Ha.nh Phu'c DDo+n Co^i

Bu`i Thanh Lie^m

Va(n mo+? cu+?a pho`ng, tha^'y co' ti'n hie^.u cho+'p cho+'p tu+` ddie^.n thoa.i\. Va(n nha^'c ma'y, ba^'m so^' kho^ng. Co^ thu+ ky' tie^'p ta^n kha'ch sa.n cho Va(n hay co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i con ga'i go.i la.i kie^'m cha`ng, kho^ng dde^? la.i te^n va` so^' ddie^.n thoa.i, chi? nha('n la.i se~ go.i cha`ng to^'i nay\. Va(n va('t tra'n suy nghi~, dda^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n cha`ng co' ma(.t o+? tha`nh pho^' bie^?n cu?a tie^?u bang Florida na`y, trong kho'a ho.p dda.i ho^.i toa'n ho.c u+'ng du.ng, la`m gi` ma` co' ngu+o+`i quen. Va(n nghi~ chuye^.n kho^ng dda'ng quan ta^m, ca? nga`y ho.p ha`nh la`m cho dda^`u o'c Va(n ca(ng tha(?ng vo^ cu`ng, cha`ng muo^'n gia?i khua^y tinh tha^`n chie^`u nay ba(`ng mo^.t chuye^'n da.o bie^?n.

Ma(.c du` dda^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n dda(.t cha^n dde^'n Fort Walton, ma` Va(n co' ca?m tu+o+?ng tha`nh pho^' bie^?n na`y ra^'t quen thuo^.c, mo^.t pha^`n la` vi` no' co' nhie^`u ne't tu+o+ng tu+. Ba~i Sau, Vu~ng Ta`u vo+'i ca't tra('ng, bie^?n xanh, so'ng e^m dde^`m, gio' la(?ng lo+\. Cu~ng cu`ng la` mo^.t phong ca?nh tho+ mo^.ng quye^'n ru? trai thanh ga'i li.ch, no+i he.n ho` cu?a bao du kha'ch, la` mo^i gio+'i cu?a nhu+~ng tua^`n tra(ng ma^.t, cu?a nhu+~ng ta^m ho^`n la.c lo?ng, nhu+ ta^m tra.ng cu?a Va(n lu'c na`y\. Va(n ti`m mo^.t go'c ki'n (la` mo^.t ddie^`u kho^ng pha?i de^~ giu+~a mo^.t ba~i bie^?n nga^.p ngu+o+`i va`o mo^.t nga`y to^'t tro+`i) dde^? na(`m pho+i na('ng. Cha`ng tha? ho^`n va`o dda.i du+o+ng bao la vo^ ta^.n. Ba~i Du+'a, Ba~i Ta^`m Du+o+ng, O^-Qua('n, Mu~i Nghinh Phong, Ho`n Ba`, Ba~i Thu`y Va^n, Ga`nh Ra'i, Ba~i Da^u, Be^'n DDa'. Ca? mo^.t vu`ng qua' khu+' trong thoa'ng cho^'c bo^~ng hie^.n ve^` ro~ mo^`n mo^.t.

Ma?i dde^'n xe^' chie^`u Va(n mo+'i gia~ tu+` ba~i bie^?n, khi Va(n sa('p bu+o+'c le^n thang ma'y tro+? ve^` pho`ng thi` co^ thu+ ky' kha'ch sa.n chay la.i, ho?i:

- Xin lo^~i, o^ng co' pha?i la` Va(n, ta.m tru' o+? pho`ng 6081?

- DDu'ng, co' chuye^.n gi` kho^ng co^\?

- Thu+a o^ng, to^i la` Jane, thu+ ky' tie^'p ta^n cu?a kha'ch sa.n na`y\. Ho^`i chie^`u co' mo^.t co^ ga'i nho+` to^i chuye^?n la.i o^ng ta^'m phong bi` na`y\.

Va(n la^`m tha^`m trong mie^.ng:

- Ai va^.y ca`?

Jane nghe va^.y no'i tie^'p:

- Qua gio.ng no'i, to^i co' the^? ddoa'n ra(`ng co^ ta la` ngu+o+`i ho^`i sa'ng go.i cho o^ng.

Va(n vu+`a bu+o+'c va`o pho`ng, kho^ng ne'n ddu+o+.c to` mo`, xe' to+` phong bi` ra ngay\. Be^n trong, vo?n ve.n mo^.t ma?nh gia^'y nho? vo+'i ne't pha'c ho.a chie^'c ddo^`ng ho^` ddie^.n tu+?. Tre^n ma(.t ddo^`ng ho^` co' hi`nh ca'i chuo^ng ba'o thu+'c.

"Qua'i la.!" Va(n nghi~ tha^`m. Sao la.i co' ngu+o+`i ddi.nh cho+i kha(m mi`nh. Tu+` ho^`i sa'ng dde^'n gio+`, ma(.c du` co^' ga('ng ga.t bo? kho?i dda^`u o'c, nhu+ng ca'i tha('c ma('c ve^` nha^n va^.t bi' ma^.t na`y cu+' lo+?n vo+?n ma?i trong dda^`u cu?a Va(n.

