ng to^i ddu+o+.c le^.nh sa(~n sa`ng chie^'n dda^'u. Chi? 5 phu't sau,
chie^'c PTF ddi dda^`u dda~ khai ho?a no^? su'ng ba('n cha(.n mo^.t trong hai
chie^'c ta^`u cu?a ddi.ch ddang mo+? he^'t to^'c lu+.c, cha.y ve^` hu+o+'ng co'
ta^`m ho?a lu+.c ye^?m tro+. cu?a bo.n chu'ng o+? trong dda^'t lie^`n ddang
ba('n ra.
Chie^'c PTF ddi dda^`u va^~n tie^'p tu.c ba'm rie^'t, no^? su'ng truy ki'ch
chie^'c ta^`u ddi.ch dda~ tro^'n thoa't va`o bo+`, ddo^`ng tho+`i va^~n la`m
co^ng ta'c ye^?m tro+., ca?nh gio+'i dde^? 2 chie^'c co`n la.i kho^'ng che^' va`
du`ng loa pho'ng thanh, hu+o+'ng ve^` chie^'c ta^`u ddi.ch ddang trong vo`ng
va^y o+? ngoa`i kho+i, ke^u go.i ddi.ch qua^n ha~y bo? he^'t vu~ khi' le^n boong
ta^`u va` dde^? 2 tay le^n dda^`u. Bo.n chu'ng trong the^' cu`ng dda~ la`m y
nhu+ va^.y, theo le^.nh cu?a tie^'ng loa. Vo+'i ngo.n dde`n pha cu+.c ma.nh cu?a
2 chie^'c PTF, chu'ng to^i co' the^? nhi`n ro~ tu+`ng ddo^.ng ta'c mo^.t cu?a
chu'ng. Va(n, Ba(`ng va` to^i ddang chua^?n bi. tu+ the^' nha^?y sang ta^`u
ddi.ch, kie^?m soa't, ba('t tu` binh va` dda(.t cha^'t no^? pha' ta^`u. Thi`nh
li`nh, ngay lu'c ddo', mo^.t tia cho+'p nhoa'ng le^n, xanh ca? ma(.t bie^?n.
Mo^.t tie^'ng no^? xe' tai ga^`n ngay ca.nh chu'ng to^i, tha^n ta^`u cu?a chu'ng
to^i run le^n. Bie^'t ra(`ng co' pha?n bie^'n, ngay tu+'c kha('c, ca'c ho.ng
su'ng cu?a chu'ng to^i ddo^`ng loa.t kha.c lu+?a tru`m le^n ta^`u ddi.ch. Bo.n
ddu+'ng tre^n boong, kho^ng co`n te^n na`o lo.t so^?, ngay sau ma^'y chu.c gia^y
dda^`u tie^n. Sau 3 � 4 phu't chie^'n dda^'u, ta^`u ddi.ch pha't no^? tung.
Ngo.n lu+?a bo^'c cao ro^`i chi`m da^`n, toa`n bo^. bo.n chu'ng dda~ bi. dde^`n
to^.i.
Phi'a chu'ng to^i, tre^n mo^~i chie^'c PTF co' tu+` 10 dde^'n 12 ngu+o+`i, chi?
co' 2 ngu+o+`i bi. thu+o+ng. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i, bi. dda.n la`m ra'ch mo^.t ma?nh
ddu`i, mo^.t ngu+o+`i bi. xu+o+'c vai, cha?y ma'u do mo^.t ma?nh ki'nh vo+~ cu?a
ta^`u ba('n va`o. Ta^`u chu'ng to^i bi. thu?ng mo^.t lo^~, ddu+o+`ng ki'nh vo+?
khoa?ng 12 inches. Pho`ng rada bi. pha' hu?y, nhu+ng ra^'t may ma('n, 2 buo^`ng
dda^`u lo+'n na(`m sa't ngay dda^'y la.i kho^ng bi. no^?. Lo^? thu?ng o+? phi'a
tre^n ma(.t nu+o+'c ne^n ta^`u va^~n tie^'p tu.c cha.y ddu+o+.c. Toa`n bo^.
nha^n vie^n tro+? ve^` Nam an toa`n.
Tha^'y Cha(n no'i dda~ nhie^`u, pha^`n kha'c, to^i la.i vu+'a the`m thuo^'c,
la.i vu+`a mo't ddi tie^?u, to^i ha^'t cha(n ra, vu+`a nho?m da^.y vu+`a quay
la.i Cha(n:
- Mi`nh ddi gia?i lao dda~, ddi dda'i ddi?
Cha(n ga^.t dda^`u ro^`i lo^`m co^`m bo` da^.y. Tha^'y Cha(n lu'ng tu'ng, ddi.nh
vo+'i tay le^n ca'i ke^. go^~ tre^n phi'a dda^`u sa`n dde^? la^'y ca'i qua^`n
da`i ma(.c, to^i dda^?y tay va`o lu+ng Cha(n:
- Ve~ vo+`i, dda^y ra nha` ca^`u, ca^`n gi`! Khoa'c ca'i cha(n cu~ng ddu+o+.c
ro^`i.
To^i nhi`n Cha(n ddang ddu+'ng xuo^'ng dda^'t dde^? cuo^.n ca'i cha(n va`o
ngu+o+`i, vu+`a ga^`y, vu+`a cao ne^n ca'i da'ng la.i ca`ng khe^`u khoa`o, ddo^i
cha^n ho+i kho`ng nhu+ cha^n ga^'u, to^i no'i ddu`a:
- Cha(n la.i khoa'c cha(n!
