Va`o tie^'t tro+`i tro+? la.nh cu?a mo^.t na(m na`o va` trong nga`y cu+o+'i cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n ... Ngay lu'c gia'p ma(.t to^i ta.i ha`nh lang da^~n dde^'n pho`ng da. vu~, bo^~ng du+ng o^ng Trie^.u dda(.t ddie^`u ho?i to^i mo^.t ca^u he^'t su+'c vo+' va^?n:

     - Mo^.t vu~ng nu+o+'c trong na(m ba?y do`ng nu+o+'c ddu.c ... Sao, ai ddu.c ai trong dda^y ca^.u ?

     Le~ di~ nhie^n to^i ho+i giu+.t mi`nh va` ra^'t nga.c nhie^n vo+'i ca^u ho?i ho+i thie^'u cha?ng vu+`ng ddo' . Nga.c nhie^n la` vi` la^u la('m ro^`i o^?ng va` to^i cha(?ng he^` ga(.p nhau, ca? na(m ho+n co' the^?, le~ ra o^?ng ne^n da`nh ca^u no'i dda^`u mo^i cho mo^.t su+. tha(m ho?i ve^` ca'i su+'c kho?e ca`ng lu'c ca`ng hao mo`n cu?a to^i mo+'i pha?i! Ai la.i ddi ca('n dda('ng chuye^.n ... kho^ng dda^u! Co`n giu+.t mi`nh la` ta.i vi` o^?ng dda~ vo^ ti`nh la^.p la.i mo^.t trong bo^'n ca^u ca dao ma` to^i dda~ du`ng la`m ke^'t lua^.n cho mo^.t truye^.n nga('n . Truye^.n Ngu+o+`i Ve^` Tu+` Co~i Che^'t dda(ng tre^n ta.p chi' Va(n . Vo+'i nhu+~ng ca^u:

     Mo^.t vu~ng nu+o+'c trong na(m ba?y do`ng nu+o+'c ddu.c
     Chi'n mu+o+`i ngu+o+`i tu.c kho^ng co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i thanh
     Bie^'t ai ta^m su+. nhu+ mi`nh
     Cho.n to+ the^u la^'y tu+o+.ng Bi`nh Nguye^n Qua^n .*

     To^i nho+' mang ma'ng la` dda~ ddo.c ddu+o+.c bo^'n ca^u na`y trong mo^.t ba`i ta^.p ddo.c na`o ddo', tu+` ho^`i co`n nho? . Va^.y ma` ma~i dde^'n ba bo^'n chu.c na(m sau mo+'i co' cho^~ xa`i . DDe^? no'i le^n ca'i te^. trang chung cu?a xa~ ho^.i ti. na.n be^n na`y . Thie^.t to^i kho^ng ngo+` ngo`i bu't cu?a mi`nh la.i co' ta'c du.ng ma.nh dde^'n la` nhu+ va^.y . Cu~ng da'm thay ddo^?i la^.p tru+o+`ng va` tu+ tu+o+?ng cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i kha'c cho+' cha(?ng pha?i cho+i! To^i ddi.nh tra? lo+`i o^ng Trie^.u ra(`ng: "Ai trong ai ddu.c thi` tu+. ngu+o+`i ddo' bie^'t la^'y, anh ho?i ca('c co+' dda`n em la`m chi cho the^m la('m chuye^.n ." Nhu+ng tho^i . To^i ho?i la.i:

     - Ma` ta.i la`m sao anh bie^'t ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng ca^u tho+ ddo' ?

     O^?ng cu+o+`i cu+o+`i, kho^ng tra? lo+`i tra? vo^'n gi` he^'t ...

     To^i bie^'t la` ca^u ho?i cu?a to^i co' ho+i thu+`a va` co' pha^`n ngo+' nga^?n . Nhu+ng, ti`nh thie^.t, to^i co' ly' do rie^ng ... So^' la` tru+o+'c dda^y, lu'c ta^.p te^~nh va`o nghe^`, to^i co' ddem khoe vo+'i mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n la`m cu`ng so+? ma^'y so^' ba'o co' ba`i cu?a mi`nh . Vo+'i nha~ y' mo+`i ddo.c, the^' tho^i . Kho^ng de` bi. anh ba.n tha(?ng thu+`ng cho bie^'t y' kie^'n, theo kie^?u ra^'t u+ la` "ma^'t go^'c": "Tho+`i buo^?i na`y ai o+? kho^ng dda^u ma` ddo.c sa'ch ba'o chu+~ Vie^.t nu+~a ."