Sa'ng ho^m sau\. La.i mo^.t nga`y ba^.n ro^.n ho.p ha`nh. Va(n dda~ kho^ng co' tho+`i gio+` dde^? ta^m mo.i chuye^.n ngoa`i le^`. Ngu+o+`i con ga'i bi' ma^.t ho^m qua tu+o+?ng chu+`ng dda~ bi. bo? ro+i va`o que^n la~ng. DDang trong lu'c thuye^'t tri`nh gia say su+a die^~n thuye^'t trong pho`ng ho.p im pha(ng pha('c, bo^~ng du+ng co' tie^'ng ba'o ddo^.ng tu+` ddo^`ng ho^` vang le^n. "Beep, beep!" Va(n quay nhanh ve^` hu+o+'ng pha't ra tie^'ng ddo^.ng. Nhu+ng pho`ng ho.p cha^.t ki'n ngu+o+`i, cha`ng kho^ng the^? nhi`n ro~ ai ra ai\. Va(n la('c dda^`u tu+. nhu?: "Co' the^? chi? la` mo^.t su+. tru`ng ho+.p ma` tho^i!" Mo^.t tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^` sau, tie^'ng bi'p la.i vang le^n, va` cu+' the^' cho dde^'n cuo^'i buo^?i ho.p trong nga`y\. DDa~ co' lu'c Va(n kho^ng kie^`m che^' ddu+o+.c o'c hie^'u ky`, cha`ng chen dda'm ddo^ng ddi ti`m xem ca'i a^m thanh ky` qua'i na`y pha't xua^'t tu+` dda^u\. Nhu+ng Va(n chi? ki.p bu+o+'c va`i bu+o+'c la` khu+.ng la.i, khi thuye^'t tri`nh gia ngu+ng no'i va` bao nhie^u ca'i dda^`u trong pho`ng ho.p ddo^`ng loa.t quay la.i nhi`n cha`ng.

Buo^?i chie^`u khi Va(n tro+? ve^` kha'ch sa.n, la.i mo^.t phong bi` nha('n tin. Jane cho hay cu~ng tu+` co^ ga'i ho^m qua\. La^`n na`y Va(n kho^ng the^? ddo+.i ve^` dde^'n pho`ng, cha`ng xe' toa.c phong bi` ra xem. Be^n trong, cu~ng pha'c ho.a chie^'c ddo^`ng ho^` ba'o thu+'c. Nhu+ng la^`n na`y co' the^m ha`ng chu+~ ghi ro~ dde^` ta`i no'i chuye^.n sa'ng nay o+? dda.i ho^.i\. Va(n thoa'ng gia^.t mi`nh, nhu+ va^.y co' nghi~a la` co^ ta co' ma(.t trong pho`ng ho.p sa'ng nay\. Va(n mo'c tu'i, ti`m to+` danh sa'ch cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tham du+. kho'a ho.p ky` na`y\. Trong so^' ga^`n 100 ngu+o+`i, Va(n ti`m tha^'y ddu+o+.c khoa?ng 10 ca'i te^n nu+~ pha'i; ta^'t ca? dde^`u mang nhu+~ng ca'i ho. co' ve? "My~". Cha`ng ddang suy nghi~ mie^n man thi` Jane le^n tie^'ng:

- To^i co' the^? giu'p anh ddu+o+.c gi` kho^ng?

Va(n lie^`n ho?i:

- Jane co' the^? cho to^i bie^'t co^ ga'i ddu+a thu+ na`y thuo^.c chu?ng to^.c na`o\?

- Co^ ta ngu+o+`i A'-DDo^ng, co' the^? la` ngu+o+`i cu`ng xu+' vo+'i anh. To^i ddoa'n the^', qua gio.ng no'i cu?a co^ ta\.

Ba^y gio+` thi` Va(n hoa`n toa`n bi. ro^'i tri'. Trong ca'i danh sa'ch nhu+~ng nu+~ ho^.i vie^n tham du+., kho^ng co' ai mang ho. A'-DDo^ng, ddu+`ng no'i dde^'n Vie^.t Nam. Nhu+ va^.y co' the^? la` co^ na`ng kho^ng co' ma(.t trong dda.i ho^.i\. Nhu+ng co`n hi`nh ve~ chie^'c ddo^`ng ho^`? DDe^` ta`i tha?o lua^.n ho^`i sa'ng na`y\? Tu+`ng tha('c ma('c no^'i dduo^i nhau la`m dda^`u o'c Va(n tro+? ne^n ro^'i bu`. Cha`ng ho?i la.i Jane cho cha('c a(n:

- Co^ co' cha('c la` ngu+o+`i A'-DDo^ng?

Jane tra? lo+`i cha('c ni.ch:

- Cha('c cha('n!

Va(n tro+? ve^` pho`ng mi`nh. Cha`ng ke'o ro^.ng ta^'m ma`n cu+?a so^?. Tu+` tre^n la^`u 6 cu?a kha'ch sa.n Ramada Inn Va(n co' the^? nhi`n tha^'y ro~ kho^ng gian tra?i da`i be^n du+o+'i\. Hoa`ng ho^n vu+`a khua^'t o+? cuo^'i ddu+o+`ng cha^n tro+`i, tuy nhie^n nhu+~ng tia na('ng ye^'u o+'t co`n so't la.i trong nga`y va^~n la^'p la'nh nhu+~ng tia ngu~ sa('c tre^n ma(.t dda.i du+o+ng e^m dde^`m. Mo^.t bu+'c tranh thu?y ma.c di ddo^.ng ddang hie^.n ra trong khoa?ng kho^ng bao la\. Va(n chi`m dda('m nga^'t nga^y theo do`ng ddo+`i ma?i tro^i\.

