To^i ddang ngo^`i lu'i hu'i xo+'i dda^'t cho li'p ca?i xanh ngoa`i vu+o+`n nho? sau nha` thi` nghe tie^'ng vo+. go.i vui ve?:

     - Co' thu+ va` sa'ch ne` anh!

     - U?a, anh pha't tho+ ddi so+'m qua' ha? ? Cu?a ai va^.y em ?

     - O+ ... o+ ... co' mo^.t bao bi` lo+'n cu?a Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng . Cha('c la` sa'ch .

     Mo+? bao bi` ra, ddu'ng la` sa'ch cu?a o^ng Tru`m "Mo^.t ." Nhu+ng chu+a pha?i la` sa'ch, chi? la` xa^'p ba?n tha?o co`n nguye^n ve.n mu`i tho+m cu?a gia^'y . Mo^.t la' tho+ ro+'t ra . DDo.c vo^.i va`ng, to^i ca?m tha^'y "qua^y mo`ng mo`ng" co`n ho+n ... cuo^'c dda^'t ma^'y nga`y nay . To^i no'i la^`m tha^`m:

     "A'c thie^.t! Cha`ng na^`y sa'ng ta'c ha(ng qua', ro^`i la.i nho+` mi`nh vie^'t tu+.a! Tha` la` cuo^'c dda^'t mu+o+`i bu+~a, nu+?a tha'ng co`n su+o+'ng ho+n! Bie^'t o^?ng vie^'t ca'i gi` dda^y ? ne^'u no'i ve^` ddo^`ng que^, mie^.t vu+o+`n thi` mi`nh co`n hu. ho+. ddu+o+.c, cho+' vie^'t chuye^.n ra kho+i, bie^?n ca? ... thi` mi`nh bu` tra^'t ro^`i ... O^ng na^`y cha('c du+ bie^'t vie^'t tu+.a kho' nga`n la^`n vie^'t ba.t, pha?i na('m vu+~ng va(n phong, va(n khi' cu?a ta'c gia? ." Ma` vo+'i Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng, anh Mai Tha?o dda~ no'i ra^'t nhie^`u va` dda^`y ddu? trong lo+`i Va`o Ta^.p cu?a hai cuo^'n sa'ch dda^`u tay cu?a Hu+ng:

     DDo.c he^'t Mo^.t Chuye^'n Ra Kho+i, ddo.c tie^'p to+'i Mo^.t DDo+`i DDe^? Ho.c, to^i tha^'y ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng gi` ? Tha^'y ddu+o+.c ma^'y ddie^`u to^i cu`ng ye^u me^'n . Tru+o+'c he^'t la` ta^'m lo`ng Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng ddo^'i vo+'i va(n chu+o+ng, o+? phi'a co' va(n chu+o+ng . DDo' la` hi`nh tha'i cu?a mo^.t ga('n bo' son sa('t, thu?y chung, qua tho+`i gian kho^ng co' ne^'p nha(n, qua ddo^?i ro+`i va^~n mo^.t ddo+`i be^`n vu+~ng . O+? ddu+o+.c vo+'i va(n chu+o+ng nhu+ va^.y dda~ la` mo^.t o+? dde.p . DDe.p va` dda^`y . Ca'i o+? kho^ng nu+?a ddu+o+`ng ddu+'t ga'nh, kho^ng lu'c co`n lu'c ma^'t, no'i ca'ch kha'c, mo^.t thu+o+`ng xuye^n o+?, mo^.t ma~i ma~i cu`ng, to? hie^.n trong va(n truye^.n Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng tha`nh mo^.t tho^'ng nha^'t va` mo^.t lie^n tu.c vie^'t tru+o+'c sau kho^ng bao gio+` thay ddo^?i, ma(.c da^`u tha^n the^' ngu+o+`i thi` dda~ kho^ng bie^'t bao nhie^u tha(ng tra^`m va` ddo^?i thay .

     DDie^`u ye^u me^'n thu+' hai, cu~ng la` ddie^`u ca('t nghi~a ta.i sao, vie^'t la.i ngay cu`ng vo+'i ba('t dda^`u la.i ddo+`i so^'ng tre^n que^ ngu+o+`i va` vie^'t ra^'t dde^`u tay, ra^'t chuye^n ca^`n, to+'i gio+` Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng mo+'i hoa`n tha`nh ddu+o+.c xong hai ta'c pha^?m . DDo' la` ca'ch vie^'t, lo^'i vie^'t Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng he^'t su+'c nghie^m chi?nh, ky~ lu+o+~ng vo^ chu+`ng ...

     Va^.y la` ddu? "mo^.t Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng" ro^`i, va` co`n gi` dde^? vie^'t nu+~a dda^y ? Chi? lie^'c tha^'y xa^'p gia^'y chi chi't chu+~, chu+a tha^'y la' tho+, vo+. to^i ddem to^i ve^` thu+.c te^':

     - Anh co' sa'ch ddo.c nga`y nay ro^`i ddo' nghen . Nhu+ng to+'i gio+` co+m ro^`i . Pha?i a(n tru+o+'c ddo' .

     Nghe vo+. nha('c, to^i que^n lu+~ng ca'i "co^ng ta'c dde^` tu+.a" na(.ng ne^` ma` nho+' la` mi`nh sa('p ddu+o+.c ddo.c mo^.t cuo^'n sa'ch mo+'i trinh nguye^n, chu+a mo^.t ai ddo.c tru+o+'c mi`nh, to^i ngoan ngoa?n ra ba`n a(n .