Cha(n cu+o+`i khe^`nh khe^.ch. Ra dde^'n ngoa`i mo+'i bie^'t, ma(.t tro+`i dda~
le^n cao dde^'n 3 con sa`o. Cha('c cu~ng khoa?ng 9 ru+o+~i, 10 gio+` ro^`i.
Tro+? va`o buo^`ng, hai anh em ru? nhau lu'i hu'i ba('n mo^.t ddie^'u thuo^'c
la`o cho ddo+`i le^n hu+o+ng. Hai ddu+'a la.i na(`m be^n nhau, trong khi co`n
ddang loay hoay ha^'t ca'i cha(n cho ki'n ca? 4 ca'i cha^n, to^i cho+.t nghi~
dde^'n mo^.t ngu+o+`i, to^i quay la.i ho?i Cha(n:
- Na`y, the^' Cha(n co' bie^'t o^ng Phan kho^ng?
Cha(n quay ha(?n sang, mo+? to ma('t nhi`n to^i, a'nh ma('t dda^`y nga.c nhie^n
nhu+ muo^'n ho?i: �Ta.i sao to^i la.i bie^'t Phan?� Tuy va^.y sau mo^.t va`i
gia^y nga^.p ngu+`ng, Cha(n va^~n tra? lo+`i:
- O^`, o^ng Phan la` ngu+o+`i phu. tra'ch chung ve^` ti`nh ba'o o+? DDa` Na(~ng.
- Cha(n co' ga(.p o^ng ta la^`n na`o kho^ng?
- O^ng ta co' xuo^'ng tra.i ma^'y la^`n. Nho'm to^i cu~ng dda~ a(n co+m chung
vo+'i o^ng a^'y mo^.t la^`n.
- Cha('c ha(?n, ba^y gio+` la` thie^'u ta' ro^`i?
- DDu'ng ro^`i, tuy o^ng Phan chi? ma(.c thu+o+`ng phu.c, nhu+ng co' la^`n dda.i
u'y DDoa`n Hu`ng phu. tra'ch tra.i to^i, cha`o la` thie^'u ta' Phan.
Nghe Cha(n tra? lo+`i, o'c to^i mie^n man cha?y ve^` nhu+~ng ca?nh ddo+`i nga`y
xu+a dda~ 9 � 10 na(m ro^`i. Ba^y gio+` Phan la` nhu+ va^.y. Ha(?n ra(`ng
cha(?ng co' khi na`o, Phan co`n nho+' la.i mo^.t thanh nie^n; trong mo^.t
chie^`u ma^y buo^`n la~ng dda~ng o+? DDa` Tha`nh na(m xu+a, Phan dda~ tie^~n
ddu+a ngu+o+`i a^'y va`o vu`ng gio' xoa'y cu?a cuo^.c ddo+`i. Ba^y gio+`
ngu+o+`i thanh nie^n a^'y co`n hay ma^'t, u ua^'t trong dde^m da`i ra sao? Do`ng
ddo+`i dda~ khe'p ki'n. DDa^?y sa^u va`o ho^' tha(?m cu?a tho+`i gian, Phan dda~
que^n ma^'t ro^`i. To^i la('c la('c ca'i dda^`u, nhu+ muo^'n va^?y, muo^'n xua
nhu+~ng gi` trong ddo+`i kho^ng muo^'n nho+'.
DDe^? go'p pha^`n dda^?y, xo^ nhu+~ng hi`nh a?nh la`m ti'm tha^~m lo`ng mi`nh
tan va`o ma^y gio', to^i quay sang Cha(n no'i nhu+ giu.c:
- Ba^y gio+` Cha(n cho nghe tie^'p chuye^'n ddi ddi.nh me^.nh na`y ddi!
Cha(n ddang na(`m ngu+?a, ma('t tru+`ng tru+`ng nhi`n le^n nhu+~ng ta^'m va'n
cu?a sa`n tre^n. Hi`nh nhu+ ma('t Cha(n ddang do~i ti`m ve^` mo^.t cha^n tro+`i,
co' nhu+~ng ca?nh ddo+`i nhie^`u hu+o+ng sa('c cu?a ma?nh dda^'t Ngu~ Ha`nh
So+n. Cha(n quay la.i nhi`n to^i, nga^.p ngu+`ng mo^.t lu'c, ro^`i la.i xoay
dda^`u nhi`n ve^` cho^~ cu~ cu?a ma^'u ta^'m va'n, Cha(n tie^'p tu.c:
Nga`y mo^`ng 6 tha'ng 6 na(m 66, ca'i nga`y ddi.nh me^.nh cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a
bo^'n chu'ng to^i. Chu'ng to^i go^`m: Vo`ng Ho+.p Va(n, toa'n pho'; Ly' Gio`ng
Slau, toa'n tru+o+?ng, Du+o+ng Long Sang va` to^i la` toa'n vie^n. Ta^'t ca? la`
4 ngu+o+`i. Chu'ng to^i ddu+o+.c chi? ddi.nh ddi chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y, ddi.a
ddie^?m va` mu.c tie^u cu?a co^ng ta'c, chu'ng to^i dda~ ddi 2 la^`n ro^`i.
DDe^? ro^`i la^`n na`y (la^`n thu+' 3) dda~ ddi tha(?ng mo^.t le`o, va`o nha`
tu` cu?a CS.
La^`n thu+' nha^'t: Ta^`u chu'ng to^i ddi ga^`n dde^'n ddie^?m ddo^? bo^. thi`
ddo^.t ngo^.t co' le^.nh cu?a bo^. chi? huy, go.i ta^`u cu?a chu'ng to^i pha?i
quay ve^`.
