Co' tie^'ng ddo^.ng co* xe may' da^`u no^? don` o*? co^?ng. Chuo^ng vu*`a reo, chu' Lu*u dda~ dda~ ra mo*? co^?ng, to^i ddang ddu*'ng o*? mo^.t go'c vuo`n. Ai nhi? "Vuo`n Thuy'" ga^`n nhu* khong co' khach', to^i way' dda^`u lai. tre^n tay con` ca^`m mot. canh` hoa ho^`ng mo*'i ca('t. Mo.t thanh nie^n ddang vin. chie^'c xe mo^ to^ ddu*'ng nga^?n nguo`i nhin` chong` cho.c vao` to^i. To^i ho*k ngac. nhie^n nhu*ng cho*.t hie^?u ra ngay, dda^y la` ha('n, Thach. Lo^~i. Ca? hai chung' to^i dde^`u nga^?n nguo`i ra ma^'t mo^.t luc', TL vi` anh chang` tuo?ng 
ra(`ng ddang chim` dda('m trong ao? giac', to^i vi` TL wa? tha^.t ddeP. trai, ddeP. ho*n ca? trong anh? . Mot. luc' la^u to^i mo*'i cho*.t tinh? va` mi?m cuo`i chao` TL.
TL trao xe cho chu' Lu*u va` bu*o*'c nhu*~ng buo'c dai` ve^` phia' to^i, ddu*'ng mo^.t no*i cach' to^i khong xa va` dung` anh' ma('t nhu* bo^'c lu*?a nhin` to^i tu*` dda^`u dde^'n cha^n, ro^`i nhe^'ch mo^i khe~ noi' :

-Quai' la. !

Va` ro^`i TL hoi? to^i:

-Thu*a co^, co^ la` ai?

-Du* My~ Hoa`nh. TO^i tra? lo*`i.

-Con` ong co' phai? ong la` TL, khong? To^i dda~ dduo.c nghe anh ong noi' dde^'n ong nhie^`u la('m.

TL dung` ra(ng ca('n la^'y mo^i, tre^n ma(.t lo^. net' bu*.c doc. va` ba^'t man~. Ga~ nhin` to^i mot. la^`n nua~ va` noi':

-Co^ o*? dda^y lam` gi`?

-Ca('t hoa ho^`ng? to^i noi'.

-To^i muo^'n hoi? co^ lam` gi` o*? vuo`ng thuy' nay` ?

-To^i la` thu* ky' cua? anh ong.

Ro^`i to^i mim? cuo`i nhin` TL va` noi' tie^'p:

-O^ng lam` o*n ca^`m ho^. to^i chie^'c gio? nay` mot. ti'? To^i con` phai? ca('t the^m ma^'y canh` hoa nua~ mo*'i ca('m ddu? cac' binh`.

To^i khong ddo*.i TL tra? lo*`i va` cu*' trao chie^'c gio? cho ga~, ga~ ngoan ngoan~ ca^`m la^'y vo*'i ca(.p ma('t nhin` to^i, chong` cho.c khong cho*'p. DDung' nhu* su*. du*. ddoan' cua? Thach. P, dung nhan cua? to^i dda~ ga^y dduo.c su*. chu' y' cua? TL, nhung cai' nhin` soi boi' cua? ga~ lam` to^i ca?m tha^'y kho' chiu. ddo^n`g tho*`i to^i co' cai' ca?m giac' la` mao. dang. mot. ke? khac' dde^? me^ hoa(.c nguo`i thanh nie^n nay`, mot. no^~i buo^`n mang mac' lu*o*'t wa ta^m tu* to^i, to^i buo^.t mie^.ng noi', khong kip. suy nghi~:

-Co' phai? xu*a nay ga(.p ba^'t cu*' ai ong cu~ng nhing chong` cho.c nguo`i ta nhu* the^' khong?

Ga~ ho*i bo^'i ro^'i ddaP':

-O*, sin lo^~i, vi`... vi` co^ gio^'ng y nhu* mot. nguo`i ban. cua? to^i...

Trong ddam' ho*n mot. nga`n nguo`i u*'ng tuye^?n ma` dduo.c chon thi` di~ nhie^n la` phai? gio^'ng ro^`i. To^i nhin` ga~, net' bu*c. doc. dda~ tie^u tan tre^n guong ma(.t ga~, thay vao` ddo' la mot. it' ba(n khoa(n va` vai` net' bo^'i ro^i', tha^~n tho*`. To^i bo^~ng cam? tha^'y thuong hai. ga~ thuong hai. mot. cach' sa^u dda^m. 

-The^' a` ! Gio^'ng la('m u* ?

-Va^ng...Ro^`i ga~ cui' dda^`u noi' nhu* vu*`a dde^? ma^'t mot. cai' gi` :

-Co^ dde^'n dda^u bao la^u ro^`i?

-Khong hie^?u sao anh Ca? to^i, anh a^'y lai. muo.n thu* ky' ?

TL la^`m ba^`m tu*. nhu? ro^`i lai. nga^?ng le^n nhin` to^i. Tro^ng tha^`n sa(' ga~ nhu* ke? ma^'t ho^`n :

-Co^ ne^n ma(c. ao' ho^`ng! Ga` noi' tha^.t khe~ .

-Vi` nang` thuo`ng ma(.c ao' ho^`ng phai? khong ?

To^i hoi? ga^`n nhu* ba^ng wO* va` ca('t the^m hai canh` hoa ho^ng` dde^? vao` chie^'c gio? tre^n tay TL.

-Nang` ? Ga~ chau may`.

-Va^ng na`ng... TP, co' ddung' khong?

-TP... TL giu*.t ba('n nguo`i le^n hoi? :

-Lam` sao co^ bie^'t dduoc. te^n nang` ? Co^ con` bie^'t nhung~ gi` nua~ ?

-Ca^u chuye^n. noi' ve^` TP va` Ddong, to^i vo^ tinh` bie^'t dduoc. vi` ong Tha.ch P dda` dde^? cai' phong` truoc' dda^y cua? nang` cho to^i dung`.

Ne't a^u lo cua? ga~ dda~ tie^u tan va` nhuo`ng cho^~ cho mo.t ve? mo* mang` nao~ ruo^.t, ga` noi' :

-Cha('t la` co^ dda~ ddoc. xong nha^.t ky' cua? TP ro^`i thi` phai?

-Va^ng !

To^i dda(.t canh` hoa cuo^'i cung` vu*`a ca('t vao` chie^c' gio? Anh' na('ng sang' tuoi, gio' thu thoang thoa?ng ba^'t giac' to^i ddu*a cao hai can'h tay le^n noi' :

-Cu*' dde^'n mo^~i ddo^. tie^'t tro*`i tuoi ma't nhu* the^' nay`, to^i ca?m tha^'y toan` tha^n thu* thai'. Chung' ta cu*' tu*. nhie^n cha^'p nha^.n ra^'t nhie^`u nhu~ng su*. ddo^?i thay, nhi? Hoa no*?, ro^`i tan`. Tro*`i tanh. ro^`i mu*a va` con` bie^'t bao su*. bie^'n thie^n khac' ma` chun'g ta cu*' phai? cha^'p nha^.n

TL noi' xen vao` :

-Nhung cu~ng co' su*. ddo^?i thay ma` chung' ta khong the^? cam ta^m cha^'p nha^.n !

