Cha`o quy' vi.,

Bu’t Va`ng ddu+o+.c la^.p ra vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch qua?ng ba' nhu+~ng ba`i vie^'t hay cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t ba(`ng ca? tie^'ng Vie^.t la^~n tie^'ng Anh. Ne^’u quy' vi. co’ tho+ va(n va` muo^’n dda(ng no+i dda^y, xin vui lo`ng vie^’t cho chu'ng to^i ve^` ddi.a chi? butvang@hotmail.com .
Ne^'u quy' vi. vie^'t ba(`ng song ngu+~ thi` ra^'t to^'t. Ne^'u kho^ng, chu'ng to^i se~ co' the^? di.ch ba`i vie^'t cu?a quy' vi. (ne^'u co' the^? ddu+o+.c).

Tho+ va(n ma` chu’ng to^i dda(ng pha?i co’ nhu+~ng y’ hu+o+’ng sau:

Cha^n
Thie^.n
My~

Trong tu+o+ng lai chu'ng to^i se~ pha't ha`nh ba'o tu+`ng tha'ng mo^.t du+o+'i da.ng html. Quy' vi. ne^'u muo^'n nha^.n ba'o theo ca'ch "attached file" trong ddie^.n thu+ thi` xin go+?i thu+ ve^` butvang@hotmail.com .

This website intends to publish and share noble and illustrious Vietnamese writings in both Vietnamse and English. If you have poems or other writings you would like to have published here, please contact me at butvang@hotmail.com . Please write in both languages, if possible. Otherwise, we might translate your writing(s).

Truth/honesty
Goodness
Beauty

We will soon distribute monthly this magazine in the form of an HTML file. If you want to receive a copy as an "attached file" in email, then please make this request to butvang@hotmail.com

Buùt Vaøng ñöôïc laäp ra vôùi muïc ñích quaûng baù nhöõng baøi vieát hay cuûa ngöôøi Vieät baèng caû tieáng Vieät laãn tieáng Anh. Neáu quyù vò coù thô vaên vaø muoán ñaêng nôi ñaây, xin vui loøng vieát cho chuùng toâi veà ñòa chæ butvang@hotmail.com .
Neáu quyù vò vieát baèng song ngöõ thì raát toát. Neáu khoâng, chuùng toâi seõ coù theå dòch baøi vieát cuûa quyù vò (neáu coù theå ñöôïc).

Trong töông lai chuùng toâi seõ phaùt haønh baùo töøng thaùng moät döôùi daïng html. Quyù vò neáu muoán nhaän baùo theo caùch "attached file" trong ñieän thö thì xin gôûi thö veà butvang@hotmail.com .

Caây Ñaøn Muoân Ñieäu

Theá Lö õ

To^i la` ngu+o+`i bo^. ha`nh phie^u la~ng,
DDu+o+`ng tra^`n gian xuo^i ngu+o+.c dde^? vui cho+i,
Ti`m ca?m gia'c hay trong tie^'ng kho'c ca^u cu+o+`i,
Trong phu't gian lao hay trong gio+` sung su+o+'ng,
Khi chie^'n dda^'u cu~ng nhu+ ho^`i mo+ tu+o+?ng,
To^i ye^u ddo+`i cu`ng vo+'i ca?nh la^`m than,
Ca?nh thu+o+ng ta^m, ghe^ go+'m hay di.u da`ng,
Ca?nh ru+.c ro+~, a'i a^n hay du+~ do^.i.
Anh du` ba?o ti'nh ti`nh to^i hay ddo^?i,
Kho^ng chuye^n ta^m, kho^ng chu? nghi~a, nhu+ng ca^`n chi,
To^i chi? la` mo^.t kha'ch ti`nh si,
Ham ve? dde.p du+o+'i muo^n hi`nh muo^n the^?.
Mu+o+.n la^'y bu't na`ng Ly Tao to^i ve~,
Va` mu+o+.n ca^y dda`n nga`n phi'm to^i ca.
Ve? dde.p u tra^`m dda('m dduo^'i hay nga^y tho+,
Cu~ng nhu+ ve? dde.p cao sie^u hu`ng tra'ng,
Cu?a non nu+o+'c cu?a thi va(n, tu+ tu+o+?ng,
Da'ng ye^u kie^`u tha thu+o+'t kha'ch giai nha^n,
A'nh tu+ng bu+`ng linh hoa.t na('ng chie^`u xua^n,
Ve? sa^`u muo^.n a^m tha^`m nga`y mu+a gio',
Ca?nh vi~ dda.i so'ng nghie^ng tro+`i tha'c nga`n ddo^?,
To^i dde^`u ye^u, dde^`u kie^'m, dde^`u say me^.
To^i sa(~n lo`ng ddau vi` tie^'ng ai bi,
Va` ca?m kha'i bo+?i nhu+~ng lo+`i ha(ng ha'i.
To^i ngo+.i ca vo+'i tie^'ng lo`ng pha^'n kho+?i,
To^i tho+? than cu`ng thie^'u nu+~ ba^ng khua^ng,
To^i ve'o von theo tie^'ng sa'o lu+ng chu+`ng,
To^i ye^n u?i vo+'i tie^'ng chuo^ng huye^`n die^.u,
Vo+'i na`ng tho+ to^i co' dda`n muo^n ddie^.u,
Vo+'i na`ng tho+ to^i co' bu't muo^n ma`u.
To^i muo^'n la`m nha` nghe^. si~ nhie^.m ma`u,
La^'y thanh sa('c tra^`n gian la`m ta`i lie^.u

The^' Lu+~

Göûi Höông Cho Gioù

Bieát bao hoa ñeïp trong röøng thaúm
Ñem göûi höông cho gioù phuï phaøng!
Maát moät ñôøi thôm trong keõ nuùi
Khoâng ngöôøi du töû ñeán nhaèm hang!

Hoa ngôõ ñem höông gôûi gioù chieàu
Laø truyeàn tin thaém goïi tình yeâu.
Song le hoa ñôïi caøng theâm tuûi
Gioù maëc hoàn höông nhaït vôùi chieàu.

Taûn maùc phöông ngaøn laïc gioù caâm
Döôùi röøng höông ñeïp chaúng tri aâm;
Treân röøng hoa ñeïp rôi treân ñaù
Laëng leõ hoaøng hoân phuû böôùc thaàm.

Tình yeâu muoân thuôû vaãn laø höông,
Bieát maáy loøng thôm môû giöõa ñöôøng
Ñaõ maát tình yeâu trong gioù ruûi
Khoâng ngöôøi thaáu roõ ñeán nguoàn thöông!

Thieân haï voâ tình nhaän öôùc mô
Nhaän roài khoâng hieåu moäng vaø thô ...
Ngöôøi si muoân kieáp laø hoa nuùi
Uoáng nhuïy loøng töôi taêng khaùch hôø.

Xuaân Dieäu

So many beautiful flowers in the forest
Gives away their perfume to the wind!
Losing a fragrant life in a mountain crack
And no traveler passes by and sees!

Xuan Dieu

Xua^n Die^.u

Nhöõng ngaøy töôi aám

Va`i do`ng ve^` ta’c gia?:

Ba’c Si~ Nguye^~n Tu*o*`ng Ba’ch la` em ruo^.t cu?a Va(n Ha`o Nha^’t Linh. Vi` o^ng tham gia Vie^.t Nam Quo^’c Da^n DDa?ng ne^n bi. nhu*~ng ngu*o*`i Co^.ng Sa?n trong Vie^.t Minh lu`ng ba(‘t ha~m ha.i khie^’n o^ng pha?i lu*u vong be^n Trung Hoa sau na`y mo*’i sang ddu*o*.c My~. O^ng dda~ ha`nh nghe^` Ba’c Si~ be^n Trung Hoa trong khoa?ng tho*`i gian lu*u vong na`y. Hie^.n nay o^ng dda~ ngoa`i 80 tuo^?i va` va^~n lu*u ta^m to*’i va^’n dde^` Nha^n Quye^`n cho ddo^`ng ba`o hie^.n ddang so^’ng ta.i Vie^.t Nam. Ba`i na`y no’i le^n ly’ tu*o*?ng cu?a o^ng trong tho*`i nie^n thie^’u.

Excerpted from the novel "On The Raging Hong River", part 1, chapter 7, Vien Tuong.

Note: Year 1932: The revolution wave was dying down. Chuong dropped out of the Buo?i school to return home, the town of Le Giang with his mother, his sister - Thi, and his cousin - Nhan. In April, a friend of Mrs. Han Thao brought her three children, Quang - a young man, and Trinh, Tram, two young women, to go visiting them.

At important occasions like this, Mrs. Ky would allow the kerosene lamp to be lit up. The bright white light made the living room become more cheerful. Everybody sat around the lamp after a day strolling in the fields.

From the kitchen in the backyard, Thi brought in a vaporing basket.