La^`n thu+' hai: Cu~ng go^`m 3 ta^`u PTF. Khi ta^`u dde^'n ddie^?m ddo^? bo^.,
chu'ng to^i ddang chua^?n bi. ro+`i ta^`u dde^? tie^'n va`o mu.c tie^u thi`
chie^'c ta^`u cu?a to^i kho^ng hie^?u vi` sao ddo', bo^~ng nhie^n bi. pha't
ho?a. Ma'y mo'c cu?a ta^`u kho^ng the^? su+? du.ng ddu+o+.c nu+~a. Mu.c tie^u
ddo^? bo^. bi. lo^., chu'ng to^i quye^'t ddi.nh pha?i quay ve^`, hu?y bo? co^ng
ta'c.
DDe^m nga`y 6.6.66. Chu'ng to^i la.i ddu+o+.c chi? ddi.nh ddi tie^'p chuye^'n
co^'ng ta'c dda~ pha?i bo? do+? 2 la^`n tru+o+'c. Nhie^.m vu. chi'nh cu?a co^ng
ta'c la` do tha'm, quan sa't va` chu.p a?nh mo^.t ha?i ca?ng mo+'i, thu+o+`ng
co' ta^`u cu?a nu+o+'c ngoa`i hay ra va`o.
To^i co`n nho+' ra^'t ro~, va`o mo^.t nga`y Chu? Nha^.t, ho^m a^'y, chu'ng to^i
mo^.t nho'm 4 ngu+o+`i la'i xe sang tha`nh pho^' DDa` Na(~ng cho+i. Mo^.t lu'c
sau, mo^.t anh trung si~ lie^n la.c, la'i chie^'c xe jeep sang ti`m chu'ng to^i
ve^`, vi` co' le^.nh ca^'m tra.i 100%. Chu'ng to^i dda~ tu+` cho^'i kho^ng tro+?
ve^` tra.i, chi? vi` hua^'n luye^.n vie^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a chu'ng to^i la`
o^ng Brawne dda~ ddi nghi? ma't 2 tua^`n o+? Ho^`ng Ko^ng. Tru+o+'c khi ddi,
o^ng a^'y dda~ ca(n da(.n 2 � 3 la^`n vo+'i chu'ng to^i: �Trong tho+`i gian to^i
ddi Ho^`ng Ko^ng, kho^ng mo^.t ai co' the^? ddie^`u ca'c anh ddi ba^'t cu+' no+i
na`o, ma` kho^ng co' su+. u?y nhie^.m cu?a to^i.� Vi` va^.y chu'ng to^i du+'t
khoa't, kho^ng ve^` tra.i.
DDe^'n buo^?i chie^`u, la.i co' 2 ngu+o+`i My~ cu~ng ddi mo^.t chie^'c xe jeep,
sang ga(.p chu'ng to^i. Mo^.t trong 2 ngu+o+`i na`y, to^i bie^'t ro~, o^ng ta
la`m vie^.c o+? be^n khu tra.i Ba.ch DDa(`ng, DDa` Na(~ng. Tru+o+'c dda^y, o^ng
na`y thu+o+`ng ddi thu+.c ta^.p vo+'i to^i. Co`n la.i ngu+o+`i My~ kia, ra^'t
la. vo+'i chu'ng to^i. O^ng ta tu+. gio+'i thie^.u vo+'i chu'ng to^i, o^ng ta
mo+'i dde^'n dda^y ddu+o+.c 2 nga`y; hie^.n nay, o^ng la` tru+o+?ng hua^'n
luye^.n vie^n cu?a chu'ng to^i, thay the^' o^ng Brawne dda~ tro+? ve^` My~. Sau
ddo' o^ng ta no'i chuye^.n vo+'i chu'ng to^i ra^'t la` ta^m ly'. O^ng ta no'i
ra(`ng, tru+o+'c khi dde^'n ga(.p chu'ng to^i, o^ng ta dda~ nghie^n cu+'u
nhie^`u la^`n, ra^'t ky~ ve^` qua' tri`nh nhu+~ng co^ng ta'c cu?a chu'ng to^i.
O^ng ta he^'t su+'c khen ngo+.i ve^` nhu+~ng tha`nh ti'ch ma` chu'ng to^i dda~
tha'o va't, linh hoa.t, du~ng ca?m dda.t ddu+o+.c. Cuo^'i cu`ng, o^ng khuye^n
chu'ng to^i ha~y tro+? ve^` tra.i... ro^`i thi` se~ co' cuo^.c ho.p rie^ng vo+'i
o^ng ta...
Buo^?i to^'i ho^m a^'y, chu'ng to^i bo^'n ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c go.i le^n va(n
pho`ng, dde^? ga(.p ca'i o^ng My~ ddo', ngu+o+`i hua^'n luye^.n vie^n mo+'i cu?a
chu'ng to^i. O^ng ta to? ra la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i kha' gia^`u kinh nghie^.m ve^`
ta^m ly' con ngu+o+`i. O^ng ta khe^u go+.i lo`ng ham muo^'n tang bo^`ng, ho^`
thi? cu?a ngu+o+`i con trai; dde^` cao y' thu+'c tra'ch nhie^.m cu?a mo^~i
ngu+o+`i ddo^'i vo+'i que^ hu+o+ng, da^n to^.c. Chi? sau ho+n mo^.t gio+` o^ng
ta thuye^'t phu.c, chu'ng to^i dda~ ha(m ho+?, tu+. nguye^.n nha^.n ddi co^ng
ta'c, ba^'t cu+' khi na`o ma` ke^' hoa.ch ye^u ca^`u.