To^i nhin` TL noi' :

-DDung' ! DDo' la` luc' ma` nhu*~ng su*> ddo^?i thay co' lie^n lac. ma^.t thie^'t vo*'i tinh` ca?M

To^i hi't mot. ho*i dai` khong khi' ro^`i chuye^?n huo'ng ca^u chuye^.n :

-DDi, ta ddi ve^` ddi... a`, ong co' vui lon`g giup' to^i ca('m nhung~ ddoa' hoa nay` vao` binh` khong?

TL nhun' vai khong noi' gi`. Chung' to^i buo'c vao` trong phong` khach', o*? dda^y vu*`a ro.ng vu*`a lo*` mo*` to^'i va` co' ve? la`nh lanh. To^i dda(.t gio? hoa tre^n ban`. Thu Cuc' bie^'t y' dda~ thu tha^.p ta^'t ca? nhu~ng binh` hoa lai. mo^.t cho^~. To^i ngo^`i o*? mot. chie^'c ghe^' sa-long truo'c ba`n, ca('c gon. nhu~ng nhanh' hoa, ro^`i ca('m vao` binh`. Gian phong` tha^.t ye^n ti~nh. TL ngo^`i mot. be^n, buo^`n ba~ nhin` to^i ca('m hoa. Khong bie^'t ga~ ddang nghi~ gi` ? Mot. luc' sau, khi to^i dda(.t mot. binh` hoa dda~ ca('m xong sang mot. be^n va` ba('t dda^`u ca('m mot. binh` khac', TL bo^~ng khe~ nga^m :

Mu*a tanh. tro*`i quang, vuo`n ru*.c sang'
Ho^m so*'m dda^`u xua^n lai. sa('p sang
Danh hoa tu*a. bong' ru*`ng hoang
Pha^'n huong thoang thoa?ng, nhuy. van`g so* khai...

To^i lie^'c ma('t nhin` TL roi` mim??? cuo`i nga^m tie^'p ddoan. sau :

Hai' ve^` na^ng da^'c tre^n tay
Cang` nhin`, cang` nga('m, cang` say dda('m long`
Canh' hoa mo*n mo*?n thu*'c ho^`ng
Tu*a. von`g tay ao' la^ng la^ng then. thung`

TL nhuo'ng may` nhin` to^i :

-DDa^y la` mot. bai` "Tu*`" ddo*`i Ma~n Thanh ma` co^ cung~ thuo^.c nhi?

-The^' con` ong?

To^i mim? cuo`i hoi? lai. TL

-O*` to^i, to^i hoc. ve^` va(n hoc. Trung-Hoa o*? vie^.n khao? cu*u' ma`.

-To^i cu~ng hoc. ve^` mo^n na`y o*? DDai. Ho.c

To^i noi', TL tro^' ma('t nhin` to^i cung~ ye^n la(.ng nhin` lai. ga~. An'h ma('t ga~ co' ve? trO*? ne^n thanh` thu*.c. Sau ddo', ga~ ngo^`i du*a. vao` ghe^' ye^n la(.ng nhin` le^n tra^`n nha, to^i khong nhin` ga~, lo ca('m hoa vao` binh` cho xong, mot. lat' sau to^i mo*i' bao? ga~ :

-To^i ddi le^n la^`u , co' le~ anh ong cung~ sa('p ve^` va` se~ giao vie^.c cho to^i la`m con` ong?

-Co^ cu*' dde^? ma(.c to^i !

Ga~ noi' co^.c lo^c' vo*'i giang' ddie^.u ba^'t ca^`n, ro~ la` mot. con nguo`i tinh' ne^'t thay ddo^?i tha^'t thuo`ng, kho' ma` ddo^'i pho'. To^i mang hai binh` hoa ddi le^n la^`u, dde^'n dda^`u ca^`u thang, to^i way dda^`u lai. noi' :

-Thach. tie^n sinh a`, co' le~ ta khong ne^n so^'ng mai~ mai~ vo*i' di~ vang~ ! Co' nhie^`u vie^.c ta co' the^? kho^'ng che^' dduoc. cu~ng co' ra^'t nhie^`u vie^.c ta chiu. ba^'t lu*.c truo'c no'. Chung' ta khong la`m sao co' the^? xoay chuye^?n dduoc. y' tro*`i, co' phai? khong? Du` sao ddi nu*~a, nha^n loai. chun'g ta wa' be' nho? wa' ye^'u o*t', khong la`m sao dduong dda^`u dduoc. vo*'i nhung~ ddinh. me^.nh ac' nghie^.t ma` chung' ta khong trong tha^'y. Ong la`m sao co' the^? dduong dda^`u vo*i' nhung~ su*. huye^`n bi' va` nhu~ng su*'c manh. vo^ hinh`? DDu*`ng tu*. lam` khO^? minh`, hay~ we^n ddi. Trong ddo*i` chun'g ta, chung' ta con` phai? we^n ddi ra^'t nhie^`u, ra^'t nhie^`u vie^.c co* ma` !

Nhu~ng lo*`i noi' cua? to^i tha^.t la` ngu ngo^'c. Tu*` luc' ba('t dda^`u ga(.p TL to^i dda~ tha^'y minh` ngu ngo^c', le~ ra to^i phai? gia? vo*` khong bie^'c mo^.t ti' gi` ve^` vie^.c TP. To^i trong tha^'y ve? gia^.n du*~ lo^. ha(?n tre^n ma('t ga~, ga~ ddu*'ng nho?m le^n, noi' nhu* het':

-Co^ la` ai? Co^ la^'y tu* cach' gi` dde^? noi' vo*i' to^i nhu~ng lo*`i nay`? Co^ tha^.t la` to gan lo*n' ma^.t, to^'t ho*n he^'t la` co^ ne^n cut' le^n la^`u ddi, cu't ddi !

To^i bo* tho*` bo? ddi le^n la^`u, to^i nghe ga~ ddang mo*? tu? la^'y ruo.u ra uo^'ng. To^i lam` gi`? Ma` tai. sao to^i lai. ddi gia^y vao` cac' vie^.c nay` chu*' ? To^i le^n dde^n' ca^u` thang thi` ba('t ga(.p Thac.h P hin`h nhu* ong ta ddu*'ng ddo' la^u la('m ro^`i va` dda~ nghe tha^'y ta^'t ca?, vu*`a cham. phai? anh' ma('t ddie^`m nhie^n cua? ong toi noi' ngay :

-To^i xin ong cho to^i tho^i vie^.c

Ban` tay cua? Thach. P dda(.t tre^n vai to^i, anh' ma('t ong ta o^n hoa` nhu* anh' na('ng be^n ngoai` cu*?a so^?, ong khe~ noi' :

-Khong, to^i cha? nghe the^', co^ hay~ cu*' o*? lai. dda^y Du* Tie^?u thu*.

Khong bie^'t co' phai? giong. no'i kha^?n khoa?n cua? ong ta hay anh' ma('t tha thie^'t cua? ong ta dda~ lam` to^i ca?m ddo^.ng ma^'t he^'t tu*. chu? to^i ddu*'ng y` ra ddo', ong ta lai. khe~ noi' the^m :

-Co^ ha~y o*? lai. dda^y, chung' to^i ca^`n co' co^.