"Reng. Reng!" Tie^'ng chuo^ng ddie^.n thoa.i ke'o Va(n tro+? ve^` hie^.n thu+.c. Va(n ba('t ma'y nghe, be^n kia dda^`u da^y kho^ng co' tie^'ng tra? lo+`i, thay va`o ddo' la` mo^.t ba?n nha.c tru+~ ti`nh Nam My~, "Come back to Sorrento", ba`i nha.c Va(n ra^'t u+a chuo^.ng, ba`i nha.c ddu+o+.c Va(n chuye^?n ho'a va` dde^.m va`o trong ma'y vi-ti'nh ca' nha^n. Va(n cho+.t nho+' dde^'n chie^'c ma'y vi-ti'nh xa'ch tay ma` cha`ng mang theo trong chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y\. Ca? ma^'y nga`y ho^m nay ba^.n ho.p la`m cha`ng que^n kie^?m tra ho^.p thu+ ddie^.n tu+?. Trong suo^'t ma^'y na(m tro+`i la`m vie^.c, Va(n dda~ quen vo+'i ca'i tho'i quen la` vie^.c la`m dda^`u tie^n trong nga`y khi va`o ha~ng la` mo+? chie^'c ma'y ddie^.n toa'n tre^n ba`n la`m vie^.c dde^? ddo.c thu+ ddie^.n tu+?. Nhu+~ng bu+'c thu+ tu+` ca'c ddo^`ng nghie^.p gu+?i dde^'n ba`n lua^.n ve^` ca'c va^'n dde^` ky~ thua^.t, hay nhu+~ng bu+'c thu+ lie^n la.c cu?a ba.n be` tu+` kha('p no+i tre^n the^' gio+'i\. Trong chuye^'n co^ng ta'c na`y Va(n kho^ng que^n mang theo chie^'c ma'y vi-ti'nh xa'ch tay dde^? tha(m do` thu+ ddie^.n qua ddu+o+`ng da^y ddie^.n thoa.i va` ma.ng lu+o+'i lie^n la.c ddie^.n toa'n.

Ma'y ddu+o+.c ba^.t le^n. Sau khi ddu+o+.c no^'i lie^`n trong ha~ng, ddie^.u nha.c "Come back to Sorrento" quen thuo^.c la.i tro^?i le^n. Va(n dda'nh me^.nh le^.nh do` xe't thu+ tu+`. Ma'y ba'o hie^.u cho bie^'t Va(n co' mo^.t la' thu+ duy nha^'t, ngu+o+`i gu+?i a^?n danh, no+i gu+?i la` tru+o+`ng dda.i ho.c Florida o+? Gainsville\. Va(n ddi tu+` tha('c ma('c na`y qua tha('c ma('c kha'c. Tru+o+`ng dda.i ho.c Florida o+? Gainsville thi` cha`ng bie^'t kha' ro~, nhu+ng cha`ng kho^ng he^` quen bie^'t ai o+? ddo'. Va(n la.i nga.c nhie^n ho+n khi nha^.n tha^'y bu+'c thu+ ghi ba(`ng tie^'ng Vie^.t, lo+`i le~ dda.i kha'i chu'c cha`ng mo^.t chuye^'n co^ng ta'c dda^`y ly' thu'.

Va(n ta('t ma'y, ngo^`i thu+` ngu+o+`i suy nghi~. Qua nhu+~ng ma^~u tu+. tre^n ma'y thi` la`m sao ma` cha`ng co' the^? ddoa'n ddu+o+.c ne't chu+~. Co`n lo+`i le~ trong thu+, thie^'t nghi~ mo^.t khi ngu+o+`i na`o co^' ti`nh da^'u te^n thi` cha('c ho. cu~ng pha?i vie^'t kha'c ddi\. Tuy nhie^n Va(n linh ti'nh ra(`ng ngu+o+`i gu+?i bu+'c thu+ ddie^.n tu+? na`y chi'nh la` nha^n va^.t ky` bi' ddang cho.c pha' cha`ng suo^'t ma^'y nga`y ho^m nay o+? dda.i ho^.i\.

Mo^.t tia sa'ng lo'e le^n trong dda^`u\. Va(n nghi~, ro~ ra`ng trong tro` cho+i na`y cha`ng la` ke? thu. ddo^.ng. Ca'i tho+`i kho'a bie^?u thu+o+`ng nha^.t cu?a cha`ng ddang bi. nha^n va^.t bi' ma^.t kia theo do~i\. Va(n tu+. nhu? ba('t dda^`u tu+` nga`y mai cha`ng se~ xa'o tro^.n sinh hoa.t thu+o+`ng nha^.t cu?a mi`nh. Vie^.c tru+o+'c tie^n la` ddo^?i pho`ng. Va(n go.i Jane, na`ng vui ve? cha^'p thua^.n ye^u ca^`u cu?a Va(n. Sa'ng ho^m sau Va(n da^.y so+'m ho+n thu+o+`ng le^., va`o pho`ng ho.p cha`ng kie^'m cho^~ ngo^`i o+? ti't phi'a sau\. Cha`ng co`n bo? ve^` tru+o+'c gio+` tan ho.p. Cha`ng cu~ng ddo^?i luo^n cho^~ dda^.u xe, thay ddo^?i nha` ha`ng no+i cha`ng hay a(n co+m tru+a va` to^'i\. Cha`ng tha^.m chi' thay ddo^?i ca? ca'ch trang phu.c, tu+o+'ng ddi, ca'ch no'i chuye^.n.