- "Oh, chestnuts, we have chestnuts to eat!" Trinh clapped her hands and announced happily. Indeed, during a slightly cold night, there is nothing better than to peel hot chestnut skins. That night, the chestnuts seemed to be quite delicious and sweet.

Chuong peeled a chestnut while reading his book. Suddenly, he recalled the winter nights on the streets of Hanoi. It had been so late into the night but one could still hear the high pitch soliciting calls from a young woman selling the chestnuts. At this quiet country place, Chuong suddenly felt he missed Hanoi so dearly. During the few years in the old capital, even though he was only a young student in his teens, many things had happened. Many of them were sweet, innocent memories, but some others had impacted upon his young mind strongly, making that student ponder the meaning of life. During this moment, he was still sitting here and read a book while chewing on the chestnuts, hearing joyful voices and laughters around. However, not very long later on, things might not and should not remain the same. This society was full of troubles and whirling winds, and whether he wanted or not, Chuong felt that he would be swept away, and would definitely have to face the things that he could not reconcile.

- "What book are you reading so intently? A novel?" Quang snapped the book from Chuong's hands. However, it was not a novel, but a boring Physics textbook. Quang disappointedly threw it aside.

- "This is not a novel, but I have to try to read it anyway!!" Chuong raise his hands up to explain. Actually, who would be excited to read textbooks such as Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, or even Literature and History.

Unexpectedly Tram picked up the book and looked interested.

- "Are you studying this subject?" Chuong asked.

- "Yes, but my level is much lower." As if drawing a sigh, Tram continued, "but I still feel that it's too difficult for me. I could not understand many parts. My teacher always thought that I was hard to teach..."

Quang said:

- "What is so difficult? You had a teacher and you still complain that it is too difficult? He studies it all by himself, see? By the way, if you find something difficult, just ask him to explain it to you, because I am clueless about everything related to Physics, Chemistry..."

- "You are lazy, not clueless" Mrs. Han intervened "Since we don't get many chances to meet one another, could Chuong to help her to learn? She is very slow." She looked at Tram affectionately. Chuong thought that even though without much skill, he would be obliged to accept this difficult task. Thus, until late into the night, the two of them still talked to each other with low voices about their lessons, while eating chestnuts, and that was a pleasant way to study....

That way, the young people quickly became close to one another like brothers and sisters. During the day, in order to leave Thi and Quang a chance to talk about their private matters, Trinh, Tram, Nhan and Chuong went together to visit the surrounding area. They took the short cut going all the way down to the train station, or they followed the path along the rice paddies, next to the small creek turning around the village's bamboo hedges. At other times, they sat under a large banyan tree, looking far away at the green mountains. Sometimes, they entered the downtown, ate rice flour cake and drank bottled lemonade at the roadside hut, or they passed by the market when there was a fair; it was crowded and noisy but everything still gave out an air of poverty, suffering for lives unchanged for several years. At the end of the town, near the Lotus River, a big house stood behind a tall gate between two gray enclosing walls. A green booted soldier stood guarding, next to the gate. Chuong walked by quietly, without looking up. Trinh, surprised, asked:

- "Chuong, what is this place? It looks impressive, right?"

Chuong did not aswer. Nhan quickly replied:

- "This is ... the district chief's mansion!"

- "No wonder there is a soldier guarding..."

- "What do you look at it for? Let's go quickly, we go to the Lotus River’s bank.

Chuong hastened others. Without saying it, Chuong did not want others to pay too much attention to a place that symbolized the proud officials, who only used their power to oppress simple folks but were subservient and humble before colonists. His aversion for the rich and the powerful, who lived in abundance everywhere, had been embedded in his mind since an unknown time. Sometimes, facing with many questions from Tram, Chuong did not know how to answer. However, before her trusting eyes, he still had to make an effort to think and to read more books. It was good that what they wanted to discuss the most was not science, but literature. Tram was younger, but she had read many publications in both Vietnamese and French.

- "In French literary history, which time period do you think was the best?" Tram asked.

- "How about you?" Not having enough time to think, Chuong asked her back, and he was also curious to know her thoughts. "Definitely the 19th century, right?"

- "How do you know that?" Tram asked, looking at Chuong.

- "Is there any young girl who did not love the sentimental literature of the French's Romanticism? Who did not shed tears for Graziella of Lamartine, or for "The Falling Leaves" poem by Verlaine, or for Baudelaire?

- "I have only glanced over Larmartine's Graziella." Tram admitted. "And I have read very little of Hugo and Verlaine"

During that time, young people still wept with To Tam and Dam Thuy, with Mrs. Tuong Pho in "Giot Le Thu" (Autumn Tears), with Chuc Anh Dai, with Lam Dai Ngoc in "Hong Lau Mong", (Dreams in the Red Mansion). They even cried after reading "Wuthering Heights", or "Tuyet Hong Le Su". Those immortal tragedies would be told over and over again.

"So much tears for people in the past..." Tram sat still, looking out into the dark. The soft wind sailed softly through the branches. Chuong suddenly thought of the sensitive and emotional young women in the history. "Beautiful women, unlucky lives". Those four words rang in his ears like a complaint. "Is this a law for humankind?" He looked at Tram. Her face was beautiful and very young, full of life. But inside her still young eyes, there was already something like a worry. In a sudden, Chuong wondered about Tram's future life. Possibly she would be the same as Nhan, taken away from the insouciance of a young girl, and put into a life full of attachments and hardships, against the rightful will of a human. He felt something heavy in his chest, a feeling of helplessness for the fate of himself and of the people around him.

- "Tram, you seem to like literature a lot? I do too." Chuong broke the silence. "But now we have to study for the exams, with all these tedious subjects."

- "When we are done with our exams, we can read as many romantic writings as we want." Tram smiled gently at Chuong.

- "Romantic writings are wonderful. But I think that we still need some other kinds of writings now." Chuong suddenly said, and Tram was bewildered. She did not understand what those different kinds of writings were. Even Chuong himself did not understand clearly what they were. He only vaguely felt that the romantic, sentimental, soaking literature were too weak. In life, there was still much suffering, injustice, hopelessness that needed to be described, to be spoken about.

But Tram, she only felt that Chuong thought differently than other students of the same age.

The few holidays passed quickly. Tomorrow the new friends would have to return to Hanoi. Tonight Tram and Trinh were still reading the books at the same table with Chuong, but Tram was no longer talkative or asking many questions. Thi and Quang were still sitting together and whispering to each other, out in the patio, talking about what nobody knew, but the conversation seemed to be endless. Chuong did not say anything, but he was glad because his sister had found a friend whom she could trust.

The next morning, Trinh went to the kitchen to help prepare for a farewel meal. Since Tram no longer felt like reading, she asked Chuong to go fishing. The two friends turned around the bamboo hedges behind the house, to the pond, and found a place to sit at the foot of a fig tree with rough skin that bent down, nearly reaching the water. The soft rays of the sun snuck through the bamboo and shone off the
waving surface of the pond. Chuong attached the baits onto the two hooks, then the two friends sat looking at the bobbing floats, trying to enjoy some light-hearted moments... In front of them was the still, open field.

The discussion about romantic literature of the day before was still fresh in his mind. It seems that Chuong was still vaguely worried
about Tram.. "But we don’t have any relationship at all, Tram and me. It’s just a childhood friend who came to visit our house, ‘a meeting of duckweed and water’. Then each of us would go our own way... maybe we will never see each other again. Letting his thoughts wander to that point, Chuong started to laugh "How could I be so messy and sentimental?".

His laugh made Tram, who had been intently looking at the float, turn back her head and smile:

- "What was so strange that made you laugh?" Tram asked.

- "No, it was nothing. I was thinking about the many fishes I am about to catch for frying..." Chuong answered. But Tram already knew that Chuong was lying. She changed the subject, thinking that he was sentimental and funny, but cute.

- "Oh, when will you go to Hanoi to take the exam?"
- "This June, to take the first exam..."
- "If you could get the diploma, what would you do?" Tram asked with solicitude.
- "The exam isn't taken yet, how can I plan? Maybe I will fail". Chuong laughed and continued. "If I got lucky and passed the exam, I would probably find a paper- shuffling position, carrying an umbrella to work in the morning and carry it home in the evening."