     Vo+. to^i bie^'t to^i co' ta^.t la. lu`ng la` khi co' cuo^'n sa'ch na`o thi'ch chi' thi` que^n a(n va` kho^ng the`m la`m gi` kha'c, va` mo^~i la^`n to^i ddo.c sa'ch, to^i na(`m da`i tre^n giu+o+`ng, dda^'p me^`n ta^.n co^? ... tha^.t nghie^m tu'c . Co' la^`n to^i gia?i thi'ch:

     - Kho^ng co' gi` sung su+o+'ng cho ba(`ng khi ddo.c mo^.t cuo^'n sa'ch hay, ha^'p da^~n ma` bi. ... la.nh ca(?ng . Mi`nh o+? xu+' la.nh ma` .

     DDo' dda^u pha?i la` ta^.t, cu~ng nhu+ lu'c nho?, chu' to^i co' ke^? cho nghe: Mo^~i la^`n o^ng to^i ddo.c sa'ch (chu+~ nho) la` o^ng pha?i ngo^`i du+.a va`o ca'i go^'i xe^'p tre^n bo^. ngu+.a tra?i chie^'u ha(~n ho`i, mo+'i ca^`m sa'ch ddo.c . Kho^ng bao gio+` o^ng na(`m vo~ng ma` ddo.c sa'ch, no+i na^`y o^ng chi? na(`m hu't thuo^'c, pha` kho'i, mo+ ma`ng tho^i .

     To^i bo? la' tho+ va`o ho^.c ba`n, ta.m que^n, dde^? chi? hu+o+?ng thu' ddo.c sa'ch cu?a O^ng Tru`m na^`y, ro^`i ... to+'i dda^u hay to+'i ddo' .

     Vu+`a o+? trang dda^`u, lie^'c tha^'y hai chu+~ "Mie^.t Vu+o+`n" to^i ho+i ye^n chi', la^.t re.t re.t xem so+ so+ be^n trong . Pha?i no'i ro~, dda^y la` ca'i ta^.t . Kho^ng pha?i nhu+ nhie^`u ba`, nhie^`u co^ co' ta^.t ddo.c tru+o+'c ma^'y trang cuo^'i cu`ng dde^? bie^'t ke^'t qua? cu?a nha^n va^.t trong tie^?u thuye^'t Quy`nh Dao, La Lan ... ma` to^i chi? muo^'n ti`m coi co' nha^n va^.t te^n John, te^n Bob kho^ng ? Kho^ng pha?i to^i ky` thi. ma` vi` to^i "ky." ddo.c nhu+~ng chuye^.n mo+'i xa?y ra "ho^m qua, ho^m nay" ma` mi`nh so^'ng ta.m bo+. xu+' ngu+o+`i thu+o+`ng ga(.p hoa`i .

     To^i la^.t so+ dde^? tu+. gia?i dda'p tha('c ma('c trong to^i: Anh ba.n Hu+ng na^`y la` da^n "a'o-tra('ng-ba^u-vuo^ng-co'-vie^`n-xanh-la^.t-sau-o't" ma` no'i chuye^.n Xuo^'ng Nu'i, la` xuo^'ng la`m sao ?

     Nho+` la^.t re.t re.t dde^? cho+.t tha^'y nhie^`u chu+~ in hoa, te^n cu?a phu. nu+~: Cao Bi`nh Minh, Phan thi. Tro.ng Tuye^'n, Nguye^~n thi. Ngo.c Die^~m, Nguye^~n thi. Ngo.c Nhung, "bo^'n con chuo^.t du+`a" ro^`i co' "mu'i bu+o+?i Bie^n Ho`a" Tra^`n Kim Vy, theo sau co' te^n phu. nu+~ nu+~a ... nha?y nho't trong sa'ch . To^i ye^n chi' vi` bie^'t anh ba.n tre? na^`y vie^'t ky' su+. ve^` ba.n be`, trong ddo' co' nhie^`u ca^y vie^'t nu+~ mie^`n Nam ma` tu+` la^u to^i ddu+o+.c ddo.c tre^n ba'o La`ng Va(n, chi? "va(n ky` thinh, ba^'t kie^'n ky` hi`nh ..." va^.y la` se~ co' nhu+~ng ddoa.n "ve~ la.i" dung nhan ca'c ngu+o+`i dde.p ro^`i dda^y!

     Me`n o+i, sao ma` cha`ng na^`y co' duye^n va^.y ? To^i chu+a he^'t vui mu+`ng khi xe.t to+'i trang 118 dde^? tha^'y va`i ddi.a danh xu+' Hoa Ky` in hoa: So^ng Muo^'i (Salt River), Stuart Mountain Dam ... to^i ho+i ngo+., nhu+ng lie^`n ddo' la` nhu+~ng gio`ng chu+~ ta? ca?nh . A! ca'i gi` cho+' ta? ca?nh la` to^i me^ qua' ro^`i!

     Nhu+ co' la^`n to^i no'i vo+'i ba.n be` trong sa'ch cu?a to^i: To^i sanh du+o+'i chu+n con ngu+.a, tuo^?i Canh Ngo., mang gio`ng ma'u giang ho^`, cha.y me^.t que^n tho^i, ne^n to^i ddi dda^y, ddi ddo', tu+` ho^`i lu+u la.c xu+' ngu+o+`i co' ddi A^u, A', ma` xu+' Co+` Hoa sa't be^n la.i chu+a co' di.p ddi . Ho^m nay co' Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng vie^'t ve^` Mo^.t La^`n Xuo^'ng Nu'i, da^~n mi`nh va` ddo^.c gia? ddi theo, (kho^ng to^'n xu na`o ddo' nhe), to^i mu+`ng vi` ye^n chi', o^m xa^'p ba?n tha?o le^n giu+o+`ng, dda^'p me^`n ngay nga('n, sung su+o+'ng theo chu+n ba.n tre? na^`y ... xuo^'ng nu'i .