Ngay tu+` 7 gio+` sa'ng, nga`y 6.6.66, chu'ng to^i bo^'n ngu+o+`i dde^`u ha^n
hoan chua^?n bi. ha`nh trang, vu~ khi' dde^? ddi co^ng ta'c. Thu+o+`ng nga`y,
mo^~i buo^?i sa'ng chu'ng to^i pha?i ta^.p the^? du.c, the^? thao va` bo+i lo^.i
mo^.t tie^'ng ru+o+~i ddo^`ng ho^`, nhu+ng ho^m ddo', chu'ng to^i kho^ng pha?i
ta^.p the^? du.c theo toa'n.
No'i la` chua^?n bi. chu+' tha^.t ra, cha? co' ca'i qua'i gi` pha?i chua^?n bi.
ca?, vi` ra(`ng co^ng ta'c ddo^'i vo+'i chu'ng to^i dda~ nhu+ co+m bu+~a ro^`i.
Ve^` ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng thu+' ca^`n thie^'t, dde^? ddi co^ng ta'c thi` dda~ co'
nhu+~ng bo^. pha^.n kha'c lo sa(~n. DDie^`u quan tro.ng nha^'t cu?a chu'ng to^i,
la` o^?n tho?a ve^` ma(.t tinh tha^`n la` xong he^'t. Cu~ng nhu+ mo.i khi,
chu'ng to^i ro+`i be^'n ta.i ha?i khu DDa` Na(~ng, va`o lu'c ga^`n tru+a nga`y
6.6.66.
DDoa`n ta^`u go^`m 3 chie^'c PTF. Tre^n ddu+o+`ng ddi dde^'n mu.c tie^u, bo^'n
anh em chu'ng to^i dda~ ba`n tha?o, sa('p xe^'p va` xa'c ddi.nh la.i mo^.t la^`n
nu+~a, nhu+~ng co^ng vie^.c pha?i la`m, cu?a tu+`ng ngu+o+`i. Chu'ng to^i cu~ng
la^`n lu+o+.t kie^?m tra la.i ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng va^.t du.ng, ma` chu'ng to^i
ca^`n pha?i mang theo.
Khoa?ng 1 gio+` sa'ng, nga`y 7.6.66 thi` ddoa`n ta^`u dda~ ddu+a chu'ng to^i
dde^'n ddie^?m ddo^? bo^.. Chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y, ngu+o+`i tru+.c tie^'p ddi
theo tre^n Ha?i To^'c DDi?nh, tie^~n ddu+a chu'ng to^i la` dda.i u'y DDoa`n
Hu`ng. O^ng na`y la` tru+o+?ng tra.i My~ Khe^, thuo^.c so+? pho`ng ve^. duye^n
ha?i. Tru+o+'c khi chu'ng to^i ro+`i ta^`u me., o^ng Hu`ng la^`n lu+o+.t ba('t
tay tu+`ng ngu+o+`i cu?a chu'ng to^i va` chu'c tu.ng. La`m sao to^i que^n
ddu+o+.c ca'i buo^?i chia tay cha(?ng muo^'n nho+' a^'y. Theo ke^' hoa.ch dda~
quy ddi.nh, chu'ng to^i lo+.i du.ng dde^m to^'i se~ bi' ma^.t bo+i va`o mo^.t
khu ru+`ng non an toa`n, o+? ga^`n ngay bo+` bie^?n. Mo^.t nga`y tro+`i o+?
dda^'y, dde^? chu'ng to^i chu.p a?nh nhu+~ng ta^`u be` cu?a ddi.ch ra va`o va`
quan sa't, do tha'm mu.c tie^u. Mo^.t gio+` dde^m ho^m sau, ta^`u PTF se~ la.i
ra ddo'n chu'ng to^i, o+? ngoa`i kho+i theo nhu+~ng ti'n hie^.u cu?a ma'y ho^`ng
ngoa.i tuye^'n. Chi'nh vi` va^.y ne^n dda.i u'y Hu`ng, lu'c chia tay dda~ a^n
ca^`n ho?i chu'ng to^i:
- Mai, khi chu'ng to^i ra ddo'n, ca'c anh ca^`n a(n gi`, to^i se~ mua cho?
To^i ddu+a ma('t nhi`n o^ng Hu`ng va` nhu+~ng anh co`n la.i tre^n chie^'c PTF,
ta^m tra.ng du+?ng du+ng nhu+ mo^.t buo^?i ddi thu+.c ta^.p o+? trong Nam, vi`
the^' to^i dda~ vu+`a cu+o+`i vu+`a tra? lo+`i. �Co' le~ kho^ng ca^`n pha?i mang
thu+'c a(n, chi? ca^`n mua cho chu'ng to^i i't cam, hay qui't la` ddu+o+.c
ro^`i.� To^i co' bie^'t dda^u ra(`ng, cam hay qui't ddo', ma~i ma~i cu`ng vo+'i
hi`nh a?nh dda.i u'y Hu`ng va` ca'c anh em co`n la.i tre^n ta^`u, dda~ va` ddang
lu`i da^`n va`o sau ca'nh cu+?a ddo+`i dda~ khe'p ki'n; bo^'n chu'ng to^i dda~
sang mo^.t ca?nh ddo+`i kha'c tu+` dda^y.
Chu'ng to^i, bo^'n ngu+o+`i lao mi`nh xuo^'ng bie^?n trong ma`n dde^m da^`y
dda(.c; nu+o+'c ddang re'o le^n trong nhu+~ng lo+'p so'ng ba.c dda^`u. DDoa`n
ta^`u quay mu~i ta(ng to^'c ddo^., vo.t tro+? ve^` hu+o+'ng Nam. A^m thanh cu?a
nhu+~ng chie^'c ma'y ta^`u do^.i le^n, nho? da^`n ro^`i ma^'t ha(?n, chi? co`n
tie^'ng i` a^`m cu?a so'ng bie^?n va` nhu+~ng tie^'ng bo+i lo^.i bi` bo~m cu?a
bo^'n anh em chu'ng to^i.