The^' u* ? The^' u*? Ca? mot. ddo*`i to^i dda^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n to^i nghe tha^'y nguo`i khac' noi' "ca^`u" min`h , mot. su*. kich' ddo^.ng khong the^? nao` giai? thic'h bo^~ng phat' trong to^i. To^i hoi? :

-Va^ng to^i se~ o*? lai. !

Nhu~ng ddoa' hoa ho^`ng tre^n tay to^i toa? huong ngao` ngat. to^i ung dung, la^`n lu*o*.t mang hoa vao` phong` cua? Thach. P va` cua? TL.

To^i bo? quye^?n nha^.t ky' sang mot. be^n, khoac' chie^'c ao' choa`ng va`o va` ddi ra ddu'ng be^n cu*a? so^?, ngoai` tro*`i, va^`ng tra(ng sang' ddang treo lo* lu*~ng tre^n khong. Trong vuo`n, bong' hoa lay ddong., anh' sang' di`u diu. soi vao` khung cu*a? so^?, hu*o*ng tho*m thoang thoa?ng toa? ngat' trong khong gian, dda^`y ve? quye^'n ru?. To^i keo' canh' cu*?a phong` va` bu*o*'c ra ngoai` khe khe~ ddi doc. theo hanh` lang ve^` cuO^'i day~ be^n kia, o*? ddo' co' mo.t canh' cu*?a kinh' a(n tho^ng le^n sa^n thuo.ng . To^i vu*a` dde^? tay le^n canh' cu*?a kin'h to^i bo^~ng khu*.ng lai. co' mot. bong' nguo`i ddang ddu*'gn tu*a. be^n lan can cua? sa^n thuo.ng vo*i' anh' lu*?a tre^n dda^`u ddie^'u thuo^'c loe' le^n trong bong' dde^m. Ai the^' nhi? Thach. P hay TL? To^i dda^?y cu*a? bu*o*'c ra, nguo`i a^'y ddu*'ng du*.a nghie^ng nghie^ng dang' nguo`i dong dong~ cao vo*i' ddo^i cha^n dai` ddu*'ng ye^n ba^'t ddo^.ng . Luc' to^I dde^'n ga^`n y nhe. nhang` le^n tie^'ng :

To^i nghe ra la` giong. cua? Thach. P

-Va^ng, khong nhu~ng trong lanh`, ma` con` ddu*o*.m ca? mui` tho*m cua? hoa nu*a~

To^i tu*a. nguo`i vao` lan can nhin` ra vuo`n hoa dda('m du*o*'i anh' tra(ng. To^I nga^?ng dda^`u le^n nhin` va^`ng tra(ng, noi':

-Khi con` be', to^i cu*' tin tu*o*?ng ra(`ng co' mot. dde^m nao` ddo', se~ co' mot. chie^'c thang mau` nga` tu*` tre^n cung tra(ng thong` xuo^'ng va` mot. nang` tie^n hie^.n ra va` ban cho to^i ra^'t nhie^`u ddo^` va^.t dde^? to^i thU*.c hanh` ta^'t ca? nhu~ng u*o*'c vong. cua? to^i.

Thac.h P hut' mot. ho*i thuo^c' va` hoi? :

-Ho^`i ddo', u*o*'c vong. cu?a co^ la` nhu~ng gi` nhi?

-La` dduo.c ye^u thu*o*ng...

Ro^`i to^i mi?m cuO`i noi' tie^'p :

-DDuo.c ta^'t ca? lu~ ban. be`, ai cung~ me^n' ye^u to^i.

-Co^ co' wa' tham lam khong nhi?

To^i khong ddaP', nhin` le^n va^`ng tra(ng khe~ noi' :

-Cho dde^'n ba^y gio*` va^~n chU*a co' nang` tie^n nao` hie^n. xuo^n'g ca? 

-Co' le~ co' ro^`i ma` co^ khong dde^? y' dda^'y tho^i.

-A` a' ?

To^i nhin` Thac.h P trong bong' to^'i lo*`mo*` gu*o*ng ma(.t ong khong wa' nghie^m trang va` kho' tie^'p xu'c nhu* luc' ban ngay`

-Ne^'u nang` hie^.n xuo^'ng dda^y thi` cung~ vi` nguO`i khac' ma` xuo^'ng chu*' con` to^i thi`...

-Theo to^i, co' mo.t tinh' tin`h cao ngao. va` long` tu*. to^n wa' sa^u dda^.m ddo' la` mo^.t trO*? ngai. lo*'n cho co^.

-The^' con` ong, ong dda~ cha(?ng nhu* va^.y sao? 

To^i noi', anh' tra(ng lam` to^i tro*? ne^n bao. dan. Im la(.ng mot. luc' ro^`i ong ta cuo`i noi' :

To^I khong noi' gi` nhung ca?m tha^'y ho^`i ho^.p mo.t cach' kho' hie^?u, ca^u noi' nay` mang y' nghi~a gi`? To^i khong the^? nao` ca^n nha('c dduoc. THa.ch P cu~ng khong noi' gi`. Mot. luc' la^u sau, ong ta mo*'i cha^.m ra~i noi' :

-Tu*` luc' be', co^ khong co' anh em, chi. em sao?

-Thu*a khong!

-10 tuo^?i mo^` coi cha, 11 tuo^?i mo^` coi me. ?

-Va^ng!

-Ne^'u the^' co^ cung~ dda~ lam` wen vo*'i su*. co^ ddo^.c dda~ tu*`ng bi. su*. ti.ch mi.ch ap' bu*'c cung` la` ne^'m mui` vi. cua? su*. u*'c pha^~n no' tho^i thuc' co^ phai? dda.p tung nhu~ng rang` buo^.c a^'y, dde^? la het' vung` va^~y cho thoa? thich'?

-Va^ng, va^ng ddun'g nhu* va^.y dda^'y! Ong cunG~ the^' sao? To^i noi' mot. ho*i.

-Trong mot. tho*`i gian kha' la^u to^i la` con mot., mai~ la^u la('m sau, me. to^I mo*'i sanh TL, ro^`i cha me. noi' tie^'p nhau wa ddo*`i, ke^'t wa? to^I co* ho^` khong phai? la` mot. nguo`i anh ca?, ma` ga^`n nhu* mot. nguo`i cha cua? TL.

-Tuo^?i tho* cua? ong cung~ khong c' la^'y mot. nu. cu*o*`i ?

-Chi? co' co^ ddo*n, vo*'i wa' nhie^`u nhu~ng che^'t cho'c va` bi thu*o*ng. DDe^'n luc' kho^n lo*'n thi` trac'h nhie^.m lai. dde~ na(.ng vai, nhung ma`... Cu~ng nhU* co^ noi' ddo', trong ddo*`i con nguo`i ca^`n phai? we^n ra^'t nhie^`u co* ma` !

-Nhung...Nhu~ng no^~i bi thu*o*ng, ta khong lam` sao we^n dduo.c Thach. P nhin` to^i, anh' ma('t ngo*`i le^n trong dde^m to^i'.

-Co^ co' nhie^`u y' nghi~ no' vu*o*.t le^n khoi? tuo^?i cua? co^.

-The^' o*? cai' tuo^?i cua? to^i, ne^n phai? co' thai' ddo^. nhu* the^' nao` ?