Phu+o+ng a'n na`y co' ve? hie^.u qua?, vi` Va(n kho^ng co`n bi. qua^'y ra^`y nu+~a\. Cho dde^'n mo^.t dde^m. DDe^m cuo^'i cu`ng tru+o+'c nga`y ma~n kho'a ho.p, Va(n nha^.n ddu+o+.c mo^.t cu' ddie^.n thoa.i\. Mo^.t gio.ng nu+~ be^n kia dda^`u da^y:

- O^ng Va(n dda^'y a`? Sao o^ng la.i la^?n tro^'n to^i\? Lu+o+'i tro+`i lo^`ng lo^.ng. Cha.y tro+`i sao kho?i na('ng ho+? o^ng?

Va(n co^' nha^.n ra gio.ng ngu+o+`i con ga'i, nhu+ng cha`ng kho^ng ta`i na`o\. Gio.ng na`ng nho?, chi? vu+`a ddu? nghe, co^.ng the^m tie^'ng so'ng, tie^'ng gio' bie^?n ri` ra`o\. Hi`nh nhu+ na`ng ddang du`ng ddie^.n thoa.i lu+u ddo^.ng, go.i tu+` bie^?n go.i va`o\. Va(n co^' la^'y gio.ng bi`nh ti~nh dde^? kho?i pha?i ga('t le^n:

- Co^ la` ai\? Co^ co' go.i la^`m ngu+o+`i cha(ng?

Thay vi` tra? lo+`i ca^u ho?i cu?a Va(n, na`ng ho?i ngu+o+.c la.i:

- O^ng tha^.t su+. kho^ng bie^'t gi` a`?

Im la(.ng va`i gia^y\. Tri' o'c Va(n hoa.t ddo^.ng kho^ng ngu+`ng, nhu+ng cha`ng cu~ng kho^ng the^? na`o nha^.n ra ddu+o+.c gio.ng no'i xa va('ng na`y\. Tuy nhie^n ca'i ti'nh ha'o tha('ng co^' hu+~u kho^ng cho phe'p Va(n chi.u thua de^~ da`ng. Cha`ng du`ng ke^' hoa~n binh:

- Gio.ng co^ nghe ra^'t quen, nhu+ng to^i kho^ng cha('c cha('n. Co^ co' the^? cho bie^'t the^m mo^.t va`i ky? nie^.m cha(ng?

Co' tie^'ng cu+o+`i tu+` bie^?n:

- O^ng va^~n ca'i ta^.t a^'y kho^ng bo?.

- Ta^.t gi`?

- No'i khoa't!

Gio.ng nu+~ pha la^~n mo^.t chu't pha^~n no^.. Va(n chu+a ki.p ddo^'i dda'p thi` na`ng no'i tie^'p:

- Tho^i he.n ga(.p sau\. Chu'c o^ng ngu? ngon.

Tru+o+'c khi na`ng cu'p ma'y, Va(n nghe co' tie^'ng phi co+ ga^`m ru'. Cha`ng ve'n ta^'m ma`n cu+?a so^? nhi`n ra ngoa`i\. Mo^.t pha?n lu+.c co+ vu+`a bay ngang tre^n no'c kha'ch sa.n, dde^? la.i mo^.t ve^.t da`i a'nh sa'ng tre^n ba^`u tro+`i\. Nhu+ va^.y co' the^? la` na`ng vu+`a go.i ddie^.n thoa.i cho Va(n tu+` mo^.t cho^~ ra^'t ga^`n dda^u dda^y\. Va(n lie^'c nhanh xuo^'ng phi'a ba~i bie^?n. Hi`nh nhu+ co' mo^.t bo'ng dden xo?a to'c da`i ddang lu+o+'t nhanh tre^n ca'c go+.n so'ng ven bo+`.

DDe^m ddo' Va(n dda('m chi`m trong gia^'c ngu? nhie^`u mo^.ng mi., nhu+~ng gia^'c mo^.ng kho^ng ro~ ra`ng, kho^ng thu+.c te^' ca`ng la`m cho dda^`u o'c Va(n ro^'i bo+`i\. Sa'ng ho^m sau Va(n da^.y tre^~, cha`ng coi la.i to+` chu+o+ng tri`nh, tha^'y dde^` ta`i no'i chuye^.n sa'ng nay kho^ng co' gi` ha^'p da^~n, ne^n sau khi tra? pho`ng cha`ng lang thang da.o bo^. vo`ng bie^?n. Ho^m nay tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u, gio' la.nh ru' le^n tu+`ng co+n, ba~i bie^?n va('ng teo\. La.nh re't run ne^n Va(n pha?i tro+? ve^` kha'ch sa.n, nghi~ sao ddo' cha`ng tro+? la.i pho`ng ho.p. DDe^` ta`i no'i chuye^.n, nhu+ Va(n dda~ ddoa'n tru+o+'c, kho^ng co' gi` dda(.c bie^.t, va^~n la` nhu+~ng ly' thuye^'t kho^ khan, nhu+~ng co^ng thu+'c toa'n da^`y cha(`ng chi.t.