     To^i "nha^.p cuo^.c" vo+'i Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng lie^`n khi ddo.c nhu+~ng cuo^.c ho^.i ho.p ba.n be` trong mo^.t khung ca?nh tha^.t va(n nghe^., vo+'i nhu+~ng khuo^n ma(.t ma` to^i co' bie^'t te^n tuo^?i . Hu+ng co' lo^'i ke^? chuye^.n trung thu+.c, ke^? mo^.t le`o, kho^ng ca^`n giu~a go.t ma` sao nghe nhu+ co' a^m thanh trong trang sa'ch, co' hi`nh tu+o+.ng nha?y mu'a tru+o+'c ma(.t, vi' du. nhu+ trang 11, 12, Hu+ng vie^'t tro+n tuo^.t ma` ddo^.c gia? tu+o+?ng chu+`ng nhu+ co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i dde.p dda^'t Tha^`n Kinh duye^n da'ng la` Hoa`ng Ba('c ddu+'ng tru+o+'c Hu+ng dde^? cha^'t va^'n ... va` ca^.u ta ddang mi~m cu+o+`i ... duye^n dde^? vu+`a pha^n tra^`n, vu+`a ga-la(ng, ni.nh dda^`m:

     - "Ta.i vi` to^i chu+a bie^'t chi. ne^n chu+a da'm nha('c dde^'n chi. tho^i, so+. chi. phie^`n ba^'t tu+? ..." Bie^'t dda^u sau khi ddo.c ba`i na`y la.i co' ngu+o+`i cha(?ng khie^'u na.i to^i ra(`ng "khi ra(ng ma` kho^ng be^nh ma^'y o "lo+'p lo+'p phu` sa" cu?a mi`nh, ai la.i du+.a ho+i ma^'y mu. no'i gio.ng cay xe` nhu+ bu'n bo` ..., ca^u na`o ca^u na^'y cu+' "un point final" ba(`ng ... "nha', nha' ." Tha^'y chu+a chi. Hoa`ng Ba('c, la^`n sau chi. la`m o+n ddu+`ng co' ke^ tui nu+~a nha' . Nhu+ng thu+.c su+. to^i nha' chi. Hoa`ng Ba('c o+? mo^.t cho^~ kha'c tuye^.t vo+`i ho+n . So^' la` to^i ke^`, sa't qua' tha`nh ho^n, tai chi. va` ra^'t thie^.t ti`nh ho?i "co' pha?i chi. sinh na(m 1942 ho^n ?", chi. nhu+ ddi guo^'c trong bu.ng to^i ho?i la.i lie^`n "bo^. tui khai gian ha? ?" Cho to+'i ba^y gio+` to^i kho^ng bie^'t pha?i khen chi. Hoa`ng Ba('c giu+~a dde.p vo+'i tre? ca'i na`o tru+o+'c ha` . Ma` tho^i, to^i so+. ba` con hie^?u la^`m "chi. chi. em em" (ta.i tuo^?i to^i nho? ho+n ba? tho^i nghen) no'i ma~i "tha`nh ca` rem nu+o+'c du+`a" ...

     Cu+' ddo.c ddoa.n tre^n, ddo^.c gia? se~ hi`nh dung mo^.t Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng le'm li?nh tru+o+'c mo^.t nha` va(n nu+~ mie^`n Trung kha? a'i, duye^n da'ng, xinh xinh .

     Co`n gi` vui ho+n khi bie^'t "La`ng Va(n" co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i dde.p nhu+ va^.y . Ma` kho^ng pha?i mo^.t ngu+o+`i, chu'ng ta cu+' theo chuye^'n ha`nh hu+o+ng dda^`u ddo+`i (lo+`i ta'c gia?, trang 19) dde^? co`n tha^'y the^m nhie^`u ba.n hie^`n nu+~a .

     To^i co`n ddang ao u+o+'c la`m sao ddu+o+.c ddi thie^.t, ba(`ng xu+o+ng, ba(`ng thi.t, kho^ng pha?i theo cha^n tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng nhu+ va^`y thi` tay do+? dde^'n trang "Va(n Minh Mie^.t Vu+o+`n" dde^? ddu+o+.c Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng ke^? la.i My~ Tho, Go` Co^ng cu?a Hu+ng, kho^ng co' mie^.t Long Ho^` cu?a to^i . DDu'ng ra be^n Ca'i Be`, Cai La^.y, Be^'n Tranh, Cho+. Ga.o cu?a My~ Tho co' nhie^`u vu+o+`n ho+n Long Ho^`, Vu~ng Lie^m xu+' Va~ng cu?a to^i, nhu+ng ta'c gia? coi mi`nh o+? Mie^.t Ruo^.ng la` khie^m nhu+o+`ng cha(ng ?