Theo to^i u+o+'c ti'nh, cha^.m nha^'t la` 3 gio+` sa'ng, chu'ng to^i se~ dde^'n
ddu+o+.c mu.c tie^u dda~ a^'n ddi.nh. Vo+'i mo^.t khoa?ng da`i tre^n du+o+'i 1
ca^y so^', tho^ng thu+o+`ng. chi? ca^`n 1 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^` la` dda~ to+'i
ro^`i. Khi co`n o+? tra.i, ca'c hua^'n luye^.n vie^n dda~ cho.n nhu+~ng ddi.a
ddie^?m tu+o+ng tu+., hoa(.c kho' kha(n phu+'c ta.p ho+n, dde^? cho chu'ng to^i
thu+.c ta^.p ddi, thu+.c ta^.p la.i ra^'t nhie^`u la^`n nhu+ va^.y ro^`i. Ho^m
nay, chu'ng to^i kho^ng du`ng bi`nh du+o+~ng khi', ma` chi? bo+i ba(`ng tay, vi`
pha?i ke'o theo mo^.t chie^'c thuye^`n cao su nho? dde^? cho+? theo mo^.t so^'
du.ng cu. ra^'t la` co^`ng ke^`nh.
Trong ma`n dde^m dden to^'i mi.t mu`, da^`y dda(.c kho'i su+o+ng, chu'ng to^i
cu+' bo+i ma~i. Khi xem ddo^`ng ho^` thi` dda~ 4 gio+` sa'ng, nghi~a la` chu'ng
to^i dda~ bo+i ddu+o+.c 3 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^` ro^`i, nhu+ng nhi`n ve^` hu+o+'ng
dda^'t lie^`n, trong a'nh sa'ng lo+` mo+`, chi? tha^'y co' tro+`i vo+'i nuo'c.
Tuy kho^ng no'i ra, nhu+ng trong bu.ng ngu+o+`i na`o cu~ng co' pha^`n tha^'m
me^.t, dda~ 3 gio+` ddo^`ng ho^` nga^m da^`m o+? du+o+'i nu+o+'c la.nh ro^`i.
Chu'ng to^i mo+? ha?i ba`n, xa'c ddi.nh la.i mo^.t la^`n nu+~a. Hu+o+'ng ddi va`
go'c ddo^. va^~n chi'nh xa'c. Tuy la.nh va` me^.t, chu'ng to^i va^~n no^~ lu+.c
hu+o+'ng ve^` mu.c tie^u bo+i tie^'p.
Ga^`n 5 gio+` sa'ng ro^`i, ma` nhi`n ve^` hu+o+'ng mu.c tie^u, va^~n chi? la`
tro+`i nu+o+'c bao la. Khi thuye^'t tri`nh o+? pho`ng ha`nh qua^n, hua^'n
luye^.n vie^n va` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i lie^n he^., dda~ cho chu'ng to^i bie^'t:
DDie^?m tu+` ta^`u me. va`o dde^'n dda^'t lie^`n kho^ng qua' 800 me't, ne^n
kho^ng co' ly' do gi` ma` pha?i ma^'t dde^'n 4 gio+` ddo^`ng ho^` bo+i ca?. Tay
va` cha^n va^~n dde^`u dde^`u nhu+~ng ddo^.ng ta'c lu+o+'t ddi trong nu+o+'c,
nhu+ng no^~i ba(n khoa(n trong lo`ng chu'ng to^i ca`ng lu'c ca`ng lo+'n. Nhi`n
ve^` phi'a mu.c tie^u, tuy chu+a tha^'y mo^.t hie^.n tu+o+.ng gi` cu?a dda^'t
lie^`n, nhu+ng ve^` phi'a tay ma(.t, thi?nh thoa?ng co' nhu+~ng luo^`ng cho+'p
sa'ng. Lu'c ddo', chu'ng to^i chu+a xa'c ddi.nh ddu+o+.c la` ca'i gi`, vi` ma`n
dde^m va^~n co`n qua' da^`y dda(.c.
Theo quy ddi.nh, chu'ng to^i pha?i va`o dda^'t lie^`n, dde^'n khu an toa`n
tru+o+'c khi tro+`i co`n mo+` sa'ng, nhu+ng lu'c na`y cha^n tro+`i phi'a DDo^ng
dda~ co' ma^`u su+~a ddu.c, ma` hu+o+'ng dda^'t lie^`n va^~n chi? co' nu+o+'c
vo+'i tro+`i ga('n lie^`n nhau. DDa^`y hoang mang lo la('ng, Ly' Gio`ng Slau
quye^'t ddi.nh mo+? ma'y ra dde^? lie^n la. vo+'i ta^`u me., ma(.c du` co'
le^.nh ca^'m nghie^m nga(.t. Chi? dde^'n nga`y ho^m sau, khi ta^`u dde^'n ddo'n
trong gio+` quy ddi.nh mo+'i ddu+o+.c mo+? ma'y ra lie^n la.c ma` tho^i. So+?
chi? huy cho ra(`ng, ne^'u mo+? ma'y lie^n la.c, ra^'t de^~ bi. ddi.ch pha't
hie^.n ba(`ng ma'y kie^?m thi'nh. Nhu+ng Slau loay hoay ma~i, kho^ng hie^?u vi`
ly' do gi`, do nu+o+'c bie^?n hay tru.c tra(.c ve^` ky~ thua^.t, ma'y cu~ng
kho^ng lie^n la.c ddu+o+.c.