O+? cuo^'i buo^?i ho.p, cu+? to.a gio+'i thie^.u mo^.t ba`i tha?o lua^.n ngoa`i du+. ddi.nh cu?a chu+o+ng tri`nh. Die^~n thuye^'t vie^n la` mo^.t co^ ga'i tre?, sinh vie^n na(m thu+' nha^'t tru+o+`ng dda.i ho.c Gainsville\. Te^n co^ ta la` Thao Hemingway\. "Ca'i te^n nghe co' ve? Vie^.t Nam qua'!" Va(n nghi~ tha^`m, nhu+ng khuo^n ma(.t thi` hoa`n toa`n My~, to'c ba.ch kim, da tra('ng, vo'c da'ng cao vo+`i vo+.i\. Va(n ca`ng nga.c nhie^n ho+n khi to+` gia^'y kie^'ng dda^`u tie^n ddu+o+.c ddu+a le^n tre^n ma'y chie^'u, ghi ro~ "Tha?o Hemingway", vo+'i da^'u ho?i ddu+o+.c dda(.t ngay nga('n tre^n chu+~ "a" cu?a ca'i te^n "Tha?o". Ba`i no'i chuye^.n cu?a na`ng ke'o da`i khoa?ng 15 phu't. DDe^` ta`i cu~ng kho^ng co' gi` dda(.c sa('c ma^'y, cu~ng kho^ng vu+o+.t kho?i nhu+~ng ly' thuye^'t ddo+n thua^`n trong toa'n ho.c u+'ng du.ng. Tru+o+'c khi du+'t lo+`i, thuye^'t tri`nh vie^n to? lo+`i ca'm o+n nhu+~ng a^n nha^n dda~ giu'p ddo+~ na`ng thu+.c hie^.n nghie^n cu+'u na`y\. Nhu+ng kha'c vo+'i mo.i ngu+o+`i, thu+o+`ng hay to? ve? bie^'t o+n ca'c co^ng ty tu+ nha^n hoa(.c chi'nh phu? dda~ giu'p ddo+~ ta`i cha'nh, na`ng la.i ngo? lo+`i tri a^n tha^n ma^~u cu?a mi`nh. Na`ng no'i:

- Kho^ng co' su+. ddo^.ng vie^n tinh tha^`n tu+` me. to^i thi` co' le~ kho^ng co' ba`i no'i chuye^.n ho^m nay\. Do ddo' to^i xin co^'ng hie^'n pha^`n nghie^n cu+'u na`y cho me., ba` Vu~ Thi. Tuye^'t Su+o+ng.

Na`ng pha't a^m ca'i te^n Vie^.t Nam ba(`ng mo^.t gio.ng Vie^.t Nam ro~ ra`ng. Ca'i te^n ddu+a Va(n ngu+o+.c do`ng tho+`i gian, tro+? ve^` qua' khu+'. Ca'i te^n ma` Va(n tu+o+?ng dda~ ma^'t ti'ch ga^`n 20 na(m da`i\. Ca'i te^n bu+o+i da^.y ca? mo^.t qua~ng ddo+`i tho+ a^'u cu?a Va(n.

Tuye^'t Su+o+ng la` ngu+o+`i ti`nh dda^`u cu~ng la` ba.n ho.c tu+` thuo+? nho? cu?a cha`ng. Gia ddi`nh cha`ng va` na`ng cu~ng ra^'t tha^n vo+'i nhau\. Ho^`i ddo' hai be^n dda~ a^m tha^`m ti'nh chuye^.n xui gia\. Ve^` pha^`n Va(n va` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng, hai ngu+o+`i du+. ddi.nh sau khi hoa`n ta^'t xong chu+o+ng tri`nh du ho.c be^n My~ la` va^ng lo+`i bo^' me. ve^` Vie^.t Nam to^? chu+'c dda'm cu+o+'i\. DDo' la` nhu+~ng na(m giu+~a tha^.p nie^n 70. Tru+o+`ng dda.i ho.c Berkeley, no+i Va(n va` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng theo ho.c, ddang die^~n ra nhu+~ng dda^'u tranh nga`y dde^m cu?a ca'c nho'm pha?n chie^'n. Va` ro^`i gia^'c mo^.ng ve^` Vie^.t Nam la`m dda'm cu+o+'i cu~ng kho^ng the^? thu+.c hie^.n ddu+o+.c. Chie^'n tranh dda~ cu+o+'p ddi gia^'c mo^.ng bi`nh thu+o+`ng na`y cu?a ho.. Sau bie^'n co^' tha'ng Tu+, cu`ng chung so^' pha^.n vo+'i bao nhie^u sinh vie^n Vie^.t Nam du ho.c kha'c, Va(n va` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng dda~ tro+? tha`nh nhu+~ng ke? ti. na.n ba^'t dda('c di~.