     Tro+`i dda^'t! Kho^ng khuye^'n khi'ch mo^.t "ta`i na(ng" mo+'i no^?i thi` tho^i, ai la.i ddi nha^~n ta^m di`m sa^u xuo^'ng dda'y! Su+. kie^.n na`y co' the^? la`m to^i ti.t ngo`i luo^n! Ba('t dda^`u tu+` ddo' tro+? ve^` sau, he^'t da'm pho^? bie^'n chu+~ nghi~a va(n chu+o+ng cho nhu+~ng ke? ba`ng quang nu+~a . Ai thi'ch ddo.c cu+' dde^? ho. tu+. ti`m mua la^'y ma` ddo.c . Co^ng su+'c dda^u ma` mang dda`n ddi kha?y tai tra^u, to^i nghi~ va^.y .

     Ro^`i to^i tu+. ho?i, cha(?ng le~ mo.i ngu+o+`i xung quanh dda^y ba^y gio+` dda~ dde^? ta^m theo do~i ba'o chi' co`n tu+o+`ng ta^.n ho+n ca? to^i nu+~a hay sao ? Ne^'u ddu'ng nhu+ va^.y thi` la` ddie^`u ra^'t dda'ng mu+`ng cho su+. so^'ng co`n cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a ha?i ngoa.i! Nhu+ng, vi` co+' su+. na`o ma` co' su+. thay ddo^?i lo+'n lao trong co^.ng ddo^`ng cu?a to^i ?

     Kho^ng ti`m ra ddu+o+.c ca^u tra? lo+`i, to^i ngang nhie^n tie^'p tu.c cuo^.c vui . Trong dde^m ddo', dde^m ta^n ho^n ho^~n ho+.p Vie^.t-My~ dda^`u tie^n cu?a da^n ti. na.n trong vu`ng, so^' pha^`n to^i nhu+ ca' na(`m tre^n tho+'t ma` to^i kho^ng hay . To^i ti?nh bo+, tu+. nhie^n tro` chuye^.n cu`ng nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ti`m dde^'n vo+'i mi`nh va` thi?nh thoa?ng cu~ng di`u partner ra sa`n nha?y .

     To^i dda^u co' ngo+` la` co' mo^.t nho'm ngu+o+`i ddang a^m tha^`m ddu+a te^n tuo^?i to^i le^n cao ta^.n chi'n tu+`ng ma^y . Ba(`ng ca'ch bo? co^ng bo? cu?a, ddi photocopy ba`i vie^'t cu?a to^i va` pha't kho^ng cho ta^'t ca? mo.i ngu+o+`i . Nhu+ pha^n pho^'i mo^.t mo+' truye^`n ddo+n cho^'ng Co^.ng va^.y . No'i cho+', la`m gi` co' chuye^.n "qua?ng ca'o kho^ng co^ng," ho. ddang co^' ti`nh "ha. be^." to^i thi` ddu'ng ho+n . Ho. ddi.nh ru't thang! Bo+?i, ho. kho^ng pho^? bie^'n cho ba` con xo'm gie^`ng ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng gi` to^i vie^'t, ma` chi? ha.n che^' nhu+~ng ba`i, theo y' rie^ng cu?a ho., la` co' su+. "xu'c pha.m" dde^'n nhu+~ng tai to ma(.t lo+'n trong co^.ng ddo^`ng ma` tho^i . He`n chi, to^i tha^'y thie^n ha. la^`n la^`n do^`n ve^` mo^.t go'c . Xi` xa`o ba`n ta'n . Ba.n be` ddang ngo^`i chung ba`n vo+'i to^i, la^`n lu+o+.t ke? tru+o+'c ngu+o+`i sau, dde^`u bi. ri? tai mo'c no^'i ke'o ddi . Thi` ra trong dde^m ddo' tha^n pha^.n to^i la` cu`i hu?i, la` ke? tu+? thu` ma` to^i na`o co' bie^'t .