DDa~ ga^`n 6 gio+` sa'ng ro^`i, chu'ng to^i dda~ tha^'t vo.ng hoa`n toa`n, vi`
tro+`i dda~ sa'ng da^`n ma` chu'ng to^i va^~n ca'ch bo+` khoa?ng chu+`ng 600
me't. Vu+`a la.nh, vu+`a me^.t ra~ ro+`i nhu+ng chu'ng to^i va^~n ddo^.ng vie^n
nhau tie^'p tu.c bo+i va`o. Theo kho^ng a?nh ma` chu'ng to^i dda~ ddu+o+.c
nghie^n cu+'u thi` no+i chu'ng to^i dde^'n la` cho^~ kho^ng co' ngu+o+`i, ne^'u
co' cha(ng nu+~a cu?ng chi? ho.a hoa(`n mo^.t va`i ngu+o+`i ddi la`m ru+`ng
ddo^'t than ma` tho^i. DDe^'n khoa?ng 6 gio+` 30, nhi`n va`o phi'a bo+` ca?nh,
va^.t dda~ hie^.n le^n lo+` mo+`, tha^.m chi' chu'ng to^i dda~ nhi`n tha^'y ca?
nhu+~ng bo'ng ngu+o+`i di chuye^?n. Tuy cha(?ng ai no'i vo+'i ai nhu+ng dde^`u
hie^?u cuo^.c ddo+`i chu'ng to^i dda~ tro^i, chuye^?n sang cho^~ dden to^'i,
ta`n lu.i.
Tuy cha(?ng ai no'i vo+'i ai nhu+ng dde^`u hie^?u cuo^.c ddo+`i chu'ng to^i dda~
tro^i, chuye^?n sang cho^~ dden to^'i, ta`n lu.i. Chu'ng to^i ca^'p to^'c
quye^'t ddi.nh pha' hu?y toa`n bo^. ma'y mo'c va` lu+o+'i rada cho+? tre^n
thuye^`n cao su, ddo^`ng tho+`i cho no^? luo^n ca? chie^'c thuye^`n chi`m
xuo^'ng dda.i ddu+o+ng.
Lu'c na`y gio' ra^'t ma.nh va` cu~ng co' the^? vi` ga^`n bo+` bie^?n ne^n so'ng
ca`ng lo+'n, Va(n va` Slau bi. so'ng dda'nh tro^i da.t ve^` phi'a Nam, co`n to^i
va` Sang cu+' bo+i tha(?ng theo to.a ddo^. va`o bo+`. Du` tie^'ng a^`m a`o cu?a
so'ng bie^?n, chu'ng to^i cu~ng dda~ nghe tha^'y tie^'ng qua't tha'o, ho` he't
o+? trong phi'a bo+`. Ma(.t tro+`i vu+`a chui le^n kho?i ma(.t nu+o+'c la`m
ca?nh va^.t sa'ng ho^`ng le^n nhu+ng lo`ng chu'ng to^i dda~ dden tha^~m la.i khi
2 chie^'c ta^`u tua^`n cu?a co^ng an bie^n pho`ng Thanh Ho'a cha.y ra ba('t
chu'ng to^i ca'ch bo+` khoa?ng 200 me't va`o lu'c 7 gio+` sa'ng.
Khi to^i bi. ddu+a le^n bo+`, lo^' nho^' dda^`y ngu+o+`i, bo^. ddo^.i, du ki'ch,
su'ng o^'ng, ga^.y go^.c, ho. cu+' nhao nhao le^n ho` he't chu+?i bo+'i. Chi? 15
phu't sau, qua nhu+~ng tie^'ng ho` he't cu?a ho., chu'ng to^i cu~ng dda~ bie^'t
Va(n va` Slau cu~ng dda~ bi. ta^`u tua^`n cu?a co^ng an bie^n pho`ng Nghe^. An
ba('t ro^`i, vi` cho^~ ddo' la` gia'p gio+'i cu?a 2 ti?nh Thanh Ho'a va` Nghe^.
An.
Va`o bo+`, lu'c na`y chu'ng to^i chu+a bi. bi.t ma('t va` dda'nh dda^.p, to^i
xa'c ddi.nh ddu+o+.c vi. tri' chu'ng to^i ddo^? bo^. bi. sai khoa?ng tu+` 5
to+'i 7 ca^y so^' so vo+'i kho^ng a?nh ma` chu'ng to^i dda~ ddu+o+.c nghie^n
cu+'u. Ma(.t kha'c, theo nhu+ thuye^'t tri`nh o+? pho`ng ha`nh qua^n dda~ quy
ddi.nh, ddie^?m ro+`i ta^`u me. dde^'n dda^'t lie^`n khoa?ng ca'ch tu+` 800 me't
cho dde^'n 1000 me't. Nhu+ng ddie^`u ddau lo`ng la` thu+.c te^' no' dda~ xa bo+`
tu+` 4000 cho dde^'n 5000 me't. Cha(n vu+`a no'i dde^'n dda^y thi` ngoa`i co^?ng
tra.i dda~ co' tie^'ng a^`m a^`m, vi` ca'c toa'n dda~ ve^`, to^i chi? ki.p
dda^.p nhe. va`o tay Cha(n:
- DDe^? di.p kha'c tie^'p tu.c nhe'!
Ro^`i vo^.i va`ng to^i tre`o le^n sa`n, ve^` cho^~ na(`m dda('p cha(n....