     Kho^ng sao, Mie^.t Vu+o+`n, Ruo^.ng gi` cu~ng ddu+o+.c . Vi` Hu+ng dda~ ddu+a ddo^.c gia? va`o cuo^.c gia?i thi'ch ma^'y chu+~ Va(n Minh Mie^.t Vu+o+`n, va` dda^'y la` ba`i no'i chuye^.n ta.i tru+o+`ng DDa.i ho.c George Mason, thu? ddo^ Hoa Thi.nh DDo^'n, va`o nga`y 25-06-1989, cu?a anh .

     Ma^'y tha'ng vu+`a qua, nha` xua^'t ba?n Phu` Sa do nha` va(n Nguye^~n va(n Ba chu? tru+o+ng, dda~ ta^.p ho.p va` xua^'t ba?n 2 cuo^'n TUYE^?N TA^.P NHU+~NG CA^Y VIE^'T MIE^`N NAM dda~ la`m va(n gio+'i co' lo+`i di. nghi.: "Cha`! Co' mu`i ddi.a phu+o+ng ro^`i dda^y!"

     Gio+` dda^y, ddo.c ba`i no'i chuye^.n cu?a Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng mo+'i tha^'y nha` va(n ha?i qua^n na^`y "chi.u gia?i thi'ch" va` co' ly' . Co`n ddo^'i vo+'i ngu+o+`i mie^`n Nam, so+? di~ co' su+. ra^`m ro^. va'c bu't xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng la` ta.i vi` dda^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n trong li.ch su+?, da^n Nam ta mo+'i "ddu+o+.c" ne^'m mu`i bo? xu+' ra ddi . Da'm no'i ne^'u kho^ng co' cuo^.c dda.i loa.n, ddo^?i ddo+`i thi` trong va(n ho.c Vie^.t Nam se~ kho^ng co' nhu+~ng a'ng va(n chu+o+ng, bie^'t dda^u sau na`y se~ tro+? tha`nh ba^'t hu?, cho que^ hu+o+ng mie^`n Nam ddu+o+.c vie^'t le^n tu+` ha?i ngoa.i (trang 139) .

     To^i nho+' co' di.p ddu+o+.c ddo.c tho+ cu?a mo^.t va(n hu+~u lo+'n tuo^?i cu~ng co' no'i:

     - Tho+`i gian sau na^`y (co' nghi~a la` sau khi chu'ng ta bo? xu+' ra ddi) co' nhie^`u ca^y vie^'t go^'c mie^`n Nam no^?i le^n qua' . Vi` ca'c anh mo+'i la^`n dda^`u tie^n bo? no+i cho^n nhau ca('t ru'n, ta^m tra.ng co`n co^ ddo.ng hi`nh a?nh tha^n thu+o+ng, nhu+~ng ky? nie^.m vu+`a dde^? la.i sau lu+ng, ne^n ca^`m vie^'t le^n la` vie^'t ddu+o+.c ngay de^~ da`ng nhu+~ng su+. vie^.c co`n mo+'i ra`ng ra`ng chu+a phai trong ky' u+'c ...

     DDu'ng la('m . To^i chi.u ca'c la^.p lua^.n na`y . Vi` cu+' suy nghi~ theo ba?n tha^n cu?a to^i, lu'c co`n nho?, tu+` na(m 1940, dda~ bie^'t ddo.c va(n cu?a Truye^`n Ba', Hoa Mai, Sa'ch Ho^`ng ro^`i leo sang Pho^? Tho^ng ba'n nguye^.t san, Tie^?u Thuye^'t Thu+' Ba?y ... cu?a ca'c va(n si~ mie^`n Ba('c . To^i co`n thuo^.c lo`ng ba?ng Mu.c lu.c cu?a Pho^? Tho^ng: Ai le^n xu+' Ca't, Ngu+.a dda~ thua^`n ro^`i, mo+`i nga`i le^n v .v . To^i ddo.c va` dda~ hie^?u ro~ va(n phong mie^`n Ba('c dde^? khi co' mo^.t chu't "lo+.n co+.n" na`o kho^ng hie^?u, la.i ho?i chi. to^i, co^ ga'i Nam ra(.c ro`ng . Lu'c ddo' to^i kho^ng nghe ai ba`n dde^'n va(n phong mie^`n Nam hay Trung, Ba('c gi` ca?, chi? bie^'t la` sa'ch ba'o do ca'c nha` va(n lo+'n: Le^ va(n Tru+o+ng, Tchya, Ngo.c Giao, Nguye^~n Trie^.u Lua^.t, Ngo^ Ta^'t To^' ... cu~ng hay, cu~ng de^~ hie^?u nhu+ Ho^` Bie^?u Cha'nh, Phu' DDu+'c ...

     Ai ai chu'ng to^i dde^`u ha(m mo^., ki.p dde^'n Hie^.p ddi.nh Gene`ve 1954, to^i ddu+o+.c ha^n ha.nh quen bie^'t the^m ca'c cu. La~ng Nha^n Phu`ng Ta^'t DDa('c, Vo~ DDu+'c Die^n, ca'c o^ng Nguye^~n Doa~n Vu+o+.ng, ca'c anh Le^ va(n Sie^u, Vu~ Ba(`ng v .v . dde^? ddu+o+.c ddo.c va` tha^'m thi'a no^~i sa^`u ly hu+o+ng cu?a ca'c anh lu'c ddo' .