Tram's intelligent eyes showed the doubts:

- "Is that true! You want a paper shuffling position?" Tram look straight into Chuong's eyes, thinking that he was lying again. "I know that you have some other plans!"
- "You can read people’s features? You even know what others plan to do!"
- "There is no need to know how to read people’s features! It’s enough just to read your diary." Tram answered. Now Chuong remembered that he gave his diary to Tram some days before. Chuong's face reddened, and he forgot about the bobbing float on the water. Tram tapped softly on Chuong's hand. A strange warmth flowed through all over his body, a new sensation that he experienced for the first time in his life, and that could only come to him now, after they've met for some days. Tram had to pick the fishing rod up for him. The float was pulled under water.
- "Maybe there is a fish, a big fish!" Tram called excitedly, her hand was still on Chuong's arm. Chuong hurriedly pulled the rod up, but at the end both of them were disappointed, because they only pulled up a reed. The two friends sat quietly next to each other. They did not know what to say and also had nothing to say. The sun went up high, over the top of the bamboo trees. Maybe the people inside the house have finished preparing for the meal. Tram softly pulled her hand back.
- "Well, let's go back inside the house." Chuong said, but he still sat quietly.
- "Next time when you come to visit, stay longer." After saying this, Chuong felt that his words were cold and insincere.
- "We might not get any more chance to come down for a visit" Tram's eyes flashed an expression of sadness. "When come up to Hanoi, would you come to visit us?"Hesitantly, Chuong wanted to say that he really would like to, truly want to, but was it proper, and what would it lead to? So he did not answer right away. As if she read his mind, Tram continued: "If your mother comes, then no matter what happens, you would have to come too, okay?" Tram looked up, pouting. "I still have many things to ask you, because my brother Quang is very lazy, and he would not want to teach me anything..."
The clacking sound of approaching wooden clogs stopped the chat. Trinh appeared behind a bush, her cheeks blushing because of the fast walk:

- "What took you two so long? The table has been set, and we need to finish the meal to prepare for going to the train." Looking down on the fish basket, Trinh asked: "How many fishes did you catch, Chuong? Bring them back quickly so we could fry them."
-"You put the cooking pan ready on the stove, then we will shoulder them right back"

Chuong replied and the three of them laughed. At this time Chuong suddenly realized that Trinh addressed him as a younger man and he addressed her as someone older... "How strange? Trinh was not that much older than I am?"

Seeing that Tram was still relishing the country pond scene and have not stood up yet, Trinh tried to comfort her younger sister:

- "Let's go inside and eat, then we still have to pack up. Next time when we come back, we will have more time, and we can fish or play chicken grass fights all we want. This summer we could come back here to eat the guavas, would you welcome us, Chuong?" Trinh looked at Chuong in an amusing and lovely way.

The meal was quite plentiful, but it lacked the laughters of the days before. Only after lunch, and back to the rooms for making-ups, the talks and the laughters returned once again.

- "The girls only know how to adorn themselves!" Quang shouted at Chuong, "if it continues like this, we would miss the train for sure!", he looked anxious, because the girls took a long time to brush their hairs and to dress, watching themselves in the mirror, and still seemed to be unsatisfied. Both Thi and Nhan also kept on fixing their hair before going to bid farewell. It is truly upsetting, but for Chuong, he wanted this scene to continue forever, hoping that everyone would miss the train, because moments like this, even if one wanted to, would not likely to come back.

The train to Hai Duong already slowly passed by the front gate. Because Mrs. Han’s prodding, everyone got out to the street, walking and talking away. The winter breeze still blew through their hairs and went through the many electrical poles, making whistling sounds the same way as when people arrived a few days ago. Only Tram did not talk much, even to Nhan. When they almost arrived to the train station, Tram slowed down, along side with Chuong, and whispered:

- "Even though we said that, we probably would not be able come back here this Summer." Chuong looked at Tram with disappointment. "We have much work to do at home... And I even don't know if I will continue to go to school at all." Tram continued.

- "Why is that? You should continue to go to school, otherwise it would really be a waste." He suddenly thought of Nhan, an intelligent girl, very bright, who should have to continue her study to achieve a goal. However, with the traditional bias against women, a woman’s job is only doing household chores, getting married, bearing children, and that has suppressed so many talents. Chuong looked at Tram sympathetically. "Would her future be the same as that? But is there something, anything that can be done to prevent such a fate for her?"

- "You can’t understand now. But later on you will" Tram shook her head and continued "After the exam, please stop by our house. Ask my brother Quang to take you home." Tram gave an order like an adult, and that made Chuong smile, though still sad. "I have many things to ask you, and you must come or I will be angry at you", the last few words, Tram whispered very softly, so no one else heard them!

He did not expect Tram to say so many words. Chuong felt that Tram has grown-up and understood many things, even more than he himself. He forgot all that he planned to say to her. But there is no need to say anything now. Chuong looked at Tram and nodded lightly. Trinh walked up faster, pulling her sister's hand, and followed Mrs. Han and Quang into the station's platform. When stepping up into the train, Tram did not turn back to look at Chuong the last time, since she believed that he would keep his promise. The train slowly left the small Le Giang station.

Translator: BnPham

Tri'ch trong cuo^'n tie^?u thuye^'t "Tre^n So^ng Ho^`ng Cuo^`n Cuo^.n" pha^`n 1, chu+o+ng 7, Vie^~n Tu+o+`ng

Chu': 1932. La`n son'g ca'ch ma.ng dda~ xuo^'ng da^`n. Chu+o+ng bo? ho.c tru+o+`ng Bu+o+?i dde^? ve^` que^, pho^' huye^.n Le^. Giang cu`ng vo+'i me., chi. ruo^.t - Thi, em ho. Nha.n. Tha'ng tu+, co' ba` ba.n tha^n cu?a gia ddi`nh Ba` Ha`n Thao cu`ng Quang - mo^.t cha`ng trai, hai thie^'u nu+~ Trinh va` Tra^m xuo^'ng cho+i.

Chi? co' nhu+~ng di.p quan tro.ng ba` Ky' mo+'i cho tha('p ngo.n dde`n "ma(ng so^ng". A'nh sa'ng tra('ng xo'a khie^'n ca(n pho`ng kha'ch vui ve? ha(?n le^n. Mo.i ngu+o+`i qua^y qua^`n chung quanh ngo.n dde`n, sau mo^.t buo^?i ra ngoa`i ca'nh ddo^`ng da.o cho+i.

Tu+` nha` du+o+'i, Thi bu+ng le^n mo^.t ro^? ha~y co`n co' kho'i to?a le^n.

- A`, ha.t de?, co' ha.t de? a(n!" Trinh vu+`a vo^~ tay vu+`a ke^u le^n mo^.t ca'ch vui su+o+'ng. Thu+.c va^.y, dde^m ho+i la.nh, kho^ng co' gi` thu' vi. ho+n la` bo'c ha.t de? no'ng. Ho^m nay, ha.t de? xem ra co' ve? bu`i va` ngo.t la('m.

Chu+o+ng mo^.t ma(.t bo'c ha.t de?, mo^.t ma(.t va^~n nhi`n va`o sa'ch. Nhu+ng anh tu+. nhie^n nho+' to+'i nhu+~ng dde^m ddo^ng tre^n pho^' Ha` No^.i, khuya ro^`i va^~n co`n thie^'ng rao lanh la?nh cu?a mo^.t co^ ga'i na`o ba'n ha.t de?. Ta.i no+i do^`ng que^ ti.ch mi.ch na`y, Chu+o+ng bo^~ng tha^'y nho+', nho+' tha thie^'t Ha` No^.i. Ma^'y na(m o+? thu? ddo^, tuy chi? mo+'i la` mo^.t ca^.u ho.c tro` mu+o+`i ma^'y tuo^?i, nhu+ng dda~ bao nhie^u su+. dda~ xa?y ra. Co' nhie^`u thu+' e^m a'i, nga^y tho+, ho^`n nhie^n trong ky' u+'c, nhu+ng cu~ng co' nhu+~ng thu+' dda~ la`m cha^'n ddo^.ng ca? mo^.t ta^m ho^`n non no+'t, dda~ la`m cho ngu+o+`i ho.c tro` ddo' pha?i suy nghi~ nhie^`u ve^` y' nghi~a cu?a cuo^.c so^'ng. Gio+` phu't na`y, co`n co' the^? ngo^`i dda^y ddo.c sa'ch, ca('n ha.t de?. Chung quanh la` nhu+~ng tie^'ng cu+o+`i vui ve?. Nhu+ng cha(?ng bao la^u sau dda^y, kho^ng co`n va` kho^ng the^? co`n la` the^' nu+~a. Ca'i xa~ ho^.i na`y dda^`y ra^~y e'o le va` quay cuo^`ng, du` muo^'n du` kho^ng, Chu+o+ng ca?m tha^'y mi`nh cu~ng se~ bi. lo^i cuo^'n, va` nha^'t ddi.nh se~ pha?i ddo^'i cho.i vo+'i ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng gi` mi`nh kho^ng ho+.p no^?i.

- "Xem sa'ch gi` ma` me^ ma?i the^'! Tie^?u thuye^'t a`?" Quang gia^.t la^'y cuo^'n sa'ch trong tay Chu+o+ng. Nhu+ng dda^y kho^ng pha?i la` tie^?u thuye^'t, ma` la` mo^.t cuo^'n sa'ch gia'o khoa "Va^.t ly'" kho^ khan. Quang tha^'t vo.ng ne'm sang mo^.t be^n.