-Mo* mo^.ng, tuo^? cua? co^ la` tuo^?i mo* mo^.ng

-Luc' o*? vao` lu*'a tuo^?i cua? to^i, ong co' mo* mong khong?

-Khong, luc' a^'y ong no^.i to^i ddang ddaU, tre^n vai to^i la` ca? mot. ganh' na(.ng gia ddinh`. DDi ho.c ddi lam` va` tim` vie^.c lam` ban dde^m, to^i ba^.n wa' dda^u con` co' thi` gio*` dde^? mo* mo^.ng

-DDe^'n luc' co' tho*`i gio*` dde^? mo* mo^.ng thi` ong dda` mo* mo^.ng chu*a?

-DDa~! Mo^.t gia^'c mo^.ng ra^'t hoang ddu*o*`ng.

Tha.ch P ca('n mo^i, nhu~ng dduo`ng net' tre^n ma(.t ong ddo^.t nhie^n ra('n lai.

-Mo^.t gia^c' mong. ru*.c ro*~ dda^`y mau` sa('c nhu* mot. cai' ca^`u vong`, no' lam` to^i nga^'t nga^y ca? nguo`i nhung ro^`i no' cung~ tan ddi va` tie^'p theo sau la` dde^m to^i' day` da(.c

-Ong muo^'n am' chi?... To^i buo^.c mie^n.g hoi? , ba` vo*? cua? ong u* ?

Thach. P gia^.t na^?y nguo`i le^n nhU* vu*a` bi. ddie^'u thuo^'c lam` chay' tay, ong ta way pha('t nguo`i lai. nhin` to^i, su*. an ddie^`m tie^u tan dda^u ma^'t, nang` tie^n dda~ vu.t trO*? le^n cung tra(ng, gio.ng ong ta tro*? ne^n lanh. nhat. va` dda^`y ca(m tu*'c :

-Co^ ddu*`ng to` mo` tim` hie^?u nhu*~ng vie^.c co^ khong ne^n bie^'t, Du* tie^?u thu* !

Long` to^i bo^~ng gia' lanh. ha(?n ddi. cai' lanh. o*? dda^U tu*` anh' tra(ng, tu*` hu*o*ng hoa va` tu*` nhu~ng vie^n ga.ch du*o*'i cha^n truye^`n dde^'n, to^i ddu*'ng ngay nguo`i le^n, gion.g noi' cua? to^I ra('n lai. ddanh thep' :

-To^i se~ nho*' lo*`i ong day. thu*a ong Tha.ch P va` to^i cung~ se~ khong lam` mo.t ddie^`u gi` wa' pha^.n nu*~a.

To^i noi' tha^.t nhanh, ddo^`ng tho*`i, way lu*ng ro*`i bo? sa^n thu*o*.ng va` ddi ve^` tha(?ng ca(n phong` cua? to^i.

To^i lai. cang` khong the^? nao` ngu? dduo.c nu*~a. To^i ngo^`i tre^n chie^c' ghe^' dde^? o*? cu*?a so^?, ddu*a tay o^m la^'y dda^`u, khong bie^'t co' ma wai' gi` nha^.p ma` tai. sao to^i lai. ddi dda?m nha^.n mo.t vie^.c lam` wai' go*? nhu* the^' nay`? Ddinh. me^.nh nao` dun dui? to^i dde^'n dda^y? DDe^? ro^`i bi. gia^y giu*a vao` cai' ca^u chuYe^n. ky` wai' cua? nha` nay`!

Chie^'c dde`n tre^n dda^`u giu*o*`ng to^i mo*` mo*` ao? ao? , to^i cu*' ngo^`i ye^n nhu* the^' khong ddo^.ng dda^.y La^u la('m, cho dde^'n luc' co' mo.t loat. tie^'ng cha^n nguo`i lam` to^i kinh ddo^.ng, co' nguo`i ddang ddi o*? hanh` lang, tie^'ng bu*o*'c na(.ng ne^` khong dde^`u, ai va^.y ha' ? To^i co`n ddang ngo* nga'c thi` cu*a? phon`g cua? to^i bi. ba^.t mo*?, mo.t bon'g dden bu*o*'c vao`, to^i suy't nu*~a dda~ he't le^n, nhung ngay luc' a^'y to^i nha^.n ra TL. Ga~ qua^`u ao' xo^c' xe^'ch, bu*o*'c cha^n ga~ che^.ng choa.ng, nha^'t ddinh. ga` dda` uo^'ng wa' nhie^`u ru*o*.u . To^i ddu*'ng le^n dde^'n ga^`n ddu*a tay ddo*~ ga~. 

-Ong say ro^`i! To^i khe~ noi' vi` khong muo^'n ddanh' thu*c' ca? nha`.

-Ong ne^n ve^` phong` ddi nghi? ddi!

Ga` nhin` tO^i vo*'i ddo^i ma('t dd? ngau`. Ga` ddu*a tAY le^n, run run so*` vao` ma(.t to^i, mo^`m li' nhi' goi. ddi goi. lai. :

-Tie^?u Pham`! TP! TP!

Long` to^i se lai., su*. run ra^?y ga~ hinh` nhu* ddang truYe^`n sang to^i, to^i cam? tha^'y ga~ thanh nie^n ddo' ddang bi. tin`h ye^u da(`n va(.t dde^'n ddo^. ddang ddi da^`n vao` co~i che^'t. To^i nghe tha^'y tie^'ng ke^u ddau ddo*'n, wa(`n wai. va` khao khat' cua? ga~, nhung to^i khong phai? la` TP! Song to^i khong no*~ noi' tra('ng ra, khong no*~ lam` tan gia^'v mo^.ng cu?a ga~.

Ga~ lai. goi. va` choa`ng tay wa to^i, ro^`i trong mot. thoan'g to^i bi. ga~ o^m vao` long`, mo^i ga~ khao khat' dda(.t le^n mo^i to^i. DDa^`u to^i choa'ng vang', nhung tO^i va^~n chu*a ma^'t ha(?n ly' tri'. DDa^y la` chie^'c ho^n dda^`u tie^n trong ddo*`i to^i, la^`n dda^`u tie^n to^i bi. mo.t ga~ ddan` ong o^m va`o lon`g, ma` to^i lai. la` ke? thay the^' mo.t nguo`i con gai' khac'!

Ddo^.t nhie^n ga` buo^ng to^i ra, anh' ma('t ga~ trO*? ne^n hung han~ cuo^`ng no^. :

-Co^ la` ai? Ga` ga(`n gion.g hoi? 

-Du* My~ Hoa`nh! Giong. to^i vu*a` kho^ khan vu*`a chua chat'. Khuo^n ma(.t ga~ ddanh lai. va` tai' ha(?n ddi.

-Khong phai? qui? wai' ma` la` nguo`i! To^i ue^? oa?i noi'.

-Co^ tu*` dda^u dde^'n dda^y? Tai. sao, co^ lai. gia? dang. la` TP? Co^ noi' ddi! Co^ noi' ddi!