     Lu'c ba^'y gio+`, nhu+~ng ba.n cu`ng trang lu+'a tuo^?i to^i, cha('c xu'c ddo^.ng nhie^`u vo+'i ca'c va(n nha^n, ky' gia?, thi si~, nha.c si~ mie^`n Ba('c ... ca'c anh ddang nha('c nho+? vu`ng tro+`i tho+ a^'u tha^n thu+o+ng cu?a mi`nh trong ca'c ky' su+., ho^`i ky', chuye^.n nga('n, ca khu'c ... dde^? cho chu'ng to^i, nhu+~ng ba.n tre? ngu+o+`i Nam bie^'t va` thu+o+ng me^'n the^m nhu+~ng dde^`n dda`i, nu'i non, so^ng ngo`i xu+' Tha(ng Long, dde^? ca?m tha^'y thoang thoa?ng mu`i hoa su+~a (da^`u chu+a tha^'y bao gio+`) dde^? ca?m bie^'t trong tu+o+?ng tu+o+.ng the^' na`o la` gio' heo may, ma` trong Nam chi? co' gio' chu+o+'ng, gio' ba^'c ...

     Ta.i sao nhu+~ng ba`i ddo' co' su+'c hu't nhu+ va^.y ? Bo+?i vi` ca'c va(n nghe^. si~ ddo' vu+`a "bu+o+'c ra kho?i" ca'i no^i dda^`y ky? nie^.m tha^n ye^u cu?a mi`nh - Ta^m tra.ng co`n mo+'i nguye^n thi` lo+`i va(n, tie^'ng nha.c cha('c cha('n co`n ddu+o+.m no^`ng ti`nh que^ hu+o+ng . Ca'c anh cho+` tro+? la.i (theo lo+`i Hie^.p ddi.nh Gene`ve: 2 na(m se~ co' To^?ng tuye^?n cu+?) ma` pha?i cho+` ... cho+` hoa`i ... dde^'n 10, 15 na(m sau ... lu'c ddo' chu'ng ta he^'t co`n tha^'y ba`i na`o ke^? la.i que^ Ba('c nu+~a, cho da^`u la` Vu~ Ba(`ng vie^'t ve^` Mie^'ng Ngon Ha` No^.i va^~n co`n ddo', anh dda~ he^'t hu+'ng dde^? vie^'t ve^` Ha` No^.i, ma` dda`nh vie^'t ... chuye^.n trong Nam .

     Ca'c nha` va(n ngu+o+`i Nam, tru+o+'c hay sau di cu+ 1954, vie^'t va(n, vie^'t ba'o va^~n xa`i gio.ng va(n chung chung, nghi~a la` kho^ng ra(.c gio.ng Nam bo^., chi? tru+` Ho^` Bie^?u Cha'nh vo+'i nhie^`u tie^?u thuye^'t: Vi` nghi~a vi` ti`nh, Cha con nghi~a na(.ng v .v. Phu' DDu+'c vo+'i Cha^u ve^` hie^.p pho^', mo^.t nha` va(n la~o tha`nh (to^i que^n te^n) vo+'i chuye^.n Vo~ ddo^ng so+-Ba.ch thu ha` v .v . ro^`i ke^' dde^'n Nam DDi`nh Nguye^~n The^' Phu+o+ng, Bi`nh Nguye^n Lo^.c, So+n Nam, Le^ Xuye^n ... sao ho. kho^ng bi. a?nh hu+o+?ng, dde^? dde^'n sang dda^y mo+'i co' nho'm ngu+o+`i go^'c mie^`n Nam vie^'t vo+'i va(n phong mie^`n Nam ?

     Cu+' xin ddan cu+? ve^` to^i (xin ddu+`ng ra^`y to^i qua' chu? quan) . Tu+` lu'c va`o "a(n co+m nhu+.t tri`nh" na(m 1952, ro^`i na(m 1955 quen ca'c ky' gia? Ba('c, Trung, Nam trong nha` ba'o, to^i co' sa(~n trang ba'o trong tay sao kho^ng vie^'t ? ma` pha?i ddo+.i sang dda^y mo+'i ... ca^`m bu't le^n ? va` khi vie^'t la.i vie^'t vo+'i gio.ng dda(.c se^.t mie^.t vu+o+`n ?

     Nhu+ dda~ tri`nh ba`y o+? tre^n, to^i cu~ng gio^'ng nhu+ anh Le^ va(n Sie^u, Vu~ Ba(`ng ... lu'c 1954 . To^i bo? ruo^.ng vu+o+`n, mo^` ma? o^ng ba`, sang dda^y ... nho+' qua', la^`n dda^`u trong ddo+`i ma` .

     Kha'c ho+n ca'c anh di cu+ 1954 tu+` mie^`n Ba('c vo^ Nam ro^`i nay la.i bo? xu+' - Ca'i xu+' sau na`y chi? la` ta.m bo+., i't co' ky? nie^.m nhu+ no+i cho^n nhau ca('t ru'n . Chu'ng to^i nho+' thi` pha?i tho^'t le^n, kho^ng ba(`ng lo+`i, thi` ba(`ng lo+`i va(n mo^.c ma.c dde^? ke^? chuye^.n que^ mi`nh, no+i co' vu+o+`n, co' ruo^.ng, co' a^m thanh, co' tie^'ng no'i cu?a no+i ddo' (pha?i kho^ng Hu+ng ?) . Tu+` ddo', da^`u co' muo^'n vie^'t theo lo^'i va(n dda~ tha^'m trong dda^`u tu+` la^u, cu~ng kho^ng the^? na`o vie^'t ca^u:

     - Ne`, tha(`ng tu+ The.o dda^u ro^`i . In nhu+ co' tra'i du+`a ru.ng sau he` . Tao nghe no' ro+'t ca'i bi.ch . Cha.y ra lu+o+.m vo^ nghen .