- "DDa^u pha?i la` tie^?u thuye^'t? Nhu+ng cu~ng pha?i co^' ddo.c chu+'!" Chu+o+ng dda'p, gio+ hai tay le^n tro+o+`i dde^? pha^n bua. Thu+.c ra, ddo.c nhu+~ng cuo^'n "Va^.t ly'", "Ho'a Ho.c", "DDa.i so^'" hay ngay "Va(n su+?" nu+~a, ai ma` cha(?ng nga'n.

Nhu+ng kho^ng ngo+`, Tra^m la.i ca^`m cuo^'n sa'ch le^n xem, to? ve? co' hu+'ng thu'.

- "Co^ ddu+o+ng ho.c mo^n na`y?" Chu+o+ng ho?i.

- "Va^ng, nhu+ng chu+o+ng tri`nh em ho.c gia?n di. ho+n nhie^`u." Nhu+ tho+? da`i, Tra^m tie^'p "the^' ma` em cu~ng tha^'y ha('c bu'a qua'. Nhie^`u ddoa.n kho^ng hie^?u no^?i. O^ng gia'o cu+' cho em la` kho' da.y..."

- "Co' gi` la` kho' qua'! Co' tha`y gia'o da.y ma` co`n so+. kho'? Chu' a^'y tu+. ho.c la^'y co' sao dda^u?" Quang no'i. "A`, tie^.n dda^y, co' cho^~ na`o kho' co^ cu+' nho+` chu' a^'y gia?ng cho. Co`n to^i thi` mu` ti.t ve^` Va^.t ly', Ho'a ho.c..."

- "Anh thi` lu+o+`i, chu+' dda^u co' mu` ti.t." Ba` Ha`n no'i xen va`o "Cha? ma^'y khi co' di.p, nho+` ca^.u Chu+o+ng ba?o cho no', no' ho.c do^'t la('m" ba` ddu+a ma('t nhi`n Tra^m mo^.t ca'ch tri`u me^'n. Chu+o+ng tu+. nghi~ mi`nh cu~ng kho^ng gio?i ho+n ma^'y, nhu+ng ba('t buo^.c pha?i nha^.n co^ng vie^.c kho' kha(n na`y. Ne^n cho ma~i to+'i khuya, hai ngu+o+`i va^~n ngo^`i vu+`a bo'c ha.t de? vu+`a thi` tha^`m ve^` ba`i vo+? - mo^.t ca'ch o^n ta^.p ra^'t thu' vi..

Chu+' the^', ma^'y ba.n tre? cha(?ng bao la^u dda~ tro+? ne^n tha^n ma^.t nhu+ anh em mo^.t nha`. Ban nga`y, dde^? Thi va` Quang co' co+ ho^.i no'i chuye^.n rie^ng tu+, Trinh, Tra^m, Nha.n va` Chu+o+ng ru? nhau ddi da.o kha('p no+i. Theo con ddu+o+`ng ta('t song song ddi ma~i xuo^'ng ta^.n ga du+o+'i, hay men theo bo+` ruo^.ng, be^n nhu+~ng la.ch nu+o+'c nho? uo^'n mi`nh ca.nh lu~y tre la`ng xo'm, co' khi nog^`i du+o+'i go^'c ca^y dda ma^m xo^i nhi`n ve^` phi'a xa, nhu+~ng ddo^`i nu'i xanh xanh. Co' khi va`o trong pho^' huye^.n, a(n ba'nh gio` va` uo^'ng nu+o+'c chanh ve chai ta.i qua'n le^`u be^n ddu+o+`ng, ddi qua pho^' cho+. nhu+~ng nga`y co' cho+. phie^n, ddo^ng ngu+o+`i o^`n a`o nhu+ng ta^'t ca? dde^`u toa't ra ve? nghe`o na`n, chi.u ddu+.ng mo^.t ddo+`i so^'ng ha`ng chu.c na(m chu+a thay ddo^?i.

Cuo^'i pho^', ga^`n bo+` so^ng Sen, mo^.t to`a nha` lo+'n, ngoa`i co' co^?ng cao giu+~a hai bu+'c tu+o+`ng xa'm xi.t. Mo^.t ngu+o+`i li'nh kho^' xanh ddu+'ng ga'c ca.nh co^?ng. Chu+o+ng la(?ng la(.ng ddi qua, kho^ng no'i na(ng gi`. Trinh tha^'y la. ho?i:

- "Anh Chu+o+ng, cho^~ na`y la` cho^~ na`o, tro^ng oai nghie^m nhi?!"

Chu+o+ng kho^ng dda'p. Nha.n nhanh nha^?u tra? lo+`i:

- "DDa^y la` ... dinh huye^.n ma`!"

- "Tha?o na`o, co' li'nh ga'c..."

- "Tho^i, nhi`n la`m gi`? DDi nhanh le^n, ra be^'n so^ng Sen ..."

Chu+o+ng giu.c mo.i ngu+o+`i - kho^ng no'i ra, nhu+ng Chu+o+ng kho^ng muo^'n mo.i ngu+o+`i chu' y' nhie^`u dde^'n nhu+~ng cho^~ tu+o+.ng tru+ng cho bo.n quan la.i chi? bie^'t ta'c oai ta'c qua'i ddo^'i vo+'i da^n dden, nhu+ng la.i khu'm nu'm ha. mi`nh tru+o+'c bo.n thu+.c da^n. Lo`ng ghe't cay ghe't dda('ng ddo^'i vo+'i bo.n quye^`n quy', phe` pho+~n ba^'t cu+' tu+` phi'a na`o, dda~ a(n sa^u kho^ng bie^'t tu+` lu'c na`o trong tri' o'c anh.

Nhie^`u khi bi. do^`n tri' o'c nhie^`u ca^u ho?i, Chu+o+ng kho^ng bie^'t tra? lo+`i ra sao. Song tru+o+'c ddo^i ma('t tin ca^.y cu?a Tra^m, anh va^~n pha?i co^' ga('ng moi o'c va` xem nhie^`u sa'ch. DDu+o+.c ca'i la` hai ngu+o+`i thi'ch ba`n lua^.n nha^'t kho^ng pha?i la` khoa ho.c, ma` la` va(n chu+o+ng. Tra^m co`n i't tuo^?i, nhu+ng dda~ ddo.c nhie^`u ta'c pha^?m tie^'ng Vie^.t va` Pha'p.

- "Anh na`y, trong va(n su+? Pha'p, anh cho tho+`i na`o la` hay nha^'t?" Tra^m ho?i.

- "The^' co`n co^?" Chu+a ki.p suy nghi~, Chu+o+ng ho?i la.i, cu~ng vi` to` mo` muo^'n bie^'t y' nghi~ cu?a co^. "Nha^'t ddi.nh la` the^' ky? 19, pha?i kho^ng?"

- "Sao anh bie^'t?" Tra^m tro^' ma('t ho?i.

- "Co' co^ ho.c sinh na`o ma` kho^ng me^ va(n chu+o+ng la~ng ma.n tho+`i romantique cu?a Pha'p? Kho^ng nho? nu+o+'c ma('t kho'c Graziella vo+'i Lamartine? Cho to+'i nhu+~ng ba`i "La' ro+i" cu?a Verlaine, hay Beaudelaire?"

- "Em chi? ddo.c qua Graziella cu?a Lamartine tho^i."

Tra^m thu' thu+.c. "Co`n Hugo, Verlaine thi` mo+'i xem ra^'t i't."

Tho+`i ddo', ngu+o+`i ta co`n kho'c vo+'i To^' Ta^m va` DDa.m Thu?y, vo+'i ba` Tu+o+ng Pho^' trong "Gio.t Le^. Thu", vo+'i Chu'c Anh DDa`i, vo+'i La^m DDa.i Ngo.c trong "Ho^`ng La^u Mo^.ng", co`n ca? sau khi ddo.c "Whether" hay "Tuye^'t Ho^`ng Le^. Su+?". Nhu+~ng bi ki.ch ba^'t hu? va^~n co`n truye^`n la.i trong ngu+o+`i ddo+`i.

"Khe'o du+ nu+o+'c ma('t kho'c ngu+o+`i ddo+`i xu+a ..." Tra^m ngo^`i im, ma('t nhi`n ra ngoa`i bo'ng to^'i. Tie^'ng gio' tho^?i nhe. la`o xa`o qua ca`nh ca^y. Chu+o+ng cho+.t nghi~ to+'i nhu+~ng thie^'u nu+~ dda sa^`u dda ca?m trong li.ch su+?. "Ho^`ng nhan ba.c me^.nh". Bo^'n chu+~ a^'y va(?ng be^n tai anh nhu+ mo^.t lo+~i than va~n. DDa^y la` mo^.t ddi.nh lua^.t cu?a ddo+`i ngu+o+`i sao? Anh nhi`n Tra^m. Khuo^n ma(.t xinh xa('n va` tre? ma(ng, dda^`y nhu+a so^'ng. Nhu+ng ddo^i ma('t tro^ng co`n tre? tho+ ddo' dda~ nhu+ vu+o+ng va^'n mo^.t ca'i gi`. Tu+. nhie^n Chu+o+ng nghi~ cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a Tra^m ve^` sau se~ nhu+ the^' na`o? Hay cu~ng nhu+ la` Nha.n, bi. ru+'t ra kho?i cuo^.c ddo+`i vo^ tu+ lu+., dde^? bu+o+'c va`o mo^.t cuo^.c ddo+`i dda^`y tro'i buo^.c va` cho^ng gai, tra'i ha(?n vo+'i y' nguye^.n chi'nh dda'ng cu?a mo^.t con ngu+o+`i? Anh ca?m tha^'y co' gi` se la.i trong ngu+.c, ca?m tha^'y mi`nh ba^'t lu+.c tru+o+'c va^.n me^.nh cu?a ca? mi`nh va` cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tha^n.