     Lu'c bie^'t ddu+o+.c mo+'i ta' ho?a tam tinh! Cu~ng may la` co`n co' mo^.t i't thu+o+ng ti`nh, sa(~n sa`ng la`m ddo^`ng minh, dda~ a^m tha^`m la(.ng le~ cho to^i hay mo.i vie^.c sau buo^?i tie^.c ta`n . Kho^ng ta' ho?a tam tinh sao ddu+o+.c khi to^i la` ke? ddu+'ng ngoa`i a'nh sa'ng, co`n ho. la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ddang nu'p trong bo'ng to^'i, ddang ti`m mo.i ca'ch dde^? tra? thu` ...

     - Tu.i no' nhu+ va^.y dda~ la` hie^`n . Kho^ng dde^'n no^~i ddem bu'a ri`u ra dde^? tra? lo+`i vo+'i ngo`i bu't nhu+ nhu+~ng no+i kha'c dda~ la`m . Ke^? cu~ng la` co' lo`ng to^'t .

     Tho^i thi` no+i dda^y cho to^i xin tha`nh tha^.t ca'm o+n nhu+~ng ca'i lo`ng to^'t ddo' va^.y .

     Pha`m la`m mo^.t ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't he^~ bie^'t vie^'t thi` pha?i bie^'t la'ch . Ta.i vi` ne^'u la'ch kho^ng khe'o thi` co' nga`y da'm va'c chie^'u ra to`a vi` to^.i co^ng khai ma. li. mo^.t ma(.t lo+'n ma(.t nho? na`o ddo' cho+' cha(?ng pha?i cho+i . Pha^`n to^i, to^i nghi~ mi`nh la'ch cu~ng dda^u co' dde^'n no^~i te^. la('m ma` ta.i sao la.i xa?y ra co+' su+. nhu+ va^`y ?

     No'i gi` thi` no'i, ke^? tu+` gio+` phu't ddo' to^i ca?m tha^'y bo+ vo+ la.c lo~ng . Ma^'t tie^u su+. an toa`n . So^'ng ma` cu~ng nhu+ ddi tro^'n, la^~n tra'nh ... ddo^`ng hu+o+ng . Tu+. mi`nh pha?i ta'ch ro+`i kho?i dda'm ddo^ng vi` cha(?ng bie^'t ai xem mi`nh la` ba.n, ai coi mi`nh la` thu` . Thu+? ho?i co' ai ma` kho^ng kho^? ta^m vo+'i ca'i ca?nh so^'ng co`n nhu+ va^.y ? Nhu+ng tho^i, ne^'u pha?i tho+`i the^' thi` the^' tho+`i pha?i the^' . To^i bo^~ng du+ng so+'m ti`m tha^'y ddu+o+.c ca'i ca?nh ta^.p ta`nh o+? a^?n cho to^i:

     Thu' tho^n o^?: ao nghie^n, ruo^.ng chu+~;
     Ma`u giang so+n: co+m su+?, a'o kinh .
     Pha ho`a hai chu+~ tro.c, thanh;
     DDo^?i ma`u lu+~ kha'ch, thay hi`nh ha`n nho**