     Cha(?ng le~ vo+'i lo+`i ba` me. que^ Nam, ma` vie^'t:

     - Tu+ The.o dda^u ro^`i . Du+o+`ng nhu+ co' qua? du+`a ro+i dda'nh xa.t sau vu+o+`n dda^'y . Ma`y ra nha(.t va`o nhe' .

     Ma` dda^u pha?i chi? co' ca'c ca^y vie^'t mie^`n Nam qua dda^y mo+'i nho+' que^, mo+'i vie^'t . Anh chi. em mie^`n Trung nu+~a cho+', na`o la` Vo~ DDi`nh vo+'i Ma^'y mo'n Te^'t ma(.n ma`, mo^.t Tu'y Ho^`ng vo+'i Ha.t ga.o Huye^`n Tra^n, hoa(.c mo^.t Huye^`n Cha^u vo+'i Mu`a Xua^n tre^n Go` Bo^`i ... (trang 139) .

     To^i xin ma.n phe'p no'i lan man ho+i nhie^`u dde^? go'p the^m y' va`o cha(.ng ha`nh tri`nh thu+' hai cu?a "cha`ng ." Ba^y gio+` mo+`i ca'c ba.n nha?y pho'ng theo ta'c gia? dde^'n tie^?u bang New Jersey . Ha~y cha.y mau mo+'i ki.p vi` anh ha?i qua^n na`y la'i xe ... a^?u la('m, ma(.c cho ca'c co^ ga'i My~ o+? dda^'y bo'p ke`n inh o?i, cu+' la'i phom phom nhu+ lo+`i va(n tuo^n cha?y nhe. nha`ng tre^n gia^'y .

     Nho+` ta'c gia? da^~n ddo^.c gia? ddi tu+` trang 29 dde^'n trang 41 dde^? ti`m ba('t ma.ch o^ng lang ta^y Le^ va(n La^n ma` mi`nh bie^'t the^m tie^?u bang My~ nhie^`u dde`n xanh dde`n ddo?, xa lo^. lo+'n xa lo^. nho? ...

     Kho^ng bie^'t nhu+~ng trang cu?a cha(.ng thu+' ba, No'i chuye^.n vo+'i dda`n em, Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng co' tha^'y ha~nh die^.n la` ddu+o+.c quen bie^'t nhie^`u ca'c va(n nghe^. si~ Vie^.t Nam ta.i xu+' ngu+o+`i cha(ng, cho+' to^i va` ba.n ddo.c thi'ch vo^ cu`ng, vi` o+? cha(.ng na`y, ddu+o+.c bie^'t ra^'t nhie^`u va(n nghe^. si~ tha`nh danh tre^n va(n dda`n ma` tu+` la^u mi`nh nghe tie^'ng .

     Ha~y ddo.c cha^`m cha^.m mo+'i tha^'y Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng "gio?i thie^.t ." Anh khai toe.t ta'c pha^?m na`o cu?a ai, no^.i dung hay ho, phong phu' ra sao ? Ha~y theo ta'c gia? va`o ddoa.n ddu+o+`ng na`y dde^? tha^'y mie^.t vu+o+`n My~ Tho sum sue^ va(n nghe^. si~ cu~ng nhu+ du+`a xie^m Be^'n Tre, cam ngo.t Ca'i Be` ... Ma` sao la.i co' nhie^`u nu+~ gio+'i qua' ? Mo^~i ngu+o+`i mo^~i ve? mu+o+`i pha^n ve.n ... mu+o+`i mo^.t (lo+`i ta'c gia?) .

     Gi` cho+' nha` va(n nu+~ cu?a Mie^.t Vu+o+`n ma` Hu+ng ke^? no+i chu+o+ng na^`y vu+`a dde.p la.i vu+`a gio?i ma` ... du+~ (trong va(n chu+o+ng) dde^? co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i me^'n mo^. va` tro^`ng ca^y si:

     Thie^n ha. mu+o+`i phu+o+ng dda~ nga^'t ngu+,
     Ke? mong tha`nh ca', ke? tha`nh su+ .
     Te^n bay mo^.t pha't, chim ba^`y ro+'t,
     Khoa'i chi' chu+a te^`, bo+' tie^?u thu+ .

     (tho+ Cung Vu~)

     Pha?i thu' thie^.t, to^i ddo.c chu+o+ng na^`y to+'i hai la^`n mo+'i qua chu+o+ng ke^' va` to^i tin la` ddo^.c gia? khi ddo.c dde^'n dda^y cu~ng se~ nhu+ to^i . Ta'c gia? ke^? ta'c pha^?m cu~ng nhu+ ta^m ta'nh con ngu+o+`i cu?a nhie^`u ca^y vie^'t mie^`n Nam dda`n em (lo+`i ta'c gia?) nam cu~ng nhu+ nu+~, minh ba.ch, ro~ ra`ng theo kha? na(ng tu+`ng ngu+o+`i ... va^.y ma` khi ddo.c xong, cu+' pha?i mo+ ma`ng nghi~ to+'i "bo^'n con chuo^.t du+`a" cu?a Be^'n Tre va` "mu'i bu+o+?i" Bie^n Ho`a ?