- Tra^m thi'ch va(n chu+o+ng la('m nhi? To^i cu~ng va^.y." Chu+o+ng pha' vo+~ im la(.ng. Nhu+ng ba^y gio+` pha?i u+'ng pho' vo+'i thi vo+'i cu+?, toa`n pha?i ho.c nhu+~ng ca'i la^?m ca^?m."

- "Bao gio+` thi xong thi` tha ho^` ma` ddo.c va(n la~ng ma.n." Tra^m cu+o+`i nhe. nhi`n Chu+o+ng.

- "Va(n la~ng ma.n thi` thi'ch thu+.c. Nhu+ng to^i nghi~ lu'c na`y co`n ca^`n dde^'n nhu+~ng thu+' va(n tho+ kha'c." Chu+o+ng bo^~ng no'i, khie^'n Tra^m ngo+ nga'c. Co^ chu+a hie^?u nhu+~ng thu+' va(n tho+ kha'c ddo' la` gi`. Ma` chi'nh Chu+o+ng cu~ng chu+a hie^?u bie^'t ro~ re^.t nhu+ the^' na`o. Chi? mo+ ho^` ca?m tha^'y nhu+~ng thu+' va(n chu+o+ng tru+~ ti`nh, la~ng ma.n, than kho'c ddo' uy? mi. qua'. Tre^n ddo+`i co`n co' bao nhie^u ddau kho^?, ba^'t co^ng, tuye^.t vo.ng ca^`n pha?i ta?, ca^`n pha?i no'i le^n. Co`n Tra^m, chi? co' ca?m gia'c la` Chu+o+ng co' y' nghi~ kha'c vo+'i nhu+~ng ho.c sinh cu`ng lu+'a tuo^?i.

Ma^'y nga`y nghi? cho+i dda~ qua ra^'t nhanh. Nga`y mai, ma^'y ba.n mo+'i se~ pha?i tro+? ve^` Ha` No^.i. To^'i ho^m nay, Tra^m va` Trinh va^~n ngo^`i xem sa'ch cu`ng ba`n vo+'i Chu+o+ng, nhu+ng Tra^m kho^ng co`n ti'u ti't ho?i nhie^`u nu+~a/

Chi? co' Thi va` Quang va^~n ngo^`i thi` tha^`m ngoa`i hie^n, tro` truye^.n nhu+~ng gi` kho^ng ai bie^'t, nhu+ng xem ra kho' ru+'t. Chu+o+ng kho^ng no'i ra, nhu+ng trong bu.ng cu~ng mu+`ng tha^`m cho chi. ti`m ddu+o+.c mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n co' the^? tin ca^.y ddu+o+.c.

Sa'ng ho^m sau, Trinh xuo^'ng phu. mo^.t tay la`m bu+~a co+m tie^~n ha`nh. Kho^ng co`n hu+'ng thu' trong ddo.c sa'ch nu+~a, Tra^m ru? Chu+o+ng ddi ca^u ca'. Hai ngu+o+`i re~ qua nhu+~ng ra(.ng tre dda(`ng sau nha`, to+'i bo+` ao, ti`m cho^~ ngo^`i du+o+'i mo^.t go^'c ca^y sung sa^`n su`i nga? tha^n la` xuo^'ng ma(.t nu+o+'c. A'nh na('ng nhe. xen qua ca`nh tre chie^'u xuo^'ng ma(.t nu+o+'c rung rinh. Chu+o+ng ma('c giun va`o hai lu+o+~i ca^u, ro^`i hai ngu+o+`i ngo^`i nhi`n theo phao ba^.p be^`nh, co^' su+'c hu+o+?ng thu. nhu+~ng phu't vo^ tu+ lu+.. Tru+o+'c ma(.t la` ca'nh ddo^`ng kho^ng qua.nh.

Nhu+ng ca^u chuye^.n va(n chu+o+ng la~ng ma.n ho^m tru+o+'c va^~n a'm a?nh anh. Tu+.a nhu+, trong tha^m ta^m, Chu+o+ng va^~n mo+ ho^` lo a^u cho Tra^m. "Tra^m va` mi`nh dda^u co' quan he^. gi`? Cha(?ng qua la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n tre? tho+ dde^'n cho+i nha`, "be`o nu+o+'c tu+o+ng phu`ng". Ro^`i sau, ngu+o+`i na`o ddi theo cuo^.c ddo+`i cu?a ngu+o+`i a^'y ... co' the^? kho^ng bao gio+` ga(.p nhau nu+~a. Lan man nghi~ dde^'n dda^y, Chu+o+ng bo^~ng ba^.t cu+o+`i "Sao mi`nh lo^i tho^i va` la~ng ma.n nhu+ the^'?". Khie^'n Tra^m ddu+o+ng cha(m chu' nhi`n tre^n ca'i phao pha?i quay ma(.t la.i mi?m cu+o+`i:

- "Anh cu+o+`i gi` la. va^.y?" Tra^m ho?i

- "Kho^ng, co' cu+o+`i gi` dda^u. Nghi~ dde^'n sa('p ca^u ddu+o+.c nhie^`u ca' dde^? ra'n..." Chu+o+ng dda'p. Nhu+ng Tra^m dda~ bie^'t thu+`a la` anh no'i do^'i. Co^ ddo^?i sang chuye^.n kha'c, trong bu.ng tha^'y anh ca`ng na`y cu~ng la~ng ma.n va` dda'ng tu+'c cu+o+`i, nhu+ng de^~ thu+o+ng.

- "A`, bao gio+` anh le^n Ha` No^.i dde^? thi?"

- "Tha'ng sa'u na`y, thi pha^`n thu+' nha^'t..."

- "Ne^'u ddo^~ ba(`ng tu' ta`i ro^`i, anh ddi.nh la`m gi`?" Tra^m quan ta^m ho?i.

- "Chu+a thi thi` dda~ ti'nh chuye^.n gi`? Ma` cha('c cha('n la` se~ tru+o+.t vo? chuo^'i." Chu+o+ng bo^~ng cu+o+`i dda'p. "Ne^'u may co' ddo^~ thi` cu~ng ddi kie^'m cha^n ca.o gia^'y na`o, sa'ng va'c o^ ddi, to^'i va'c ve^`."

DDo^i ma('t tho^ng minh cu?a Tra^m lo^. ve? nghi ngo+`:

- "Thu+.c a`! Anh ma` muo^'n la`m cha^n ca.o gia^'y?" Tra^m nhi`n tha(?ng va`o ma('t Chu+o+ng, to? y' nghi~ anh la.i no'i do^'i la^`n nu+~a. "Em bie^'t anh co`n co' nhu+~ng du+. ti'nh kha'c!"

- "Tra^m co`n bie^'t xem tu+o+'ng nu+~a co+ a`? DDoa'n ddu+o+.c ca? du+. ti'nh cu?a ngu+o+`i kha'c!"

- "Ca^`n gi` pha?i bie^'t xem tu+o+'ng! Chi? xem cuo^'n nha^.t ky' cu?a anh la` ddu? ro^`i. Tra^m dda'p. Ba^y gio+` Chu+o+ng mo+'i nho+' la` anh dda~ ddu+a cuo^'n nha^.t ky' cho Tra^m lu'c na`o kho^ng bie^'t. Chu+o+ng ddo? ma(.t, que^n ma^'t la` ca'i phao ddu+o+ng ma^'p ma'y tre^n ma(.t nu+o+'c.

Tra^m dda^.p nhe. va`o tay Chu+o+ng. Mo^.t ho+i a^'m ky` la. bo^~ng truye^`n kha('p ngu+o+`i, mo^.t thu+' ca?m gia'c dda^`u tie^n trong ddo+`i, ma` chi? co' trong lu'c na`y, sau khi dda~ ga(.p nhau ma^'y nga`y, mo+'i co' the^? ca?m thu. ddu+o+.c. Tra^m pha?i thay anh nha('c ca^`n ca^u le^n. Ca'i phao dda~ bi. lo^i chi`m.