     * * *

     Ba(~ng ddi mo^.t tho+`i gian kha' la^u . Mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i, ddu? dde^? cho to^i que^n ddi nhu+~ng cu' ddie^.n thoa.i qua^'y pha' nga`y dde^m . Muo^'n ngu? ye^n pha?i go+~ he^'t cho^'t ca('m . Mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i, ddu? dde^? cho to^i que^n ddi nhu+~ng bu+'c thu+ na(.c danh kho^ng chu+~ ky' ma` la^`n ho^`i to^i cu~ng bie^'t ro~ la` cu?a ai . Mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i, ddu? dde^? cho to^i que^n ddi ca'i khoa'i ca?m la^ng la^ng kho' ta? mo^~i khi to^i ti`m ra ddu+o+.c mo^.t ke? vo^ danh, a` kho^ng, ddu'ng ra la` mo^.t thu? pha.m . Mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i, ddu? dde^? cho to^i sanh ta^.t lo^.ng ngo^n . Ngu+o+`i xu+a thu+o+`ng no'i: "Ke? na`o khen ta la` ba.n ta, ke? na`o ni.nh ta la` thu` ta, va` ke? na`o che^ ta la` tha^`y ta ." Nhu+ng to^i buo^.c pha?i no'i the^m: "Co`n ke? na`o chu+?i ta thi` se~ kho^ng la` gi` cu?a ta ca? ." Va` mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i, ddu? dde^? cho "tie^'ng ta(m lu+`ng la^~y" cu?a to^i chi`m xuo^'ng tha^.t sa^u, ta^.n cu`ng trong lo`ng bie^?n la.nh ... Sau mo^.t tho+`i gian da`i nhu+ va^.y co' ngu+o+`i to+'i ddie^`u ddi`nh vo+'i to^i:

     - DDe^? no^'i la.i ti`nh xu+a, thie^n ha. dda(.t ddie^`u kie^.n vo+'i anh la` anh ne^n bo? nhu+~ng ba`i co' a?nh hu+o+?ng kho^ng to^'t vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i xung quanh dda^y . DDu+`ng in tha`nh sa'ch . Anh tha^'y sao ? Anh cu~ng ne^n nhu+o+.ng bo^. mo^.t chu't ddi cho+' . Anh no'i xa^'u ngu+o+`i ta ma` ngu+o+`i ta kho^ng la`m gi` anh he^'t kia ma` .

     Kho^ng la`m gi` to^i he^'t ? No'i xa^'u hay la` no'i tha^.t dda^y ? Ro~ ra`ng cho dde^'n ba^y gio+` to^i mo+'i tha('m thi'a ca'i ca^u: "Bie^'t ai ta^m su+. nhu+ mi`nh!" Xe't cho cu`ng, to^i chi? la`m nhie^.m vu. cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't ma` tho^i . To^i ghi la.i nhu+~ng gi` to^i dda~ so^'ng qua, tra?i qua, ma('t tha^'y tai nghe . To^i che'p la.i nhu+~ng gi` cuo^.c ddo+`i, la('m khi o^ tro.c, na`y dda~ mang la.i cho to^i . Nhu+~ng co+ ho^.i dda(.c bie^.t dda~ cho phe'p to^i quay cuo^`ng, ho^.i nha^.p va`o xa~ ho^.i chung quanh .

     No'i ca'ch kha'c, to^i muo^'n dde^? la.i trong ta'c pha^?m cu?a mi`nh nhu+~ng pha?n a?nh cu?a xa~ ho^.i va` tho+`i dda.i ma` to^i ddang so^'ng . Ma(.c du` lo^'i tri`nh ba`y die^~n dda.t cu?a to^i ddo^i khi kho^ng thoa't kho?i ca(.p ma('t chu? quan, nhu+ng cu~ng ne^n hie^?u ra(`ng chuye^.n ddo+`i cha(?ng i't thi` nhie^`u, kho^ng du+ng ai de^~ dda(.t ddie^`u cho ai . Hie^?n nhie^n vie^'t la` dda~ cha^'p nha^.n va` to^i hoa`n toa`n cha^'p nha^.n nhu+~ng ha^.u qua? xa?y ra do nhu+~ng gi` mi`nh vie^'t . Ma(.c du` ddo^i khi to^i chi? la`m pha^.n su+. cu?a mo^~i mo^.t ca'i ma'y ghi ddi nu+~a . To^i be`n ma.nh da.n tra? lo+`i vo+'i ngu+o+`i ddie^`u ddi`nh:

     - Anh pha?i bie^'t ne^'u dda(.t ddie^`u kie^.n nhu+ va^.y cha(?ng kha'c na`o ke^u to^i be? cong ngo`i bu't cu?a mi`nh . DDie^`u na`y nghe de^~ va^.y cho+' kho' la`m la('m anh bie^'t kho^ng ? Tha` la` to^i ma^'t xo'm gie^`ng ho+n la` ma^'t ca'i quye^`n ddu+o+.c vie^'t trong tu+. do . Nguye^~n Co^ng Hoan co' no'i: "Truye^.n la` bi.a, anh na`o bi.a gio?i anh ddo' hay ." Nhu+ng to^i xin no'i the^m: "La` ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't, anh na`o cu~ng gio?i bi.a he^'t, nhu+ng cha(?ng co' anh na`o da'm no'i la'o ca? ." Cho ne^n la`m mo^.t ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't, to^i kho^ng the^? na`o no'i ngu+o+.c la.i nhu+~ng gi` to^i ca?m nha^.n .

     - Nhu+ng ta.i sao anh ca?m nha^.n toa`n nhu+~ng ddie^`u xa^'u xa cu?a thie^n ha. kho^ng ma` cha(?ng tha^'y ddie^`u na`o to^'t la`nh he^'t va^.y ?

     Cu~ng la` mo^.t ca^u ho?i ra^'t chi' ly'! Tuy nhie^n, vo+'i mo^.t ta^'m lo`ng cao ca? ho+n mo^.t chu't to^i nghi~ ngu+o+`i ddo.c co' the^? se~ suy ra va` ca?m nha^.n nhu+~ng ca'i to^'t tu+` nhu+~ng ca'i xa^'u ma` to^i dda~ ddu+a ra . Chi? co' nhu+~ng ai "ddem bu.ng tie^?u nha^n ddo lo`ng qua^n tu+?" mo+'i tha^'y ca'i xa^'u ddo' chi? co' mo^.t ma(.t tho^i . Nhu+ng, bie^'t ra^'t kho' ma` gia?i ba`y vo+'i ngu+o+`i ddu+o+ng cuo^.c, to^i no'i:

     - A`, ca'i ddo' thi` tu`y ai hie^?u sao hie^?u . Trong ca'i xa^'u no' co' ca'i to^'t, va` ngu+o+.c la.i . Ca'i gia' tri. cu?a mo^.t ba`i vie^'t ddo^i khi la` o+? cho^~ ddo' .

     - Ta.i sao anh kho^ng chi~a mu~i du`i cu?a anh va`o ca'i dda'm Co^.ng sa?n dde^ tie^.n kia ki`a ? Nha(`m nho` gi` vo+'i nhu+~ng ke? vo^ danh tie^?u to^'t o+? dda^y ma` anh pha?i ma^'t co^ng ddu+a va`o truye^.n!

     Ro~ ra`ng la.i la` mo^.t y' kie^'n hay! Nhu+ng, la`m ddu+o+.c hay kho^ng thi` la` mo^.t chuye^.n kha'c . Va` to^i tu+. bie^'t to^i kho^ng co' ca'i kha? na(ng dde^? la`m nhu+~ng vie^.c cao ca? ddo' . To^i cu+' nghi~ thie^?n ca^.n ho+n, ne^'u co' ai ddo' lo+~ bi. (hay ddu+o+.c ?) to^i ddu+a va`o truye^.n thi` ngu+o+`i ddo' pha?i ca'm o+n to^i mo+'i pha?i cho+'! DDa^u ai de^~ gi` ddi va`o va(n ho.c su+? ma` kho^ng to^'n mo^.t gio.t mo^` ho^i hay mo^.t gio.t nu+o+'c ma('t dda^u ... To+'i dda^y, to^i ba('t dda^`u tha^'y cuo^.c ddie^`u ddi`nh dda~ tro+? tha`nh cuo^.c cha^'t va^'n thi` ddu'ng ho+n . To^i be`n ga.t ngang:

     - Anh cu~ng hie^?u ne^'u to^i vie^'t ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng gi` to^i muo^'n vie^'t, mo^.t ta'c pha^?m lo+'n cha(?ng ha.n, thi` to^i dda~ tha`nh nha` va(n lo+'n va` no^?i tie^'ng tu+` la^u ro^`i . DDa(`ng na`y to^i chi? vie^'t no^?i nhu+~ng gi` to^i tu+. xe't mi`nh co' kha? na(ng vie^'t to+'i ma` tho^i . Tha`nh thu+?, to^i la` mo^.t ca^y bu't ta^`m thu+o+`ng . Nhu+~ng ba`i vie^'t cu?a to^i cu~ng ra^'t ta^`m thu+o+`ng, ca'c anh kho^ng ca^`n pha?i dde^? y' to+'i ...