     DDu'ng la` va(n vo~ song toa`n nhu+ Hu+ng dda~ "da'm" ghi va`o cha(.ng 5 . Anh cha`ng thu?y thu? bo^.c tru+.c nga`y xu+a chi? bie^'t co' hoa bie^?n va` so'ng cuo^.n ba.c dda^`u, tha^'y sao no'i va^.y, va^.y ma` gio+` dda^y nha?y to.t va`o va(n gio+'i dde^? ... dde? ra ta'c pha^?m va(n chu+o+ng . Chu'ng ta ha?y theo ha`nh tri`nh cu?a nha` vo~ na^`y khi muo^'n ma(.c the^m a'o nha` va(n dde^? tha^'y ta^m tra.ng no^n nao cu?a ngu+o+`i ham "thai nghe'n va(n nghe^. ."

     Co' mang thai thi` pha?i co' sanh, ro^`i na`o la` ke^u Tha^`y, ru+o+'c Mu., ky' te^n va`o khai sanh v .v ... bao nhie^u ta^m tu+ lo la('ng cho ddu+'a con cu?a mi`nh ... Ho+?i ba.n ddo.c! ba.n ddang muo^'n tha`nh va(n si~ co' ta'c pha^?m ra ma('t ba`ng da^n thie^n ha. ? Ha~y theo Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng o+? cha(.ng na^`y dde^? ... ru't kinh nghie^.m . Ba?o dda?m kho^ng kho^ khan dda^u, ha~y ddo.c mo+'i tha^'y ca'i lo cu?a ngu+o+`i cha khi ddu+'a con tinh tha^`n chu+a ra ddo+`i, kho^ng bie^'t ma(.t mu~i ra la`m sao ma` va^~n cu+' tha^'y ddo+`i dda'ng ye^u qua' chu+`ng (trang 86) .

     Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng co' ca'i duye^n nhu+ va^.y ddo' la`m cho to^i cu+' tie^'c hu`i hu.i, ne^'u mo^.t con gia'p ve^` tru+o+'c, to^i cu~ng o+? tuo^?i Hu+ng ba^y gio+` ma` kho^ng bi. Co^.ng Sa?n la`m cho tha hu+o+ng, to^i co' ddu+o+.c die^~m phu'c nhu+ anh: quen nhie^`u ba.n nam nu+~ co' ta`i danh, co' duye^n, co' sa('c ? dde^? co' di.p vie^'t rie^ng mo^.t cuo^'n ve^` giao ti`nh giu+~a ma^'y ba` va` ta'c gia? ...

     Co`n ddang tie^'c re? nghi~ ngo+.i thi` tha^'y ta'c gia? pha^n tra^`n: Ti`m hie^?u ve^` ba?n sa('c va` cha^'t lie^.u cu?a ca'c nha` va(n nha` tho+ nu+~ thi` na^~m nay "ba` gia` tra^`u" dda~ ta('m ru+?a ky` co. sa.ch se~ he^'t tro+n tre^n ca'c ma(.t ba'o, thi` la`m sao "o^ng Tru`m" co' the^? bi' ma^.t tho` ba`n tay ngo.c tho.c ba`n tay va`ng va`o ddo', dda(.ng ma` mo` ma^~m so+` na('n the^m cho ddu+o+.c nu+~a dda^y ? (trang 96) .

     A`, te' ra chuye^.n vie^'t nhu+~ng "giai thoa.i ho^`ng" toa`n la` nhu+~ng nu+~ va(n, thi si~ (nhu+ ga'nh Phu.ng Ha?o na(m 1958, toa`n la` nu+~ ban), Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng co`n thua Phu` Lu+u tha'i tha'i mo^.t bu+o+'c, anh pha?i nha^.n la` kho^ng ta`i na`o vie^'t nhu+ ma'y theo kie^?u Ho^` Tru+o+`ng An, chi? ddo^i ba tha'ng ma` hoa`n ta^'t na(m ba?y tra(m trang nho? to ve^` ca'c nu+~ si~ ...

     Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng o+i la` Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng! To^i ddang muo^'n tra'ch anh cha`ng "Tru`m" na^`y cu+' loay hoay vo+'i dde^` ta`i va(n ho.c ma` ho^?ng da^~n ddo^.c gia? va` to^i "ddi," thi` dde^'n chu+o+ng Ta^y Du . Va^.y la` nhu+ ngu+o+`i ddang kha't ma` ga(.p nu+o+'c dda' chanh, to^i say su+a uo^'ng nhu+~ng do`ng chu+~ ta? ca?nh vu`ng dda^'t ddo? Arizona, Hu+ng da^~n chu'ng ta dde^'n o^'c dda?o DDa`o Hoa, nha` cu?a nu+~ ho.a si~ Thu Hu+o+ng vo+'i sa^n chim, vo+'i tie^'ng ho't trong hoa la', ro^`i sau ddo' ddi ve^` hu+o+'ng Grand Canyon, mo^.t trong nhu+~ng ky` quan the^' gio+'i (lo+`i ta'c gia?) .

     To^i kho^ng tri'ch da^~n he^'t ca'i hay, ca'i la. ... nhie^`u la('m, nhie^`u la('m, do Hu+ng ke^? no+i dda^y, ma` chi? mo+`i ca'c ba.n co' o'c say me^ phie^u lu+u la.i tro't mang ... kie^'p nghe`o, kho^ng tie^`n ddi du li.ch, cu+' theo "ke'" Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng o+? chu+o+ng na^`y .

     DDang rung ca?m vo+'i thie^n nhie^n mie^`n Trung xu+' Co+` Hoa thi` cho+.t dde^'n cha(.ng ddu+o+`ng no'i ve^` nhu+~ng ta'c pha^?m Mie^.t Vu+o+`n .