- "Cha('c co' ca', ca' to la('m!" Tra^m reo le^n, tay va^~n dde^? tre^n ca'nh tay Chu+o+ng. Chu+o+ng vo^.i ke'o ma.nh ca^`n ca^u vu't le^n, nhu+ng ke^'t cu.c ca? hai dde^`u tha^'t vo.ng, vi` chi? ke'o le^n ddu+o+.c mo^.t ca'nh be`o. Hai ngu+o+`i va^~n ngo^`i im sa't ca.nh nhau. Kho^ng bie^'t no'i gi` va` cu~ng kho^ng co' gi` dde^? no'i.

Na('ng dda~ le^n cao qua' ngo.n tre. Cha('c trong nha` dda~ su+?a soa.n xong co+m nu+o+'c ro^`i! Tra^m ru't nhe. tay ra.

- "Tho^i, ta tro+? va`o nha` ddi." Chu+o+ng no'i, nhu+ng va^~n ngo^`i im. "La^`n sau, ca'c co^ xuo^'ng cho+i, o+? la.i la^u ho+n." No'i xong mo+'i tu+. tha^'y mi`nh kha'ch sa'o va` nha.t nhe~o qua'.

- "Chu'ng em co' le~ kho^ng co`n di.p xuo^'ng nu+~a" ma('t Tra^m bo^~ng thoa'ng mo^.t ve? buo^`n. "Khi le^n Ha` No^.i, anh co' se~ dde^'n cho+i nha` chu'ng em kho^ng?"

Nga^`n nga.i, Chu+o+ng muo^'n no'i ra^'t la` muo^'n, ra^'t muo^'n, nhu+ng ne^'u nhu+ the^' co' tie^.n kho^ng, va` se~ ddu+a to+'i gi`, ne^n kho^ng tra? lo+`i ngay. Nhu+ng nhu+ dda~ ddoa'n ro~ y' nghi~ ddo', Tra^m tie^'p:

- "Ne^'u ba'c co' le^n thi` the^' na`o anh cu~ng pha?i dde^'n nhe'" Tra^m ngu+o+'c ma('t, nu~ng ni.u. "Em co`n co' nhie^`u thu+' ca^`n ho?i anh la('m. Vi` anh Quang anh a^'y lu+o+`i la('m, kho^ng chi.u da.y em gi` he^'t..."

Tie^'ng guo^'c la.ch ca.ch ke'o le^ dde^'n la`m nga('t qua~ng ca^u chuye^.n. Trinh hie^.n ra sau bu.i ca^y, hai ma' ddo? ho^`ng vi` ddi ga^'p:

- "Hai ddu+'a la`m gi` ma` la^u the^'? Co+m dda~ do.n la^u ro^`i, a(n xong co`n su+?a soa.n ra ta`u" Nhi`n xuo^'ng gio? ca', Trinh ho?i "Chu' Chu+o+ng dda~ ca^u ddu+o+.c bao nhie^u ca' ro^`i? Mang ve^` ra'n ngay ddi cho ki.p"

- "Chi. ve^` dda(.t sa(~n cha?o ro^`i chu'ng to^i se~ ga'nh ve^` ngay" Chu+o+ng dda'p, va` ca? ba cu`ng cu+o+`i. Lu'c na`y anh mo+'i su+.c nha^.n tha^'y Trinh go.i mi`nh ba(`ng chu', ma` mi`nh la.i go.i Trinh ba(`ng chi.." La. nhi? Trinh co' lo+'n ho+n mi`nh bao nhie^u dda^u?"

Tha^'y Tra^m va^~n co`n quye^'n luye^'n ca?nh ao que^ chu+a ddu+'ng da^.y, Trinh co^' an u?i em:

- "Tho^i, ta va`o a(n dde^? su+?a soa.n ddi. La^`n sau ta ve^` se~ co' nhie^`u thi` gio+` ho+n, tha ho^` ca^u ca' hay dda'nh co? ga`. Nghi? he` na`y cha('c ta la.i ve^` dda^y a(n o^?i, chu' co' hoan nghe^nh kho^ng?" Trinh nhi`n Chu+o+ng mo^.t ca'ch ho'm hi?nh dda'ng ye^u.

Bu+~a co+m tru+a nay cu~ng kha' thi.nh soa.n, nhu+ng thie^'u tie^'ng cu+o+`i ddu`a nhu+ ma^'y bu+~a tru+o+'c. Chi? dde^'n khi a(n xong, ve^` pho`ng trang ddie^?m, tie^'ng cu+o+`i no'i vui ve? mo+'i la.i ro^.n le^n.

- "Con ga'i chi? bie^'t la`m da'ng tho^i!" Quang no'i to vo+'i Chu+o+ng, "cu+' the^' na`y la` nho+~ ta`u la` ca'i cha('c!", anh to? ve? so^'t ruo^.t vi` ma^'y co^ ga'i ddu+o+ng cha?i dda^`u, ma(.c a'o cu+' nga('m ddi nga('m la.i tru+o+'c tu? gu+o+ng ma` ma~i chu+a ha`i lo`ng. Ca? Thi va` Nha.n cu~ng loay hoay su+?a la.i ma'i to'c dde^? ddi tie^~n. So^'t ruo^.t thu+.c, nhu+ng trong tha^m ta^m Chu+o+ng va^~n mong ca?nh na`y ke'o da`i ma~i ..., mong cho ta^'t ca? dde^`u nho+~ ta`u. Vi` nhu+~ng phu't nhu+ the^' co' muo^'n, cu~ng kho' ma` tro+? la.i nu+~a.

Chuye^'n ta`u xuo^'ng Ha?i Du+o+ng dda~ xi`nh xi.ch cha.y qua tru+o+'c co^?ng nha`. Vi` ba` Ha`n thu'c giu.c ne^n mo.i ngu+o+`i mo+'i ke'o nhau ra ddu+o+`ng, vu+`a ddi vu+`a no'i chuye^.n ri'u ri't. Gio' ddo^`ng va^~n tho^?i tre^n ma'i to'c, va` lu`a qua nhu+~ng co^.t da^y the'p tha`nh nhu+~ng tie^'ng vi vu, y nhu+ lu'c ho. mo+'i xuo^'ng cho+i ma^'y nga`y tru+o+'c dda^y. Chi? co' Tra^m la` i't no'i, ke^? ca? vo+'i Nha.n. Sa('p dde^'n sa^n ga, Tra^m ddi cha^.m la.i ngang ha`ng vo+'i Chu+o+ng ro^`i no'i ra^'t khe~:

- "Nghi? he` na`y no'i the^' chu+' chu'ng em kho^ng xuo^'ng cho+i ddu+o+.c nu+~a dda^u." Chu+o+ng nhi`nh Tra^m mo^.t ca'ch tha^'t vo.ng." Nha` co' nhie^`u vie^.c la('m anh a.. Ma` kho^ng bie^'t em co' co`n ddu+o+.c ddi ho.c nu+~a kho^ng." Tra^m tie^'p.

- "Sao va^.y? Tra^m co`n ca^`n ddi ho.c the^m nu+~a chu+', kho^ng thi` uo^?ng ma^'t." Anh cho+.t nghi~ dde^'n Nha.n, mo^.t co^ ga'i tho^ng minh, xua^'t sa('c, dda'ng le~ co`n pha?i ddi ho.c nu+~a dde^? co' the^? tha`nh ta`i. Nhu+ng truye^`n tho^'ng tro.ng nam khinh nu+~, cho phu. nu+~ chi? la` no^.i tro+., ddi la^'y cho^`ng, sinh con dde? ca'i, dda~ da^.p ta('t bie^'t bao nhie^u ta`i na(ng. Chu+o+ng a'i nga.i nhi`n Tra^m. So^' pha^.n cu?a Tra^m ro^`i cu~ng se~ nhu+ the^' u+? Nhu+ng co' ca'ch gi`, co' ca'ch gi` dde^? nga(n ngu+`a so^' pha^.n?

- "Anh kho^ng hie^?u dda^u. Sau na`y anh se~ bie^'t." Tra^m la('c dda^`u, no'i tie^'p "Thi xong anh ghe' qua nha` chu'ng em cho+i nhe'. Ba?o anh Quang ddu+a dde^'n." Tra^m ra me^.nh le^.nh nhu+ mo^.t ngu+o+`i lo+'n, khie^'n du` buo^`n, Chu+o+ng cu~ng pha?i mi?m cu+o+`i." Em co' nhie^`u thu+' pha?i ho?i anh, the^' na`o cu~ng pha?i le^n kho^ng em gia^.n dda^'y", ma^'y tie^'ng cuo^'i cu`ng Tra^m no'i ra^'t khe~ kho^ng ai nghe tha^'y!

Kho^ng ngo+` Tra^m la.i no'i nhie^`u the^'. Chu+o+ng ca?m tha^'y Tra^m dda~ lo+'n va` hie^?u nhie^`u, ho+n ca? mi`nh nu+~a. Nhu+~ng ddie^`u du+. ti'nh no'i vo+'i co^ anh dda~ que^n ba(~ng he^'t. Va` cu~ng kho^ng ca^`n no'i gi` nu+~a. Chu+o+ng nhi`n Tra^m, se~ ga^.t dda^`u.