Ha('n gao` the't, to^i tra^'n ti~nh tinh tha^`n ddi ba^.t sang' ngon. dden` lo*'n giu*~a phong`. To^i bie^'t, to^i ca^`n phai? ddanh' nga~ ga~, ne^'u cu*' dde^? cho ga~ tim` hinh` bonh' TP tre^n con nguo`i to^i thi` khong the^? nao` cu*'U dduo.c ga~. To^i way pha('t nguo`i lai. nhin` ga~, dung` mo.t giong. noi' ngoai` su*. du*. lie^u. cua? to^i, to^i he't le^n :

Giong. noi' cua? to^i wa? tinh` lam` ga~ so*. hai~, ga~ nga^?n nguo`i ra tro^' ma('t nhin` to^i. Tie^'p theo ddo', ga~ tha^~n tho*` cui' ma(.t , gio^'ng nhu* dang' ddie^.u luc' to^i ga(.p ga~ o*? vu*o*`n hoa. Ga` bo^'i ro^'i, loa.ng choa.ng mo^`m li' nhi' noi' :

-To^i... To^i xin lo^~i, tai. to^i say wa'. To^i nhin` la^`m nguo`i, to^i ngo*~, to^i ngo*~... DU` sao ddo nu*~a... To^i ra^'t ho^'i ha^n. to^i dda~ lam` mo.t vie^.c vo^ y' thu*'c. To^i xin lo^~i co^.

Ga~ lui ve^` phia' cu*?a phong`, net' ma(.t tha?m hai. cua? ga~ lam` to^i ddau lon`g, tu*. nhie^n to^i ddi theo ga~ ra dde^n' cu*?a vin. tay le^n canh' cu*a? nhin` ga~ nga` xie^u, nga` veo. bu*o*'c ve^` phong` minh`. Sau ddo', to^i trong tha^y' Tha.ch P ddu*'ng o*? hanh` lang, hai tay thoc. vao` tui' ai' cua? bo^. ddo^` ngu? ye^n la(.ng ddu*'ng nhin` ta^'t ca? Chun'g to^i 4 ma('t nhin` nhau mot. luc' that. la^u, Tha.ch P mo*'i khe~ noi' :

-Kha' la('m! Du* tie^?u thu*!

Vo*'i no^~i pha^~n no^. ddo^.t nhie^n bo^.c phat' trong long`, to^i khong con` kie^`m che^' dduo.c nu*~a, vo*'i gion.g gia^.n du*~ va` ba^'t bi`nh, to^i noi' :

-Ong khong ne^n dda^?y to^i vao` ca^u chuye^n. nay`, dde^? to^i lu`i khong dduoc. ma` ro*i vao` ca.m ba^~y cua? ong. Ong ddu*`ng tu*o*?ng ra(`ng tO^i thic'h la`m co^ng vie^.c nay`. To^i khong ddi, la` vi` to^i thu*o*ng hai. ga~.

-Thach. P dde^'n ga^`n to^i, anh' ma('t linh ddo^.ng du*`ng lai. o*? gu*o*ng ma(.t to^i.

-Sao? To^i dda~ la`m to^?n thu*o*ng dde^'n lon`g tu*. ai' cua? co^ u*?

-To^i...

Bo^~ng nhie^n, anh' ma('t to^i bi. mot. lo*'p le^. trao` le^n phu? la^y' ! To^i bi. to^?N thu*o*ng ddaU phai? chi? mo^~i lon`g tu*. ai' ma` thO^i ?

-Tha^.t mo^.t tra(m nga`n la^`n tO^i khong ne^n dde^'n cho^n' nay`, khong bie^'t ma wi? gi` xui khie^'n to^i u*ng thua^n. lam` cai' co^ng vie^.c na`y.

-Khong phai? ma qui? gi` dda^u, ma` la` long` thu*o*ng nguo`i cua? co^!

Ong ta nhai. lai. ca^u to^i noi' vo*'i TL khi nai~. To^i nhin` Tha.ch P mo^.t thoa'ng cha(?ng bie^'t noi' gi` ho*n la` la('c dda^`u cha^.m rai~ ddo'ng cu*?a phong` lai. Tro*`i dda~ sa('p sang', anh' ho^`ng dda~ lo' dang. ngoai` dda^`u nui' xa xa.

Ho^m nay mo*'i sang' so*m', TL dda~ ddi ra ngoai`, to^i khong bie^'t ga~ ddi dda^u. DDe^n' chiE^`u, ga` va` chie^'c xe may' da^`u chay. nhu* gio' dda~ tro*? ve^`. Vao` dde^n' nha`, ga~ ne'm bao tay va` kinh' dden o*? phong` khach', chay. dde^'n can.h tu? lo^i ra mot. chai ru*o*.u, chu*a bao gio*` to^i tha^'y sa('c ma(.t ga~ tra('ng nho*.t nhu* ba^y gio*`. Ga~ ca^`m chai ruo.u xo^ng tha(?ng le^n la^`u, ba^'t giac' to^i chay. theo ga~ va` ke^u le^n :

-Tha.ch Lo^~i !

-Cu't...ddi!

Ga~ gao` le^n va` tie^'p tuc. xo^ng le^n, Tha.ch P tu*` phong` sach' chay. ra va` ddu*'ng o*? dda^`u ca^u` thang, chau may` goi. :

-TL!

-Cut' ddi, cu't ddi, cac' nguo`i hay~ cu't ca? ddi! 

Ha('n gao` the't dde^'n tha^'t thanh, ga~ xo^ Tha.ch P sang mot. be^n va` chaY. vao` phong` cua? ga~

To^i va` Tha.ch Phong im la(.ng nhin` nhau. Sa('c ma(.t Thac.h P dda^`y ve? tham? nao~, mot. luc' la^u chang` mo*'i ca^'t gion.g noi':

-No' lai. ddi tha(m Tie^?u Pham` ve^` dda^'y!

-Nang` o*? dda^u? To^i hoi?

-Cu~ng o*? gan^` dda^y, trong mot. du*o*~ng ddu*o*`ng tu* nha^n ma` vi. bac' si~ Giam' DDo^'c la` ban. cu?a to^i.

-Nang` khong co'... hy vong. chu*~a khoi? dduo.c sao ? To^i do du*. hoi?

-Ne^u' nhu*~ng be^.nh loan. oc' do nhu~ng su*. xuc' ddo^.ng ga^y ne^n, thi` co' hy von.g chu*~a khoi? nhung be^.nh cua? nang` la` do di truye^`n nhu* co^ bie^'t.

To^i bie^'t, hay noi' ddu'ng ho*n, dda^y la` mo.t chu*'ng be^.nh ba^'t tri. Tai. sao trO*`i gia ac' nghie^.t lai. gieo cho con nguo`i wa' nhie^`u kho^? nao~, ddau thu*o*ng?

Thach. P ddi dde^n' truoc' cu*a? phong` cua? TL. Trong phong`, TL va^~n con` ddang tho^?n thu*c', mot. gion.g tho^?n thu*'c thu*o*ng ddau cua? nam tinh', khie^'n nguo`i ta khong the^? ca^`m long` cho dda^.u

Tha.ch P go~ cu*?a goi. :

-Tie^?u L, TL! Mo*? cu*?a TL!

-Xeo' ddi!