     Chu'ng ta dda~ nghe nhie^`u lo+`i khen, tie^'ng phe^ bi`nh ve^` tuye^?n ta^.p tre^n 6 tha'ng nay o+? kha('p no+i ro^`i . Nhu+ng ha~y nghe the^m lo+`i chi? da^~n cu?a Hu+ng o+? chu+o+ng na^`y ma` ti`m ddo.c nhu+~ng sa'ng ta'c va(n chu+o+ng ddo' dde^? tha^'y ti`nh ye^u que^ hu+o+ng pha?ng pha^'t the^? hie^.n qua mo^.t cuo^.c dda(.t tru'm ba('t lu+o+n o+? mo^.t la`ng ga^`n Ca'i Ra(ng, mo^.t chuye^'n qua' giang tre^n pha` Ra.ch Mie^~u, mo^.t la^`n la`m re^? o+? be^n nha` vo+., mo^.t con so'ng o+? ba~i bie^?n Vu~ng Ta`u, mo^.t tra'i ba^`n chua be^n co^`n Ro^`ng, mo^.t con ra('n vu' na`ng trong go^'c tre gia`, mo^.t tuo^`ng ha't bo^.i o+? La(ng O^ng Ba` Chie^?u, mo^.t ca(n nha` bo? la.i sau lu+ng, mo^.t co^ nhi vie^.n o+? Sa DDe'c, mo^.t ddu+'a em xa^'u so^' trong gia ddi`nh, mo^.t gia^'c mo+ tro+? tha`nh va(n si~, mo^.t ddo+`i la`m ba^`u ga'nh ca?i lu+o+ng, mo^.t ta^m ti`nh cu?a ba` me. gia` lo cho ddu+'a con ta^.t nguye^`n, mo^.t buo^?i ha'i cau hay mo^.t ma`n dda'nh dda'o ... (trang 139) .

     Cuo^'n sa'ch na`o he^~ co' ddoa.n da^~n nha^.p thi` pha?i co' ddoa.n ke^'t, to^i ddo.c ma?i mie^'t Nguye^~n Ta^'n Hu+ng theo ca'c cha(.ng ddu+o+`ng ma` lo`ng tha^'p tho?m so+. ... to+'i ddi'ch ro^`i cha(ng . Bo+?i vi` lo+`i va(n anh bi`nh di. nhu+ng dda^`y ddu? vui buo^`n, la.i co' ti' xi'u te^'u te^'u ne^n ddo.c kho^ng cha'n . DDoa.n ddu+o+`ng xuo^'ng nu'i cu?a anh cu+' cha.y phom phom kho^ng co' vie^n so?i, cu.c dda' na`o na(`m ca?n lo^'i . Sao ma` no' nhu+ con ta`u lu+o+'t tre^n so'ng e^m .

     Qua he^'t vu`ng dda^'t ddo? kho^ ca(`n, ddi da^`n dde^'n vu`ng Cali, no+i ma` cho^~ na`o cu~ng pho^' xa' ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, ba?ng hie^.u chu+~ Vie^.t, giao thie^.p vo+'i nhau ba(`ng tie^'ng me. dde? ... Su+o+'ng chu+a ? DDu+`ng da.i gi` mo+? mie^.ng no'i tie^'ng My~ ma` tha`nh nha` que^ (trang 141) .

     Nghe ma` the`m . Ne^'u co' la' me bay bay vai a'o thi` ngo+~ la` ddang ddi tre^n ddu+o+`ng Gia Long, na`o pha?i la` Bolsa, pha?i kho^ng Hu+ng ?

     O^ng Tru`m cu?a mo^.t thuo+? o+i! To^i say me^ theo lo+`i va(n cho+n cha^'t cu?a anh suo^'t nu+~a nga`y ro^`i ddo' . Nho+` anh, to^i va` ddo.c gia? bie^'t mu`i cu?a Las Vegas, thie^n ddu+o+`ng hay ddi.a ngu.c (?) ddi.a gio+'i, ddu+o+.c bie^'t dung nhan va` ta'c pha^?m ca'c va(n nghe^. si~ mie^`n Nam ddang so^'ng xa que^ hu+o+ng . Nho+` anh to^i mo+'i bie^'t xu+' du+`a Be^'n Tre co' 4 con chuo^.t xinh xinh . To^i cha('c ra(`ng 4 con chuo^.t bie^'t uo^'ng nu+o+'c du+`a na^`y pha?i la` Chuo^.t Ba.ch mao, ho^`ng nhi~, ma('t ddo? nhu+ cu+o+`m, de^~ thu+o+ng nhu+ va^.y, ai no+? ddem Ngu~ vi. hu+o+ng va` Ta`u vi. ye^?u u+o+'p va`o a(n cho uo^?ng .

     Va^.y dde^? ca'm o+n "o^ng Tru`m" "ha?i qua^n" "la'i xe xuo^'ng nu'i" na^`y, to^i lie^`n ngo^`i va`o ba`n dde^? vie^'t go+?i sang ... kho^ng pha?i lo+`i Tu+.a ma` chi? mo^.t ca^u: Mo^.t la^`n ddi la` bie^'t bao la^`n nhung nho+' ...

Calgary, tha'ng 5 na(m 1991
Pha.m Tha(ng

Ba`i Tru+o+'c Trang Chi'nh Ba`i Ke^' Tie^'p

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