     * * *

     Ro^`i ba(~ng ddi mo^.t tho+`i gian kha' la^u, la^u qua' la^u, qua? nhie^n kho^ng ai the`m dde^? y' dde^'n to^i nu+~a . To^i ra^'t mu+`ng . Vi` to^i dda~ ti`m la.i ddu+o+.c su+. bi`nh an cho chi'nh to^i va` gia ddi`nh to^i .

     Cho dde^'n nay ca? chu.c ta'c pha^?m cu?a to^i dda~ ddu+o+.c hoa`n ta^'t va` tua^`n tu+. ra ddo+`i, le^n ddu+o+`ng dde^'n tay ddo^.c gia? bo^'n phu+o+ng . Mo^~i ta'c pha^?m dda~ mang mo^.t chu? dde^` rie^ng . Thu+' tu+. theo tho+`i gian sa'ng ta'c, dda.i kha'i co': Mo^.t DDo+`i DDe^? Ho.c, 1988, cho ddo+`i ho.c tro`, Mo^.t Thuo+? La`m "Tru`m", 1989, cho ddo+`i ti`nh ba'o, Mo^.t Chuye^'n Ra Kho+i, 1990, cho ddo+`i ha?i ho^`, Mo^.t Ky? Nie^.m DDe.p, 1991, cho ddo+`i la`m ba.n vo+'i ma'y ddie^.n toa'n, Mo^.t Thoa'ng Trong Mo+, 1991, cho ddo+`i mo+ mo^.ng cu`ng tho+, Mo^.t La^`n Xuo^'ng Nu'i, 1992, cho ddo+`i giao du, la`m ba.n vo+'i ba(`ng hu+~u cu?a to^i, Mo^.t No^~i Buo^`n Rie^ng, 1992, cho ddo+`i tha hu+o+ng, Mo^.t Ca?nh Hai Que^, 1993, cho ddo+`i ti. na.n, Mo^.t Tro+`i Mo^.t Bie^?n, 1994, cho ddo+`i sinh vie^n si~ quan ha?i qua^n, Mo^.t La^`n DDi, Anh Ye^u, 1995, cho ddo+`i ca nha.c, Mo^.t DDo+`i Mo?i Mo`n Tro^ng, 1996, cho ddo+`i ha't xu+o+'ng, Mo^.t Thoa'ng Trong Tho+, 1997, cho ddo+`i tho+ tha^?n, Mo^.t Thoa'ng Hu+~ng Ho+`, 1998, cho ddo+`i mo+ mo^.ng ... Va` ba^y gio+`, Mo^.T Phen La^.n DDa^.n cho ddo^i do`ng tu`y bu't, ky' su+. va(n ho.c . Ro^`i co`n nu+~a, Mo^.t Tho+`i Le^nh DDe^nh, tu+'c Mo^.t Tro+`i Mo^.t Bie^?n 2, cho ddo+`i o^m mo^.ng ha?i ho^`, Mo^.t A'ng Ma^y Tro^i, tu+'c Mo^.t Tro+`i Mo^.t Bie^?n 3, cho ddo+`i xa^?y nghe' tan dda`n, Mo^.t Gia^'c Mo+ Tie^n, cho ddo+`i ho.c sinh ti?nh le?, Mo^.t Nga`y DDe.p Tro+`i, tu+'c Mo^.t Gia^'c Mo+ Tie^n 2, cho ddo+`i sinh vie^n dda.i ho.c, Mo^.t Vo+. Mo^.t Cho^`ng, tu+'c Mo^.t Gia^'c Mo+ Tie^n 3, cho ddo+`i la`m tha^`y gia'o, Mo^.t Kie^'p No^?i Tro^i, tu+'c Mo^.t Gia^'c Mo+ Tie^n 4, cho ddo+`i ddo^.ng vie^n, nha^.p ngu~ to`ng chinh, Mo^.t DDo+`i Tie^'p No^'i, tu+'c Mo^.t Gia^'c Mo+ Tie^n 5, cho ddo+`i so^'ng chung vo+'i CS ...