TL gao` le^n va` tie^p' theo, la` tie^'ng thu?y tinh bi. dda^.p vo*~, khong bie^'t ga~ dda~ dda^.p vO*~ va^.t gi`. RO^`i tie^p' theo ddo', ra^'t nhie^`u ddo^` va^.t bi. ne'm le^n cu*?a, le^n tu*o*`ng, trong phong` vang le^n nhu~ng tie^'ng va^.t bi. nem' va` tie^'ng ddo^? vo^~ , la^~n trong nhu~ng tie^'ng a^'y, co' tie^'ng khoc', gao` cuo^`ng loan. cua? ha('n :

-Tai. sao lai. the^' nay`? Tai. sao? Tai. sao? Tre^n the^' gian nay`, co' tha^`n linh khong? co' co^ng binh` khong?

Sau mot. luc', tie^'ng ke^u la ye^n ha(?n, ca(n pho`ng tro*? ne^n ti~nh mi.ch Nha^'t ddinh. la` ga~ dda~ nem' vo*~ ta^'t ca? nhung~ gi` co' the^? nem' vo*~, ro^`i ga~ khoc' la(.ng nguo`i ddi cha(ng?

Tha.ch P ngao ngan' nhin` to^i noi' :

-Chung' ta ha~y ddi cho^~ khac' dde^? no' khoc' mot. ho^`i cho dda~.

To^i ddi theo Tha.ch P vao` phong` sach' to^i ngo^`i xuo^'ng ghe^' tho*? dai` ro^`i noi' :

-Dda^y la` mo.t ca^u chuye^.n bi tham? tre^n coi~ ddo*i`. Nhin` nguo`i ye^u minh` bi. ddinh. me^.nh nghie^.t nga~ ap' ddaO? con` bi tha?m ho*n tha^'y tinh` ye^u cua? minh` bi. huy~ die^.t!

-Khong ha(?n the^'! Tinh` ye^u cua? ho. con` bi. mot. su*'c tie^u huy~ huye^`n bi' cua? mo.t ngoai. gio*'i, no' manh~ lie^.t ho*n su*. giao ddo^.ng cua? ban? cha^'t tinh` ye^u.

-O^ng muo^'n noi'...To^i khong hie^?u va` chi? nhi`n Tha.ch P . Tha.ch P ngo^`i nghie^ng minh` be^n chie^'c ban`, mot. tay ty` vao` ca(`m, mot. tay dde^? le^n tran' noi' :

-Luc' TL ho^`i tu*o*?ng dde^'n ddoan. tinh` nay`, di~ nhie^n la` o*? ddo' co' cho^~ ra^'t ddep., ra^'t ca?m ddo^.ng; mo^'i tinh` nay` se~ mai~ mai~ tu' le^. trong ky' u*'c cua? no', ddo' la` mo.t su*. an ui? cai tinh` canh? hie^.n tai. tuy ra(`ng tan` nha^~n nhung cu~ng khong ta`n nha^~n ba(`ng khi Tie^?u Pham` thay long` ddo^?i da. Hoa(.c la` TL pha't giac' ra TP khong hoa`n toa`n la` mot. ma^~u nguo`i nhu* su*. phat' hoa. cua? long` no' ma` chi? la` mot. ao? tu*o*.ng, thi` su*. ddo^? vo*~ se~ tai hai. khong bie^'t dde^'n dda^u ma` ke^?

-Mot. ao? tu*o*.ng ddo^~ vo*~?

To^i nha('c lai. ca^u noi' cu?a Tha.ch P va` nhin` chang`. DDo^.t nhie^n Tha.ch P xuc' ddo^.ng noi':

-Cu*' binh` tinh~ ma` noi', nguo`i ban. cua? ong cung~ co' mot. it' trach' nhie^.m . Tai. sao nha` ong ta khong do` xe't ca^?n tha^.n tru*o*'c khi cu*o*'i nang`?

-Tinh` ye^u ra^'t de^~ lam` cho nguo`i ta mu` wang'!

To^i noi' :

-Ra^'t co' the^? ong ban cu?a ong co' mo.t oc' tu*o*?ng tu*o*.ng wa' phong phu' ne^n dda~ gan' cho nguo`i ye^u nhu~ng cai' ma` nang` khong he^` co'.

-U*~m! Tha.ch P nhin` chon`g cho.c vao` to^i.

-Nhu* va^.y, khong phai? nang` dda~ lu*a` do^'i nguo`i ye^u ma` chinh' nguo`i ye^u nang` dda~ tu*. minh` lu*`a do^'i minh`.

-A` the^' a`?

Thac.h P way dda^u` ddi nO*i khac' khe~ la^?m ba^?m noi' vo*i ham` ra(ng ca('n cha(.t la^'y dda^`u ddie^'u thuo^'c. To^i ddu*'ng le^n ddi ra phia' cu*?a, noi' :

-TO^i ddi tha(m TL mot. ty' !

-Khoan dda~!

To^i ddu*'ng du*`ng lai. Tha.ch P ddi dde^'n be^n to^i, nhin` to^i cha(`m cha(`m. Ta^m chi' to^i ho*i mo^ng lung. Tha.ch P ddu*'ng sa't be^n to^i. Khuo^n ma(.t ong ta ra^'t nghie^m nghi. Tim to^i dda^.p ma.nh, ho*i tho*? to^i ga^'p rut' va` tha^`n tri' to^i me^ man. Ong ta nhe. nhang` ddu*a tay le^n vuo^'t toc' tO^i, anh' ma('t ong nhu* phu? nhe. mot. lo*'p su*o*ng mo* mang` tro^ng no' sa^u tha(m tha(?m . Giong. no'i ong nhe` nhe. e^m e^m, thoang thoa?ng be^n tai to^i :

-Co^ cung~ co' mot. thu*' tinh` cam? wa' do^`i dao` nhU* to^i va^y. The^' u*? To^i khong tho^'t ne^n lo*`i. Ddo^.t nhie^n Thach. P dung` hai tay na^ng ma(.t to^i le^n, to^i ca?m tha^y' nguo`i ong ta run run, to^i trong tha^'y anh' lu*?a thie^u ddo^'t trong ddo^i ma('t ong , ong ta nghie^ng dda^` ve^` phia' to^i li' nhi' noi' trong co^? hong. :

-Co^ cha(?ng ca^`n co' mo^.t nang` tie^n cua? cung tra(ng hie^.n xuo^'ng, vi` co^, cO^ chinh` la` nang` tie^n a^'y ro^`i!

To^i cha(?ng hie^?u the^' la` the^' nao`, nhung ma` tay to^i ddda~ vong` sang lu*ng cua? Tha.ch P, nguo`i to^i ghe' sat' vao` nguo`i ong ta, ma('t to^i nhoa` le^. tim to^i u*' nghen. nhu*~ng cai' gi` ddang ca^`n phai? tuO^n tran` ra nhanh chon'g... To^i nga^?ng nhi`n le^n, khuo^n ma(.t cua? Thac.h P cach' to^i wa' ga^`n, ho*i tho*? cua? ong pha` le^n ma(.t to^I non'g ho^?i . To^i cho*` ddo*.i... Cho*` ddo*.i... Cho*` ddo*.i
Phu't cho*` ddo*.i la^u nhu* mot. the^' ky?. DDo^.t nhie^n Tha.ch P khe~ dda^?y to^i ra va` dung` giong. mui~ na(.ng ne^` noi' nhanh:

-Co^ ddi ddi! Ddi tha(m TL ddi!