Ba^y gio+` to^i mo+'i ddu+o+.c bie^'t, La^`u Chi' Cha(n, Tri.nh Va(n Truye^.n,
Nguye^~n Cao So+n, Hoa`ng Du. (Tarzan)... hie^.n dda~ co' ma(.t ta.i My~.
No^~i lo`ng ngu+o+`i vie^'t
Ki'nh thu+a ca'c qu'y vi.. DDa~ bao nhie^u na(m tro^i qua, vo+'i bao nhie^u
tra(n tro+? kha('c khoa?i dde^? vie^'t cho xong ta^.p ho^`i ky' thu+o+ng ddau
cu?a ddo+`i mi`nh. To^i dda~ chua^?n bi. mo^.t ca(n buo^`ng nho? o+? du+o+'i
basement. Nhu+ng nhie^`u la^`n ngo^`i tra^`m la('ng mo^.t mi`nh ha`ng nga`y,
ro^`i cu~ng dda`nh me^.t nho.c ddu+'ng da^.y vi` nu+o+'c ma('t cha?y ra mo+` ca?
ma('t, vo+'i nhu+~ng co+n ddau dda^`u, ddau lu+ng, ddau co^?.
Na(m 2002, dde^? tu+. khi'ch le^. nhu+ mo^.t ddo`n ba^?y, to^i dda~ la`m mo^.t
to+` cam ke^'t vo+'i hai ddu+'a con: Mo^.t ddu+'a ho.c na(m thu+' 2, mo^.t
ddu+'a na(m thu+' 3. Cu`ng ky' nha^.n cam ke^'t: Chu'ng no' ra tru+o+`ng dda.i
ho.c, to^i vie^'t xong The'p DDen. DDe^? ro^`i mo^.t ddu+'a dda~ ra tru+o+`ng
2004, va` mo^.t ddu+'a se~ ra tru+o+`ng na(m nay 2005.
Tha^.m chi', to^i dda~ vie^'t mo^.t ta^'m bie^?n dde^? ngay tru+o+'c ba`n
vie^'t: Ha~y vie^'t cho xong The'p DDen! Vie^'t cho mi`nh ddo.c, cho ba.n be`,
ngu+o+`i tha^n ddo.c. Kho^ng da'm xua^'t ba?n cho ca'c qu'y ddo^.c gia? cu?a
mi`nh nu+~a. Ha. tha^'p ye^u ca^`u, dde^? tu+. e'p buo^.c to^i ca^`m bu't.
Nhu+ng ro^`i cu~ng dda`nh buo^ng xuo^i vo+'i su+'c khoe?, vo+'i mu+u sinh, vo+'i
nhu+~ng ta'c ddo^.ng cu?a ca?nh so^'ng cu?a mi`nh.
DDa^`u tha'ng 10.2003, mo^.t so^' anh em bie^.t ki'ch nha^?y Ba('c, tu+` nhu+~ng
tie^?u bang xa dde^'n tha(m to^i. Trong bu+~a co+m ho.p ma(.t, ngoa`i 7 anh em
bie^.t ki'ch, chi? co' anh Nguye^~n chi' Thie^.n la` tha^n hu+~u. Nhie^`u no^~i
nie^`m, nhie^`u su+. vie^.c ddu+o+.c dde^` ca^.p, sau 23 na(m, co' anh 30 na(m
mo+'i ta'i ngo^.. Mo^.t y' kie^'n chung anh em nha('c nho+?:
- Anh Bi`nh o+i! Ne^'u anh kho^ng ma.nh da.n ga.t ddi nhu+~ng ra`ng buo^.c cu?a
cuo^.c so^'ng chung quanh, na^ng cao quye^'t ta^m ngo^`i vie^'t cho xong bo^.
The'p DDen, thi` ro^`i anh se~ mang ca'i dang do+? ddo' theo anh ve^` lo`ng
dda^'t...
Ro^`i mo+'i dda^y, 25.5.2004 anh Tra^`n Nam, xu+o+'ng ngo^n vie^n cu?a VOA
pho?ng va^'n ve^` "Ha`nh ha. tu` nha^n ta.i Iraq". To^i dda~ ta(.ng anh bo^.
TDD. Anh la.i muo^'n ta(.ng 2 bo^. cho ba.n tha^n, o+? hai tie^?u bang kha'c.
Anh dda~ ha`o pho'ng gu+?i 200 dollars, dda(.t luo^n cho ta^.p IV.
Mo^.t ca^.u (NTV) o+? Canada, la'i xe sang ta^.n nha` la^'y mo^.t bo^. TDD,
cu~ng ddu+a tie^`n mo^.t ca'ch ha`o sa?ng, dda(.t cho ca? ta^.p IV. Anh Bu`i
Ti'n o+? Pha'p cu~ng no'i ddang cho+` ta^.p IV. DDa(.c bie^.t ho+n nu+~a, Le^
va(n Ha.nh, cha'u cu?a anh Nguye^~n va(n Tho^ng (ba.n tha^n). DDe^'n ta^.n nha`
la^'y mo^.t bo^. TDD va` cu~ng dda(.t tie^`n mua ca? ta^.p IV.
Ha.nh mo+? ta^.p sa'ch ye^u ca^`u to^i vie^'t va` ky' te^n: "Cha'u Ha.nh dda~
cu`ng ba'c do.n sa.ch ca(n buo^`ng na`y" o+? ta^'m hi`nh to^i ngo^`i vie^'t TDD
III, sau nha` anh Tho^ng. To^i dda~ ddu+a tie^`n la.i cho cha'u Ha.nh, nhu+ no'i
vo+'i con cha'u trong nha`: "Ba'c kho^ng la^'y tie^`n cu?a cha'u dda^u! " Ha.nh
dda~ du+'t khoa't kho^ng ca^`m va` no'i: "Ba'c ddi la`m va` cha'u cu~ng ddi
la`m! (Gia'o vie^n Tie^?u ho.c). Ta^.p IV TDD, ba'c vie^'t mo^.t na(m. Nhu+ ba'c
no'i: ne^'u ba'c ba'n ta'c quye^`n, ho. tra? ba'c ba^?y nga`n dollars. Va^.y
lu+o+ng cu?a cha'u ga^'p bo^'n, na(m la^`n cu?a ba'c?"