Trinh bu+o+'c nhanh le^n tru+o+'c, ke'o tay chi.,theo ba` Ha`n va` Quang bu+o+'c va`o sa^n ga. Lu'c bu+o+'c le^n toa xe, Tra^m cu~ng kho^ng quay la.i nhi`n Chu+o+ng nu+~a, vi` Tra^m tin cha('c anh se~ giu+~ lo+`i hu+'a. Chuye^'n xe tu+` tu+` ro+`i kho?i nha` ga Le^. Giang nho? be'.

Vie^~n Tu+o+`ng

Lôøi Thaêm Hueá

Ai veà thaêm naéng coá ñoâ
Thaêm traêng Ñaïi Noäi, thaêm hoà Tònh Taâm
Hôõi ngöôøi baïn cuõ tri aâm
Nhôù thôøi xa caùch thaùng naêm chöa môø
Hoûi thaêm chieác noùn baøi thô
Moãi laàn tan hoïc ai chôø ñôïi ai?
Naéng chieàu Gia Hoäi vöông daøi
Coøn ñaâu aùo traéng saùnh vai qua caàu

Ñeå loøng ai ngaån ngô saàu
Ñeâm ñeâm veà deät ngaøn caâu thô tình
Tröôøng Tieàn saùu nhòp coøn xinh
Soâng Höông nuùi Ngöï boùng mình vôùi ta

Nhôù xöa daïo phoá Ñoâng Ba
Boãng döng anh naém tay maø ... run gheâ
Giôø ñaây nhìn laïi traêng theà
Nghe nhö quaïnh vaéng boán beà ñìu hiu

Dö aâm tieáng noùi tình yeâu
Baøng hoaøng toùc traéng raùng chieàu phoâi pha

Kieàu Anh

Kieu Anh

Kie^`u Anh

Thay Lo+`i Tu+.a

Ca'c nha` khoa ho.c u+o+'c ti'nh ra(`ng cu+' ba ngu+o+`i da^n Hoa Ky` se~ co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i bi. be^.nh ung thu+, va` trong tu+o+ng lai ra^'t ga^`n, be^.nh ung thu+ co' the^? se~ vu+o+.t qua be^.nh nho^`i ma'u co+ tim, la` ca(n be^.nh ddu+'ng ha`ng dda^`u hie^.n nay o+? Hoa Ky`. Nhu+ng cu~ng kho^ng pha?i la` kho^ng co' lo^'i thoa't, Vie^.n Ung Thu+ Quo^'c Gia Hoa Ky` u+o+'c ti'nh ra(`ng ta'm pha^`n mu+o+`i nguye^n nha^n da^~n dde^'n ca'c be^.nh ung thu+ pho^? tho^ng nha^'t dde^`u co' lie^n he^. ma^.t thie^'t to+'i dinh du+o+~ng. DDie^`u na`y co' nghi~a la` pha^`n lo+'n su+. nguy hie^?m cu?a ca(n be^.nh ddu+o+.c dda(.t du+o+'i su+. kie^?m soa't cu?a chi'nh chu'ng ta. Va` chu'ng ta dda~ bie^'t, dinh du+o+~ng ddu'ng ca'ch giu'p chu'ng ta pho`ng ngu+`a ca(n be^.nh qua'i a'c na`y.

Mo^.t trong nhu+~ng la~nh vu+.c nghie^n cu+'u mo+'i nha^'t va` thi'ch thu' nha^'t trong nga`nh dinh du+o+~ng ho.c la` ca'c nha` khoa ho.c dda~ ti`m tha^'y mo^.t so^' ho'a cha^'t tha?o mo^.c co' trong thu+.c pha^?m, ma` ho. go.i la` phytochemicals, va` ma(.c da^`u kho^ng ddu+o+.c xem la` cha^'t dinh du+o+~ng, nhu+ng thu+.c te^' no' co' ta'c du.ng dde^'n su+'c kho?e chu'ng ta.

Su+. kha'm pha' ra nhu+~ng ho'a cha^'t tha?o mo^.c na`y dda~ kho+?i dda^`u cho mo^.t ky? nguye^n mo+'i ve^` dinh du+o+~ng. Ho'a tha?o, te^n go.i ta('t cu?a ho'a cha^'t tha?o mo^.c, va` ca'ch dinh du+o+~ng mo+'i, se~ thay ddo^?i lo^'i suy nghi~ cu?a chu'ng ta ve^` thu+.c pha^?m.

DDa^.u na`nh va` ca'c sa?n pha^?m bie^'n che^' tu+` no', co' dda^`y ddu? protein va` nhie^`u ho'a tha?o quy' ba'u, la` nguo^`n dinh du+o+~ng tuye^.t ha?o cu?a nha^n loa.i, chu'ng se~ gia?i quye^'t ho^. cho chu'ng ta ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng va^'n dde^` lie^n quan dde^'n su+'c kho?e va` ti`nh tra.ng thie^'u a(n tre^n the^' gio+'i.

DDa~ tu+` la^u, protein dda^.u na`nh ddu+o+.c thu+`a nha^.n la` cha^'t dinh du+o+~ng to^'t, nhu+ng chu'ng ta mo+'i chi? bie^'t dde^'n mo^.t pha^`n. Protein dda^.u na`nh co`n co' ta'c du.ng hu+~u hie^.u gia?m cholesterol trong ma'u, tu+'c gia?m thie^?u nguy co+ ca'c be^.nh lie^n quan dde^'n tim ma.ch, chu'ng cu~ng nga(n ca?n su+. pha't trie^?n ca'c ma^`m ung thu+, nga(n ngu+`a be^.nh tha^.n, be^.nh tie^?u ddu+o+`ng, be^.nh xo^'p xu+o+ng, be^.nh nhie^'p ho^. tuye^'n dda`n o^ng, va` ca'c trie^.u chu+'ng ro^'i loa.n tie^`n ma~n kinh phu. nu+~.

Va` mo^.t ddie^`u quan tro.ng kha'c, protein dda^.u na`nh se~ la`m gia?m ti`nh tra.ng thie^'u a(n tre^n the^' gio+'i, ne^'u nhu+ chu'ng ta thay ddo^?i chi'nh sa'ch a(n uo^'ng ba(`ng thu+.c pha^?m rau dda^.u ma` dda^.u na`nh la` tha`nh pha^`n dinh du+o+~ng ca(n ba?n.

Vo+'i lo`ng hoa`i ba~o thie^'t tha la` u+o+'c mong ta^'t ca? ca'c loa`i sinh va^.t tre^n tra'i dda^'t dde^`u ddu+o+.c so^'ng an la`nh ha.nh phu'c va` kho^ng co`n ca?nh nhu+~ng tre? em thie^'u a(n tre^n ca'c he` pho^' Calcutta, A^'n DDo^., be^n ca.nh nhu+~ng ddo^'ng ra'c o+? ca'c vu`ng que^ Indonesia, va` tre^n ca'c ca'nh ddo^`ng kho^ Phi Cha^u, chu'ng to^i bie^n soa.n quye^?n sa'ch na^`y va` cu~ng u+o+'c mong tin vui na`y ddu+o+.c truye^`n ddi bo^'n phu+o+ng ta'm hu+o+'ng dde^? mo.i ngu+o+`i bie^'t su+. lo+.i du+o+~ng ve^` ca^y dda^.u ky` die^.u.

California Nga`y 20 Tha'ng 11 Na(m 1998
Ta^m Die^.u (co`n tie^’p)

(to follow)

(co`n tie^’p)

Toøa Soaïn Buùt Vaøng phoûng vaán chò Ñoã Thò Thuaán, ngöôøi ñaõ neám muøi tuø döôùi cheá ñoä Coäng saûn trong khoaûng thaâp nieân 1980’s

Buùt Vaøng

 Butvang magazine interviews Ms. Thuan Thi Do, the person who had been in jail three times under the Communist regime during the 80’s.

Question: I have heard that you had been put in jails by the Vietnamese communists. Could you tell us about your experiences there?

Answer: I was put in jails three times in total. The first time was in 1979, while my husband was in a concentration camp. He kept on telling me to flee the country with my son for the sake of his future. Therefore, I tried to escape, and when we were in a small boat that was carrying us to the large one, the police came in their boat, pointing their guns, arrested us and took us back to their place for interrogation, then put us in the jail at Binh Chanh. The second time was when we were trying to flee the country by boat from Ba Ria, but then the waves were too big for the boat to bear, and we had to come back to the shore. We were captured and put into the jail of My Tho. The third time was when I was at home with my son, and the police came to my house and took hold of me for being a connection for people to flee the country by boat. This time I was again held at Binh Chanh jail, because the person who denounced me was also kept there. After 2 months, they transfered me to a re-education camp, named "Trai Giao Duc Lao Dong" (Training and Labor camp). Two people who tried to flee by boat were also transfered to this camp. The people in this camp usually had to labor for two years before being released.

Question: So all three of your jaillings were related to your attempt to escape from the country?