To^i tie^'n ra phia' cu*?a , nha^'t tho*`i, tha^'y tha^'t y' va` ua^'t pha^~n... Bao nhie^u no^~i tu*'c gia^n. do^`n dde^'n ta^m nao~ to^i. Tha.ch P la` cai' tha' gi`? Chu? nha^n cua? to^i U*? COn` to^i? to^i la` cai' gi`? Ke? dduo.c ha('n mu*o*'n ve^` dde^? mua vui cho em ha('n u*? Tai. sao to^i lai. cu*' o*? ly` o*? dda^y dde^? nha^.n lanH~ cai' co^ng vie^.c nhuc. nha~ nay`? Tai. sao to^i lai. khong the^? khie^'t nhie^n bo? la^~n TL! Vi` cai' gi` ma` to^i lai. lu*u lai. dda^y? Tie^`m thu*'c to^i ddang mong moi? linh ho^`n to^i ddang cho*` ddo*.i. TO^i bie^'t... To^i hie^?u la` to^i ddang... cho*` ddo*.i, to^i ddang mong moi? tu*` luc' to^i dda(.t cha^n dde^'n Vuo`n Thu'y, tu*` cai' la^` dda^`u tiE^n to^i dda(.t cha^n vao` phon`g sach' cua? Thach. P , to^i dda` mong moi? mot. ddie^`u gi`. Cho*` ddo*.i mo.t cai' gi`. Nhung ma`, to^i dda~ nha^.n dduo*.c nhung~ gi`?

To^i chay. ra khoi? phong` sach', khong ddi tha(m TL ma` lai. ve^` tha(?ng phong` minh`. to^i ca^`n phai? binh` tinh~ mot. luc', to^i ca^`n phai? suy nghI~ cai' dda~! To^i suu nghi~ ra^'t la^u, suy nghi` dde^'n mai~ khi tro*`i ta('t na('ng, suy nghi~ dde^'n mai~ xe^' bong' ma` cung~ cha(?ng suy nghi~ dduoc. ddie^`u gi` ddie^`u gi`. Ro^i` bo^~ng tie^'ng chuo^ng thu khong cua? chu`a tre^n nui' vang le^n "Boong! Boong! Boong!" vo*i' ta^'t ca? su*. trang nghie^m, ninh ti~nh, nhu~ng tie^'ng chuo^ng chua` kia bo^~ng ddanh' ta he^'t bao no^~i u*u tu*, sa^`u ha^.n, ua^'t ke^'t o*? trong ta^m ho^`n to^i.

-Ai dda^'y ?

-TO^I, TL dda^Y a.!

To^i mo*? cu*a? TL ddu*'ng su*`ng su*~ng O*? cu*a? phong`, gu*o*ng ma(.t tai' nho*.t vo*'i anh' ma('t ue^? oai? me^.t mo?i, ga~ nhin` to^i noi' nhu* ca^`u cu*'u :

-Mo*`i co^ haY~ ddi ra ngoai` vo*i' to^i mot. luc' co' dduoc. khong a. ?

-DDuo.c

To^i noi' nhanh va` vo*i' vo^.i la^'y chie^'c ao' khoac' ngoai`. To^i ddi theo TL xuO^'ng nha` du*o*'i. Ra khoi? vuo`i thuy', no*i cha^n tro*`i, rang' chie^`u ddo? ru*.c sang' ngo*`i. Gio' thu lanh` lanh., la' cua? hang` ca^y phu*o*.ng be^n ddu*o*`ng bay la? ta?

Chung' to^i ddi doc. theo con dduo`ng ddo' ra dde^'n dda^`u con lo^. trang' nhu*.a , no*i dda^y co' mo.t co^? thu. , du*o*'i go^'c ca^y co' mot. chie^c' ghe^' dda' vo*i' hang` chu~ "Vuo`n Thu'y khinh' ta(.ng" DDa^y tu*'c la` no*i to^i dda~ tu*`ng ngo^`i nghi~ cha^n trong la^`n dda^`u tie^n dde^'n cho^n' nay`. CHung' to^i cung` ngo^`i xuo^'ng chie^'c ghe^' dda'. TL giong. ra^`u ra^`u noi' :

-Nga`y tru*o*c', cu*' mo^~i buo^?i hoa`ng ho^n la` to^i va` TP ddi bach' bo^. o*? no*i dda^y 

To^i mo* ho^` nho*' lai., la^`n dda^`u tie^n ngo^`i o*? dda^y, to^i dda~ tu*`ng ca?m nhu* thoa'ng co' bong' nguo`i rinh` ra^.p Co' phai? la` giac' wan thu*' sau' cua? to^i linh ca?m cho to^i lam` wen vo*i' TP khong? to^i mo* ho^`, khong tin ha(?n nhu* the^' va` ddu*a ta^`m ma('t ra mai~ phia' cha^n tro*`i dde^? nga('m dai? ra'ng chie^`u con` ddo? ru*.c va` nhuo^.m ho^`ng ca? co? ca^y o*? ven nui' ddo^`i.

Tha.ch Lo^~i noi' nhu* o^n lai. chuye^n. xu*a

-Ho^`i ddo' dda^'t o*? vung` nay` con` hoang vu, anh Ca? anh a^'y xa^y ca^'t nha` ro^`i ban' ra, ne^n no*i nay` mo*i' tro*? thanh` ddo^ng ddaO? the^' nay`, va` cu~ng do ddo', to^i mo*'i co' the^? hoan` ta^'t dduoc. vie^.c ho.c cua? to^i. LUc' dda^`u su*. kinh doanh tha^.t vo^ cun`g cha^.t va^.t kho' kha(n.

To^I tra^`m nga^m noi' :

-The^' con dduo`ng nay` cu~ng do ong a^'y lam` U*?

-Di~ nhie^n! Luc' truo'c o*? dda^y chi? toan` la` ru*`ng hoang va` chi? co' ddo^.c mot. con dduon`g dda' nho? ddi le^n Mie^'u Ni Co^ tho^i.

TO^i nho*' lai. la^`n dda^u` tie^n ga(.p Tha.ch Phong va` cuo^.c dda^'u kha^?u giu*~a chung' to^i ma` suy't nu*~a ba^.t le^n cu*O*`i. TL con` ddang theo dduo^?i y' nghi~ cua? ha('n, ha('n khe~ chau may` noi' :

-Truoc' kia, to^i va` Tie^?u Pham` thuo`ng da('t tay nhau ddi bach' bo^. tu*` con dduo`ng nay` le^n dde^n' Mie^'u. Chu'ng to^i va`o mie^'u tha('p hu*o*ng, kha^'n vai', va` xin xa(m. TP thu*o*`ng goi. con dduo`ng nay la` "Thie^n DDuo`ng Lo^." a^'y the^' ma` ba^y gio*`...

Ma(.t ga~ xiu. xuo^'ng :

-Nang` o*? du*o*'i ddia. nguc. !!!

-Khong! To^i noi' : cai' the^' gio*'i hie^n. tho*`i cua? nang`, chun'g ta khong lam` sao hie^u? dduo.c Nang` khong he^` ddau kho^?... Ddau kho^? cha(ng la` chu'ng ta! DDo^i' vo*'i mot. nguo`i tha^`n chi' tha^'t thuo`ng thi` ha(?n la` khong' co' tu* tu*o*?ng, ma` cu~ng khong co' tin`h ca?m

-Lam` sao co^ bie^'t dduoc. ?