Ca^u no'i tha nha^n, dda^`y nghi~a ti`nh ddu`m bo.c, pha?ng pha^'t ca'i hu+o+ng
man ma't nhe` nhe. cu?a hoa soan, hoa bu+o+?i, hoa cau cu?a que^ nha`, la`m cho
ngu+o+`i nghe kho' que^n. Va` co`n 8, 9 ddo^.c gia? nu+~a ho+n 10 na(m nay, dda~
dda(.t mua TDD. IV, tre^n phone hay trong thu+ (to^i se~ lu.c la.i), ma` to^i
chu+a da'm nha^.n tie^`n. Sa'ch chu+a vie^'t, ma` nhie^`u ngu+o+`i thu+o+ng ne^n
dda~ dda(.t mua, du` chu+a bie^'t gia'.
Rie^ng cha'u Ha.nh, to^i no'i dda(.c bie^.t vi` tho^ng thu+o+`ng, mo.i ngu+o+`i
dde^`u tha^'y nha`m cha'n, vo+'i va(n chu+o+ng cu?a ngu+o+`i tha^n. Cu. the^?,
hai ddu+'a con lo+'n cu?a to^i, chu+a bao gio+` tha^'y chu'ng ddo.c The'p DDen.
Tha'ng tru+o+'c, Bs VLH, hie^.n o+? Caney hospital, dda~ ga(.p nhau 21 na(m
xu+a, ta.i tra.i ty. na.n Galang "Ti`nh Xu`", ba^y gio+` ga(.p la.i ta.i Boston.
Anh dda~ no'i mo^.t ca^u "xanh ro+`n": "O+? ha?i ngoa.i, ngu+o+`i VN na`o co`n
quan ta^m dde^'n dda^'t nu+o+'c, que^ hu+o+ng ma` chu+a ddo.c TDD, thi` tha^.t
la` que^!".
Mo+'i sa'ng ho^m nay (18.2.05), cu' pho^n cua? ngu+o+`i em ho. (PVC) la` mo^.t
tha^`y Sa'u be^n LA (CA), dda~ pha't bie^?u mo^.t ca^u la.: "TDD cu?a anh ba^y
gio+` nhu+ thuo^'c Aspirine". To^i khu+.ng la.i, ngo+~ nga`ng, ca^.u em dda~
gia?i thi'ch: "Nhie^`u dda`i ddo.c, nhie^`u ba'o dda(ng, CD ro^`i tre^n
Internet. Ma^'y tha'ng tru+o+'c, ngu+o+`i ba.n em ho.c Sorbone (Pha'p) ba('t em
gu+?i TDD cu`ng va`i cuo^'n sa'ch kha'c sang, dde^? research cho lua^.n a'n cu?a
anh ta. Em ca?m tha^'y TDD pho^? ca^.p nhu+ thuo^'c Aspirine, lu'c na`o, o+?
dda^u du`ng cu~ng ddu+o+.c (kho^ng co' ta'c quye^`n), cha(?ng co`n thuo^.c mo^.t
ha~ng ba`o che^' thuo^'c na`o nu+~a."
Nhu+~ng pha't bie^?u tu+` lo`ng thu+o+ng me^'n, tuy kho^ng ddu'ng mu+'c ddo^.
su+. tha^.t, to^i cu~ng xin ca?m ta. su+. ddo^. lu+o+.ng, bao dung cu?a ca'c
ba.n. To^i kho^ng co`n no'i ddu+o+.c, mo^.t lo+`i na`o nu+~a.
To^i pha?i vie^'t xong The'p DDen. Du` co' pha?i ve^` lo`ng dda^'t so+'m (do
su+'c khoe?), to^i cu~ng cu+' vie^'t. Mu+o+`i mo^.t tha'ng nay, ha`ng nga`y
sa'ng so+'m (6 gio+`) kho^ng ke^? mu+a na('ng, tuye^'t nhie^`u i't, to^i ddi
bo^. ho+n 5 ca^y so^', dde^'n thu+ vie^.n UMASS ngo^`i vie^'t; chie^`u muo^.n
mo+'i tro+? ve^`.
Nhu+~ng nga`y dda^`u, tu+o+?ng nhu+ cha^n to^i kho^ng muo^'n bu+o+'c, ta^m tri'
nhu+ chui va`o su+o+ng mu` mu`a DDo^ng. Nhu+ng mo^~i nga`y su+o+ng mu` tan
da^`n, dde^? ro^`i to^i say me^ khao kha't vie^'t, lo`ng cuo^'n hu't nhu+
ddu+o+.c bu' do`ng su+~a me. ha`ng nga`y, lu'c co`n tho+.
DDe^'n ho^m nay 26.1.2005, to^i dda~ vie^'t, su+?a chu+~a, dda'nh ma'y xong TDD.
IV. Ta^.p cuo^'i cu`ng bo^. ho^`i ky' cu?a ddo+`i to^i.

To^i xin ca?m ta. dda^'t tro+`i va` su+. ky` die^.u cu?a ddo+`i.
Boston, nga`y 26.1.2005.
DDa(.ng Chi' Bi`nh