Cu~ng ke^? tu+` ddo' ho. ma^'t lie^n la.c vo+'i gia ddi`nh be^n Vie^.t Nam. Khoa?ng dda^`u na(m 1975, Tuye^'t Su+o+ng nghe dda^u gia ddi`nh na`ng dda~ dde^'n tra.i ti. na.n Guam va` ddu+o+.c ddu+a va`o ca(n cu+' kho^ng qua^n Eglin, tie^?u bang Florida\. Na`ng nha^'t ddi.nh bay sang ddo' ti`m bo^' me. va` ca'c em. Tho+`i gian ddo' Va(n ddang ba^.n thi cu+? ne^n kho^ng the^? ddi dda^u ddu+o+.c. Ho^m tie^~n ngu+o+`i ye^u o+? phi tru+o+`ng, Va(n da(.n do` na`ng tha^.t ky~ pha?i ca^?n tha^.n. Nhu+ng Va(n dda^u co' ngo+` ddo' cu~ng la` la^`n cuo^'i cha`ng nhi`n tha^'y Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. Na`ng ra ddi kho^ng dde^? la.i mo^.t ve^'t ti'ch. Mo.i co^' ga('ng ti`m kie^'m cu?a Va(n dde^`u vo^ hie^.u\. Nu+o+'c My~ vo+'i ky~ thua^.t ddie^.n toa'n ta^n tie^'n so^' mo^.t tre^n the^' gio+'i cu~ng kho^ng giu'p Va(n ti`m ddu+o+.c tung ti'ch cu?a ngu+o+`i ye^u\. Ma?i cho dde^'n ho^m nay\. Nhu+ng ro^`i Va(n la.i tha('c ma('c, kho^ng hie^?u co^ sinh vie^n ngu+o+`i My~ vo+'i ca'i te^n Vie^.t Nam na`y co' lie^n he^. gi` vo+'i Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. Tha?o dda~ ddi dde^'n be^n ca.nh Va(n lu'c na`o ma` cha`ng kho^ng hay\. Na`ng mo+? dda^`u ba(`ng mo^.t ca^u tie^'ng Vie^.t, gio.ng Ba('c ra^'t chua^?n:

- Cha`o o^ng Va(n. Xin lo^~i, to^i co' the^? la`m phie^`n, ho?i chuye^.n vo+'i o^ng trong gia^y la't kho^ng a.?

- DDu+o+.c, co^ cu+' tu+. nhie^n.

- No'i chuye^.n trong na`y kho^ng tie^.n, hay la` mo+`i o^ng ra ngoa`i ban-co^ng.

Ba^y gio+` ddang la` gio+` nghi? gia?i lao, trong pho`ng ho.p tha^.t o^`n a`o\. Hai ngu+o+`i mo+? cu+?a bu+o+'c ra ngoa`i\. Va(n lie^`n ho?i:

- Co' pha?i co^ la` ngu+o+`i a^m tha^`m lie^n la.c to^i ma^'y nga`y ho^m nay\?

Tha?o tra? lo+`i ba(`ng mo^.t nu. cu+o+`i\. Va(n ho?i tie^'p:

- Nhi`n co^ nhu+ va^`y kho^ng hie^?u sao co^ thu+ ky' kha'ch sa.n la.i no'i la` ngu+o+`i A'-DDo^ng.

Tha?o la.i mi~m cu+o+`i:

- Jane la` ba.n tha^n cu?a Tha?o\.

Va(n vo+~ le~:

- A`, ra la` the^'!

Tha?o ba^'t cho+.t nghie^m ne't ma(.t la.i:

- Nhu+ng so ra thi` su+. im la(.ng cu?a o^ng ddo^'i vo+'i me. to^i co`n ta`n nha^~n ho+n nhie^`u!

- Co^ no'i gi`? To^i kho^ng hie^?u\.

- To^i muo^'n no'i dde^'n ngu+o+`i me. tha^n ye^u cu?a to^i, mo^'i ti`nh dda^`u cu?a o^ng, ba` Vu~ Thi. Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. O^ng que^n ro^`i a`?

- Sao la.i co' chuye^.n nga.o ngu+o+.c nhu+ the^' ddu+o+.c. Co^ co' bie^'t ra(`ng to^i dda~ ra'o rie^'t ti`m Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. Pha?i no'i ra(`ng na`ng im la(.ng, tro^'n tra'nh to^i thi` ddu'ng ho+n.

- Kho^ng ddu'ng. O^ng co' bie^'t ra(`ng me. dda~ a^m tha^`m theo do~i sinh hoa.t cu?a o^ng suo^'t ma^'y chu.c na(m qua, cu~ng nho+` va^.y ma` to^i ti`m ra o^ng de^~ da`ng. O^ng cu~ng pha?i bie^'t dda`n ba` co' tu+. a'i rie^ng cu?a ho.. La` dda`n o^ng, o^ng pha?i chu? ddo^.ng trong va^'n dde^` ti`m kie^'m chu+'. O^ng dda~ bo? cuo^.c qua' so+'m!

Va(n pha?i co^ng nha^.n mo^.t ddie^`u la` nha^n va^.t ddo^'i die^.n cha`ng, mo^.t co^ ga'i be^` ngoa`i My~ tra(m pha^`n tra(m, du` co' co^' ga('ng ddoan trang thu`y mi., no'i tie^'ng Vie^.t sa`nh so~i, va^~n kho^ng thoa't kho?i ca'i ti'nh My~ la` ca'i ti'nh ngang, ngang nhu+ cua\. Va(n pha?i da(`n bu+.c mi`nh, ba?o na`ng:

- Co^ no'i lung tung qua'. Ca'i gi` ma` tu+. a'i\? Ho+n nu+~a, nu+o+'c My~ na`y bao la, khi mo^.t ngu+o+`i na`o ddo' co^' ti`nh a^?n da^.t thi` tro+`i muo^'n ti`m cu~ng kho^ng ddu+o+.c, huo^'ng gi` to^i\.