     No'i cho ngay, ddo^. va`i tha'ng sau khi tri`nh la`ng, Mo^.t Thuo+? La`m "Tru`m" dda~ la`m to^i hoang mang ve^` ngo`i bu't cu?a mi`nh kho^ng i't . Vi` co' la('m ke? che^ cu~ng nhu+ co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i khen . Che^ la` dda.i kha'i ta.i sao kho^ng "to^'t khoe xa^'u che," ma` la.i ddi "va.ch lu+ng cho ngu+o+`i xem the.o ." Co`n khen thi` cu~ng la` "che^ ." Che^ vie^'t chu+a he^'t, chu+a ddu'ng mu+'c . Pha?i vie^'t nhie^`u ho+n nu+~a, pha?i va.ch tra^`n ro~ ra`ng va` chi tie^'t ho+n nu+~a . Nhie^`u ddie^`u "lo+'n lao" dda^u dda~ ddu+o+.c no'i to+'i dda^u . Tuy nhie^n, nhu+~ng lo+`i che^ hay khen dde^`u chi? gio+'i ha.n trong no^.i bo^. cu?a mo^.t so^' ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng ho^.i, ddo^`ng thuye^`n vo+'i to^i ma` tho^i .

     Kho^ng ba(`ng Mo^.t Ca?nh Hai Que^, dda~ the^m mo^.t la^`n nu+~a la`m to^i ddie^u ddu+'ng . Chi? ddie^u ddu+'ng tho^i cho+' tha^.t ra cu~ng kho^ng co' gi` ha~i hu`ng, dda'ng so+. la('m dda^u . Cha(?ng qua chi? la` chuye^.n cu~ do+? ra mo+'i! Va? la.i, to^i dda~ co' kinh nghie^.m chi.u ddu+.ng mo^.t la^`n o+? tho+`i gian tru+o+'c ro^`i .

     O+? ha?i ngoa.i, dda.i kha'i, The^' Uye^n co' Nha` va(n ca'c o^ng la` ddo^` nhie^~u su+. . Nguye^~n Mo^.ng Gia'c co' Lo+`i cuo^'i cho mo^.t bo^. tru+o+`ng thie^n . Va` le~ di~ nhie^n co`n nhie^`u ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't kha'c co' the^? co`n ga(.p nhie^`u thu+' du+~ da(`n ho+n nu+~a ma` co' le~ ho. kho^ng buo^`n vie^'t ra . Rie^ng to^i, thie^.t ti`nh to^i co' ... mo^.t phen la^.n dda^.n . Chi? kha'c vo+'i The^' Uye^n, Nguye^~n Mo^.ng Gia'c va` nhie^`u ngu+o+`i ca^`m bu't kha'c la` trong tru+o+`ng ho+.p cu?a to^i, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i coi to^i la` ... ke? thu` kho^ng pha?i o+? xa, ma` o+? sa't na'ch, ga^`n ke^` trong gang ta^'c . Thie^.t la` nguy hie^?m, dda'ng nga.i . Mo^.t ba`i ho.c dda'ng gia' cho to^i . Tuy nhie^n, to^i kho^ng muo^'n no'i ma~i ca'i ba^'t ha.nh cu?a mi`nh . Co`n pha?i dde^? ta^m ta^.n hu+o+?ng hu+o+ng vi. cuo^.c ddo+`i na`y nu+~a cho+' . To^i be`n ta.m ke^'t lua^.n suo^ng cho nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i trong cuo^.c, ra(`ng:

     Ai o+i cho+' nghi~ mi`nh he`n
     Nu+o+'c kia du` ddu.c lo'ng phe`n cu~ng trong .