-To^i ddoan' the^' !

Chu'ng to^i ddu*'ng le^n, cun`g nhau bu*o*'c theo con dduon`g a^'y. Hai be^n dduon`g , ru*`ng tho^ng reo vi vu, la' truc' ke^u xao` xac. Chu'ng tO^i ye^n la(.ng ddi khong noi' gi`. Gio' mat' hiu hiu, hoan`g ho^n nga~ bo'ng. Chu'ng to^i ddi dde^'n mo.t cai' hang dda' vo*'i nhu~ng tan?g dda' to lo*'n khie^'p nguo`i, to^i kinh ngac. hoi? :

-Nhu~ng tan?g dda' to lo*'n the^' nay`, lam` sao ma` ddem le^n dduo.c to*'i dda^y ?

TL phi` cuoi`, nhin` to^i dda'P :

-Ngay dde^'n "To^n Hanh` Gia? cu~ng khong sao khie^ng no^?i dde^? ddem le^n to*'i dda^y chu*' ddu*`ng noi'. Ngay tu*` khi khai thie^n la^.p ddia. dda~ co' chun'g ro^`i thi` phai? Ngon. nui' na`y dda^`y da^~y nhu~ng tan?g dda' kho^?ng lo^`.

-The^' u*? To^i cu*' ngo*~ la` nha^n tao.

-Co^ nay` tha^.t vo*' va^?n wa' !

Xuye^n wa khoi? hang dda' thi` dde^'n mot. ngo^i mie^'u nho nho? , truo'c mie^'u co' mo.t cai' sa^n, trong mie^'u co' xa^y ddie^n. Pha^.t Ba` Quan A^m va` bai' dduo`ng. Kho'i hu*o*ng nghi nghu't quye^n. nhi. trong khong gian va` toa? ra mot. mui` tho*m ngao` ngat. chu'ng to^i ddi vao` va` du*`ng lai. truoc' cu*?a mie^'u mo.t la't. Mo^.t thU*' ye^n ti~nh di. thu*o*`ng la^`n la^`n tran` nga^.p ca? ta^m ho^`n to^I. To^i ddu*'ng ye^n la(.ng gio*` la^u chie^m ngu*o*~ng bu*'c tu*o*.ng cua? ddu*'c Pha^.t Ba` Quan A^m. TL hoi? :

-Co^ la`m chi the^' ?

-To^i ca^`u dda?o !

-CO^ ca^`u ddie^`u gi`?

-Ne^'u wa? co' tha^`n linh, xin ca'c ngai` ha~y phu` ho^. , ddo^. tri` cho chun'g sinh.

TL chi? nhin` to^I khong noi' gi`. Wa mot. daY~ hanh` lang be^n ho^ng mie^'u, chu'ng to^i ddi dde^'n mo.t bai~ tro^'ng, o*? dda^y co' ba co^ be' va`o khoa?ng 7,8 tuo^?i, ddang nha^?y da^y, vu*`a nha^?y vu*`a ha't :

"Xe ba banh', cha.y nhU* gio^ng,"
"Tre^n xe co' ba` lao~ ngo^`i,"
"Xin na(m ca('c, tra? mot. ddo^`ng,"
"Tui. ba^y bao?, co' la. kho^ng?"

TO^i way dda^`u nhin` TL ba('t chu*o*'c lu~ tre? noi' :

-Anh bao?, co' la. khong?

TL ba^.t cuo`i than`h tie'ng, cuo`i xong lai. ye^n la(.ng nhin` to^i. To^i noi' :

-TL, ddu*`ng ddau kho^? vi` TP nu*~a. Ne^'u nang` c' tri giac', nang` se~ khong muo^'n anh nhU* the^', ne^'u nang` khong co' tri giac' thi` su*. ddau kho^? cua? anh cu~ng khong giup' ich' dduo.c gi` cho nang`, co' phai? the^' khong ?

TL nhi` su*~ng to^i gia^y lat', ro^i` ddu*a tay na('m la^'y tay to^i.

-My~ Hoa`nh, to^i co' the^? goi. co^ ba(`ng te^n nhu* the^' khong ?

-Va^ng, dduoc. ! TO^i ga^.t dda^`u

-Co^ wa? la` mo.t nguo`i "co' lon`g" MH.

Vo*i' ca(.p ma('t sang' ngo*`i, net' ma(.t TL nhu* la('ng xuo^'ng, binh` ti~nh va` an tu*o*`ng

-O^ng a^'y dda(ng bao' rao : Ca^`n mot. nu*~ bi' thu* va` to^i la` mot. trong so^' ho*n 1000 nguo`i xin vie^.c

-Ca^`n mot. nu*~ bi' thu* ?

TL ho*i nhu*o*'ng may` ro^`i noi' tie^'p :

-Dda^y chi? la` mot. cac'h dde^? che ma('t thie^n ha. , chu*' tha^.t ra la` Anh a^y' vi` to^i, co' phai? khong?

Ma(.t to^i ba('t dda^`u ddo?... Thi` ra ga~ dda~ ddoan' bie^'t ta^'t ca?, tu*` luc' dda^`u. TO^i thanh` tha^.t nhin` vao` ma('t ga~ khe~ ga^.t dda^`u :

-Va^ng, ddu'ng the^' dda^y' ! Dde^n' sau nay`, to^i mo*'i hie^?u ro~ dun.g y' cua? ong a^'y, nhung ma` to^i lU*u lai. ddaY khong phai? dde^? tim` mo.t no*i nu*o*ng tha^n ma` la`...

-To^i bie^'t!

TL nga('t lo*`i to^i :

-Co^ dda~ ddo.c nha^.t ky' cua? TP. CO^ la` mo.t ke? co' long` bie^'t me^'n thu*o*ng nhu~ng nguo`i ddau kho^?, to^i ca?m o*n co^ dda~ lu*u lai. dda^y...

To^i ca?m tha^'y co' ra^'t nhie^`u ddie^`u ca^`n phai? giai? thich', song lai. khong bie^'t giai? thic'h nhu* the^' nao` cu~ng khong bie^'t giaI? thic'h nhu~ng gi`? To^i li'u lu*o*~i noi' :

-Nhu*ng ma` ... TL! To^i... TO^i nghi~... 

-Tho^i MH, MH ddu`ng noi' gi` the^m nu*~a, tO^i dda~ hie^?u ca? ro^`i

TL ca('t ngang lo*`i to^i, trong anh' ma('t sang' wa('c cua? ga~ co' ham` a^?n mot. net' cuo`i bi' ma^.t , va` ga~ a^n ca^`n bao? to^i :

-Co^ a.! To^i ca^`n phai? phai? pha^'n kho*i? le^n mo*'i dduoc. vi` to^i c' mo.t nguo`i anh wa' to^'t, dda~ kho^? ta^m vi` to^i.

Chu'ng to^i im la(.ng nhin` nhau, ma(.t to^i luc' a^'y va^~n non'g bu*`ng, tim tO^i dda^.p manh. Nguo`i con trai na`y dda~ tha^'u hie^?u ta^'t ca? long` to^i.

Bo^~ng TL keo' tay to^i noi':

-Chu'ng ta ddi ve^` tho^i!