Tha?o nga('t ngang:

- Tho^i chuye^.n ddo' kho^ng ne^n ba`n ca~i la`m gi`. Ne^'u o^ng co`n nho+', ho^m nay la` sinh nha^.t cu?a me.. To^i muo^'n me. co' mo^.t mo'n qua` sinh nha^.t. Me. cha('c pha?i mu+`ng la('m khi ga(.p la.i o^ng.

Va(n ve'n tay a'o xem ddo^`ng ho^`, cha`ng no'i:

- Kho^ng ddu+o+.c, to^i pha?i ddo'n chuye^'n bay ve^` Cali ngay ba^y gio+`.

Tha?o chi`a ra ta^'m ve' ma'y bay:

- O^ng kho^ng pha?i lo chuye^.n ddo'. O^ng co' the^? o+? la.i dda^y cho+i, to^i dda~ dda(.t du`m o^ng chuye^'n bay cuo^'i cu`ng ro+`i kho?i dda^y to^'i nay\.

Tha^'y Va(n co' ve? pha^n va^n, gio.ng na`ng tro+? ne^n tha thie^'t:

- O^ng la`m o+n giu'p to^i, to^i chi? ye^u ca^`u o^ng mo^.t nga`y ho^m nay tho^i ma`. To^i muo^'n me. co' mo^.t nga`y sinh nha^.t tro.n ve.n. Ho+n nu+~a, cha('c ha(?n o^ng cu~ng to` mo` muo^'n bie^'t ta.i sao me. la.i la'nh ma(.t o^ng trong suo^'t ga^`n 20 na(m qua\?

Na`ng dda~ go~ ddu'ng tim dden cu?a Va(n. Cha`ng ga^.t dda^`u ddo^`ng y'. Ne't vui lo^. ro~ tre^n ddo^i ma('t ma`u xanh nu+o+'c bie^?n. Va` ba(`ng mo^.t cu+? chi? ra^'t My~, na`ng o^m cha^`m la^'y Va(n, ho^n nhe. le^n tre^n ma' cha`ng. Na`ng no'i:

- O^ng co' the^? dde^? xe o+? kha'ch sa.n, dde^? to^i la'i ddu+a o^ng ddi\. Nha` chu'ng to^i cu~ng o+? ga^`n dda^y tho^i\.

Xe du+`ng la.i o+? mo^.t con ddu+o+`ng nho? no^'i lie^`n xa lo^. 98, hu+o+'ng DDo^ng tha`nh pho^' Fort Walton, tu+'c la` hu+o+'ng ve^` tha`nh pho^' Panama\. Ca(n nha` na(`m o+? mo^.t khu vu+.c rie^ng bie^.t, sa't bo+` bie^?n. Tu+` dda^y co' the^? nhi`n tha^'y ro~ nhu+~ng trie^`n so'ng la(n ta(n cha.y quanh bo+` ca't tra('ng phi'a xa xa\. Ra ddo'n hai ngu+o+`i la` mo^.t thie^'u phu. ta^.t nguye^`n. Cha^n tra'i cu?a na`ng bi. cu+a cu.t le^n to+'i ga^`n dda^`u go^'i\. Va(n nhi`n so+ qua la` nha^.n ra ngay ngu+o+`i ddo^'i die^.n chi'nh la` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. Tho+`i gian na(m tha'ng kho^ng he^` ta`n pha' ddu+o+.c nhan sa('c my~ mie^`u\. Tuye^'t Su+o+ng dda~ nha^.n ra cha`ng, tro^ng na`ng bo^'i ro^'i vo^ cu`ng. Na`ng nhi`n xuo^'ng chie^'c cha^n cu.t, ddi.nh cho^'ng na.ng quay va`o trong nha` thi` Va(n na('m tay na`ng. Cha`ng ca^`m ca^y na.ng go^~, ho?i na`ng ba(`ng mo^.t gio.ng thie^'t tha:

- Su+o+ng, kho^ng le~ chi? vi` va^.y ma` em pha?i tro^'n tra'nh anh?

Tuye^'t Su+o+ng kho^ng no'i ne^n lo+`i, o+? kho'e ma('t cu?a na`ng u+'a ra hai gio`ng nu+o+'c. Tha?o ddi dde^'n, na('m la^'y tay me.:

- Chu'c me. mo^.t nga`y sinh nha^.t tuye^.t vo+`i!

Ba^y gio+` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng mo+'i le^n tie^'ng:

- Tho^i chu'ng ta va`o trong no'i chuye^.n.