     * * *

     La.i ba(~ng ddi mo^.t tho+`i gian kha' la^u nu+~a . Cho dde^'n mu`a la.nh na(m nay, to^i ddu+o+.c ha^n ha.nh vie^'t le^n nhu+~ng do`ng chu+~ na`y . Trong thanh bi`nh, thanh tha?n . Pha?i bie^'t, o^i, the^' na`o la` ca'i nhie^.m ma^`u cu?a tho+`i gian . No' huye^`n die^.u nhu+ nhu+~ng gio.t nu+o+'c cam lo^` tu+` bi`nh ba't tie^n va^.y . Ca'i kinh nghie^.m "ho+i ddau thu+o+ng" cu?a to^i, ca'i mo^.t phen la^.n dda^.n cu?a to^i, dda~ tro+? tha`nh dda^`u dde^` cho ta'c pha^?m thu+' ta'm . Tha`nh tha^.t ca'm o+n ddo+`i, ca'm o+n ngu+o+`i, nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i dda~ cho to^i co+ ho^.i . DDe^? vie^'t le^n ddo^i do`ng tu`y bu't ...

     ---------------------------------

     * Bi`nh Nguye^n Qua^n: Nga`y xu+a, vua nu+o+'c Trie^.u la` Trie^.u Vu~ Vu+o+ng lu'c ve^` gia` nhu+o+`ng ngo^i cho con la` Tha'i tu+? Ha` ro^`i le^n la`m Tha'i thu+o+.ng hoa`ng . Tha'i tu+? Ha` la` con cu?a Ma.nh Die^u thuo^.c do`ng thu+' ddu+o+.c la^.p le^n ngo^i la^'y hie^.u la` Trie^.u Hue^. Vu+o+ng . Trong mo^.t buo^?i ho.p ddo^ng ddu? ba' quan va(n vo~ trie^`u ddi`nh, Tha'i thu+o+.ng hoa`ng nha^.n tha^'y con do`ng lo+'n la` Tha'i tu+? Chu+o+ng nay la.i pha?i dde^ dda^`u tha^`n phu.c em mi`nh thi` la^'y la`m thu+o+ng xo't la('m . Sau buo^?i ho.p na`y, Tha'i thu+o+.ng hoa`ng ngo? y' vo+'i co^ng tu+? Tha('ng ddi.nh ca('t dda^'t DDa.i, phong cho An Vie^.t Qua^n tu+'c Tha'i tu+? Chu+o+ng le^n la`m vua, ngang ha`ng vo+'i Trie^.u Hue^. Vu+o+ng . Co^ng tu+? Tha('ng ca?n nga(n cho ra(`ng ngo^i thu+' nay dda~ ddi.nh pha^n ne^'u thay ddo^?i a('t co' loa.n . Tha'i tu+? Chu+o+ng bie^'t ddu+o+.c su+. ti`nh ddem lo`ng oa'n gia^.n, ca^'u ke^'t vo+'i gian tha^`n a^m mu+u gie^'t vua da`nh ngo^i nhu+ng tha^'t ba.i . Vi` co' co^ng tie^u die^.t be` lu~ pha?n loa.n cu?a Chu+o+ng ne^n Trie^.u Hue^. Vu+o+ng phong cho co^ng tu+? Tha('ng la`m Tu+o+'ng quo^'c . Va` phong dda^'t Bi`nh Nguye^n, cho ne^n ngu+o+`i ddo+`i thu+o+`ng go.i co^ng tu+? Tha('ng la` Bi`nh Nguye^n Qua^n . Cu~ng nhu+ Ma.nh Thu+o+`ng Qua^n be^n nu+o+'c Ye^n, Bi`nh Nguye^n Qua^n hay chie^u hie^`n dda~i si~, ha(`ng nga`y co' ha`ng nga`n thu+.c kha'ch o+? trong nha` .

     ** Tu+. Ti`nh Khu'c cu?a Cao Ba' Nha., ddoa.n ddem tha^n ddi tro^'n quan li'nh trie^`u ddi`nh cu?a vua Tu+. DDu+'c.

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

---