Answer: Yes, I was captured two times for trying to flee the country, and one time for being a connection for others to find a way to escape.

Question: So, you must know well about two jails in Vietnam. Could you tell us more about them?

Answer: There were many things to say about the Binh Chanh jail, the place where I was held two times. So let me tell you about the jail at My Tho first, then I can tell you about the Binh Chanh jail later.

When we were taken to the My Tho jail, they searched us, and took all the jewelry we had, then put the men and the women in separate rooms. Later on, I knew that the young men were interogated harshly, and many were beaten to make them point who the owner of the boats was. The women were not beaten. The condition in this jail was very inadequate, because the guards dishonestly skimmed off our food. Therefore after 15 days in jail, when I was released, my body was very thin, weighting only about 34 kilograms.

Question: Please tell us more about the diet and the sanitary conditions in the jail.

Answer: The sanitary condition was very bad. Every morning we were allowed to wash our faces and pour some water on our bodies, after the two prisoners, chiefs of our room, took their baths. All the water was in a drum-shaped container. However, the chiefs used the water very unsparingly, leaving us just a little bit at the bottom of the tank,mixed with alga. I could only draw up a few cups of water, not enough to rinse off the sweats from my body. The same thing happened everyday. One time I felt so bad that I cried just because of this little matter. Regarding to the diet, it was also as bad... The guards stole most of our rice, thus each of us were given just a little. I was with my youngest son who was one and a half years old at that time. We had two meals a day, and for each meal, we had only half of a rice bowl, with a little vegetable broth. I had to feed my son first, and when he finished eating, I had only about two spoons of rice left. It was fortunate that their policy was not to keep the women who had small children, so they released us after fifteen days. Otherwise we both would not be able to survive on such a diet.

Question: Yes, these things were impossible for the people from outside to realise, and people might think that angry former prisoners exaggerated them. But they happened over 10 years now, so they were not from the grudges that you might still hold, but theywere the truth, weren't they?

Answer: Yes, of course they were the truth. A truth that is hard to believe. I also thought that this jail was only a temporary one for people, since if it was a prison, then no one could survive it. Later on, when I was released, the people who did not have small children were transfered to a labor camp. Perhaps, at the labor camp, the prisoners could have some supplemental foods from their families, or the new diet and sanitation was better for them, but I don't know for sure.

Question: Yes, so that was about the My Tho jail; now, how about the Binh Chanh jail?

Answer: The sanitary condition at the Binh Chanh jail was much worse... Although it was only called a jail (temporary prison), I have seen people kept there for 3 years. Nevertheless, they were very patient, for they considered themselves luckier than the people who were put into Chi Hoa prison. I assume that Chi Hoa prison must be very terrible to make them so fearful of it.

Question: Could you please tell us where the Binh Chanh jail was, the size of it, and the kind of people who lived in it?

Answer: This jail was in the Binh Chanh district, Cho Lon, near the West Bus Park of Saigon. The prison was very small but very crowded. This prison was meant to hold criminals only, and boat people like me were very rare, since Binh Chanh was not near the coast. I was held there with all kinds of people, such as thieves, prostitutes, pimps, illegal fuel sellers, bus ticket smugglers, etc... When I was sent there for the second time, the only room for women was very crowded. There were 36 people together in a room of about ten feet on each side. When people slept, they had to lie very close to one another, and it was so tight that they couldn't straighten out their legs. If people wanted to turn their bodies, they would have to do it very gently, since they might wake their neighbors up. There was only a small opening of the size of a paper, for the guards to look in. Only a chief of the room could lie next to the door to have some air coming in from the gap at the bottom of the door. The rest would suffer the sweltering heat. Usually we could only sleep after midnight, when the wind began to blow in under the waving cement roof and made the room cooler.

Question: So that was the room for women. How about the men's place?

Answer: It was even more pitiful for the men. There were three rooms totally, not counting the punitive ones. Two rooms were for men and one for women. The rooms for men were about 5 or 6 meters long for the sides, but each of them held more than 200 people, and sometimes nearly 300 people. When the guards called the prisoners out to eat, I saw them walking out in stooping. Everyone was so thin, their bones showed through. Their backs were bent, becaused they had to sit all days and nights under the hot cement roof of the crowded rooms. I think they suffered a lot physically. I could not understand how they could stand living there for up to three years. One time a man told me that, living in those rooms, each of them had a small fan to fan himself days and nights. They couldn't sleep at night, because they couldn't lie down: not enough room. But when too tired, they fell down on one another, and when it was too heavy for the person at the bottom, he would rise up suddenly, waking all others up, and they would continue to wave their fans mechanically until a hellish night was over.

Question: What about washing and bathing?

Answer: Each morning the guards allowed us to wash our faces and to relieve ourselves once. Afterward, some of us took turn to take the water from the pond into our room to clean up the cement floor, while others were eating outside in the yard. In the afternoon, we were allowed to bath in that same pond. The water in the pond was very dirty. After I was there for only a month, I already got scabies in my feet, and they were so painful that everyday I sat there with tears flowing out from my eyes. The policiers, when seeing that, thought that I was mad, so they told the "Controllers" when those people came to see us, and I was sent to "Go Xoai labor camp" afterward. I thought I was luckier than the people who had to stay at Binh Chanh jail.

Question: In this jail, was there any beating or mistreatment of the prisoners?

Answer: I myself was not beaten, but the first day when I got there, my roommates warned me to be cautious, because they had been beaten previously, only because in the morning they took a little bit longer than usual to do the toilet. The guards got mad and used the electric whip to strike each woman twice in the hand. I did not know what the electric whip was because I only heard of it. It was probably made of a tough piece of electric wire, and similar to a whip.

Question: And how was the labor camp?

Answer: At the labor camp, the beating of the prisoners was a regular thing, and that could happen any time.

Question: Could you tell us a typical case?

Answer: The first time that I witnessed the beating was just two days after I arrived. On that day, I was lucky to be allowed to stay at the camp to put the straws out into the sunlight to dry. In the afternoon, when the women came back from work, I saw that they had to line up and all of them had to lie down to be struck five times with a solid bamboo cane. I was so fearful to hear their painful screamings. Later, I learned that when they returned from work, a woman was missing. The guards got angry and beat the women for failing to watch out for one another, even though they knew full well that the women were very busy working, and it was impossible to keep an eye on one another.

The bruises on the buttocks of those women turned purple and remained there for a month. When I questioned one of them about her feeling, she told me that it was like being hit by a jack fruit that fell down from a tree. However, I understood that the panic, the fear, the humiliation, and the helplessness had wounded them much more than being hit by a falling jack fruit. It was such a blatant violation of human dignity. They beat the prisoners barbarically and senselessly.

The second time I has almost got a beating from them. When they came to check our blood to see if any of us had a venereal disease, two (to be) boat women avoided to have their blood taken because they were afraid that the needles were not well sanitated.

Unfortunately the guard wrote down the names of the people who had their blood taken. I let them take my blood and was left alone, but the two women were each punished by one cane struck. I thought those beatings were totally senseless, having no constructive purpose, but only to coerce us into their rules, no matter how unreasonable they were.

The third time that I saw a beating was when they caught the girl who had escaped the other day. Coincidentally the camp warden met the girl on a river crossing, so he called the police to arrest her and took her back to the prison camp. Even though it was a long time since the escape, the guards still resented her, because they had to run hard to look for her the other day. Therefore, they hung her hands up to the ceiling, and then took turn to strike her with a cane all over her body for over 100 times. The girl thus suffered bruises everywhere, and her knee injuries made her unable to walk, and for a month, she had to rely on a friend to carry her in and out everyday, on the friend's back, for her to do the toilet.

That was the beatings in the communist jails. I saw that these beatings were very common, and although it had been more than ten years now -- I was put in jail that time in 1987, 12 years after the communists took over the South -- I don't think that they made any change since then, since there was no one to defend the rights of prisoners under that regime, there was no freedom of press, no one to uncover such barbarity, and in Vietnam there was no justice, no lawyer to protest for them when they were treated brutally in prisons. I promised myself that when I go to another country, I would speak up of such horrible things, with the hope that the Vietnamese communists would stop mistreating their prisoners and make their lives more bearable. And who were those prisoners? those people did not commit grave crimes; some of them sold illegal gasoline, some were prostitutes, and some sold cigarettes illegally, etc..., and all that happened because of the difficult general economic situation that made them do such things.

The labor camp did not reform anyone, because when they were released after two years, they did not have any new skill, and they did not want to go back to farming, because farming was so hard. They would return to their old ways, and thus returned to jail again. The vicious cycle just continued. Prisoners in Vietnam were looked upon like a dog or a cat that a guard can beat up any time. Today my only hope is for those in power in Vietnam to change their policies, and to have a more humane way to treat their prisoners, to show that they deserve to lead the people of Vietnam during the 21st century, and not to bring the people of Vietnam back to the feudal time of several centuries ago.

Translator: BnPham

Bu't Va`ng