Va`o nha`, vi` muo^'n dde^? hai ngu+o+`i tu+. do ta^m su+., Tha?o xin phe'p me. ddi ra ngoa`i bie^?n cho+i, va` dde^'n khoa?ng to^'i se~ tro+? ve^` ddu+a Va(n ra phi tru+o+`ng. Ba(`ng mo^.t gio.ng e^m dde^`m nhu+ tie^'ng so'ng, Tuye^'t Su+o+ng dda~ thua^.t la.i nhu+~ng gi` dda~ xa?y ra tu+` ca'i ho^m hai ngu+o+`i tu+` gia~ nhau o+? phi tru+o+`ng San Francisco, na(m 1975. Mo^.t tai na.n xe co^. ghe^ go+'m dda~ xa?y ra tre^n ddu+o+`ng dde^'n ca(n cu+' kho^ng qua^n Eglin. Ngu+o+`i ta dda~ cu+'u so^'ng ddu+o+.c Tuye^'t Su+o+ng, nhu+ng cha^n tra'i cu?a na`ng bi. nghie^`n na't, pha?i cu+a ddi\. Na`ng ma(.c ca?m ta^.t nguye^`n ne^n dda~ tro^'n tra'nh Va(n tu+` ddo'. Ne^'u kho^ng co' su+. u?ng ho^. tinh tha^`n cu?a ba'c si~ qua^n y, Paul Hemingway, thi` cha('c na`ng kho' co' the^? vu+o+.t qua nhu+~ng khu?ng hoa?ng tinh tha^`n tho+`i gian mo+'i bi`nh phu.c. Mo^.t na(m sau, na`ng cha^'p thua^.n lo+`i ca^`u ho^n cu?a Paul. Va` Tha?o la` ke^'t ho+.p cu?a na`ng va` ngu+o+`i ye^u thu+' hai trong ddo+`i\. Na`ng ngu+`ng ke^?, uo^'ng mo^.t ho+'p tra`, ro^`i ho?i Va(n:

- Anh va^~n lie^n la.c vo+'i gia ddi`nh be^n Vie^.t Nam chu+'? Hai ba'c co' kho?e kho^ng?

- Ca'm o+n em. Bo^' me. anh va^~n bi`nh thu+o+`ng.

Va(n che^' nu+o+'c tra` tu+` bi`nh va`o ta'ch cho Tuye^'t Su+o+ng. DDa~ la^u la('m ro^`i ho^m nay cha`ng mo+'i co' di.p sa(n so'c na`ng. Va(n ho?i la.i:

- Co`n em, anh muo^'n ho?i em co' ha.nh phu'c kho^ng?

- Da., co'. Cu~ng may cho em la` Paul tu+`ng tham chie^'n o+? Vie^.t Nam, cha`ng ra^'t am tu+o+`ng ve^` va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam. Anh coi con Tha?o ddo' thi` bie^'t, Paul dda~ ddo^.ng vie^n em pha?i da.y no' tie^'ng Vie^.t va` va(n ho'a Vie^.t.

Va(n la^?m ba^?m trong mie^.ng:

- Anh mu+`ng cho em co' ha.nh phu'c!

Tuye^'t Su+o+ng ho?i la.i:

- Co`n anh, anh cha('c la^.p gia ddi`nh ro^`i chu+'?

Va(n a^.m u+`:

- U+`, thi` cu~ng mo+'i dda^y tho^i, vo+. anh co' nhie^`u ne't gio^'ng em.

- Va^.y anh co' ma^'y cha'u ro^`i\?

- Chu+a co' ddu+'a na`o, tu.i anh ba^.n ro^.n nghie^n cu+'u, kho^ng da'm sinh con, so+. kho^ng co' tho+`i gio+` nuo^i na^'ng.

Tuye^'t Su+o+ng cu+o+`i tha`nh tie^'ng:

- Tro+`i, sao anh chi. lo xa qua' va^.y\?

Ta^m su+. cu?a hai mu+o+i na(m tro+`i xa ca'ch tua^`n tu+. ddu+o+.c pho+i ba`y\. Hai ngu+o+`i chuye^.n va~n lie^n tu.c suo^'t 6 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`, cho dde^'n khi Tha?o tro+? ve^`, chua^?n bi. ddu+a Va(n ra phi tru+o+`ng dde^? ddo'n chuye^'n ma'y bay cuo^'i cu`ng trong nga`y thi` ho. mo+'i ngu+ng.

Gio+` na`y\. Lo+ lu+?ng giu+~a ca'c ta^`ng ma^y\. Va(n du+.a lu+ng tre^n ghe^' phi co+, suy nghi~ mo^ng lung. I't nha^'t trong chuye^'n co^ng ta'c ky` na`y, Va(n dda~ ti`m ddu+o+.c ca^u tra? lo+`i cho mo^'i tha('c ma('c ve^` su+. ra ddi cu?a ngu+o+`i ti`nh cu~. Tuy nhie^n co' mo^.t ddie^`u Va(n kho^ng bie^'t ddu+o+.c la` Tuye^'t Su+o+ng dda~ ly di. cho^`ng ho+n 10 na(m nay\. Trong suo^'t buo^?i ha`n huye^n ho^m nay na`ng dda~ da^'u tie^.t kho^ng cho Va(n bie^'t; co' the^? la` vi` na`ng qua' tu+. a'i\. Ca'i ti'nh tu+. a'i ddo' dda~ gie^'t che^'t mo^'i ti`nh dda^`u, va` gie^'t luo^n mo^'i ti`nh muo^.n ma`ng chu+a ki.p cho+'m no+?. Kho^ng pha?i rie^ng chi? mi`nh na`ng, ma` Va(n cu~ng va^.y\. Cu~ng vi` ca'i ti'nh tu+. a'i ma` Va(n la.i no'i do^'i ngu+o+`i ye^u cu~ la` cha`ng dda~ la^.p gia ddi`nh. Su+. tha^.t la` cha`ng va^~n co`n ddo+n co^i suo^'t hai mu+o+i na(m qua, trong mo?i mo`n cho+` ddo+.i tin tu+'c cu?a ngu+o+`i ye^u duy nha^'t trong ddo+`i\.