Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang xin lo^~i Tuye^'t Khanh

                                                                                      Ly' Kie^.t Lua^n

                      Li.ch su+? va(n ho.c Vie^.t Nam ma~i ma~i co`n nha('c te^n
                      o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, ngu+o+`i ddu+o+.c nha` nu+o+'c
                      "vinh ta(.ng" danh hie^.u ca^`m dda^`u ca'c chie^'n si~ va(n
                      ho'a thuo^.c "Ma(.t Tra^.n Nha^n Va(n Giai Pha^?m" cu`ng
                      vo+'i ca'i a'n tu` kho^? sai chung tha^n. O^ng Nguye^~n
                      Hu+~u DDang vo^'n di~ la` con ngu+o+`i no^?i tie^'ng trong
                      gio+'i va(n ho'a o+? Ha` No^.i, nho+` ddo' la.i ca`ng tro+?
                      ne^n no^?i tie^'ng ho+n.

                      A'n cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang kho^ng kho' hie^?u. O^ng
                      vo^'n la` ngu+o+`i la~nh dda.o va(n ho'a mo^.t lo`ng mo^.t
                      da. ddi theo kha'ng chie^'n. Sau na(m 1955, kha'ng chie^'n
                      tha('ng lo+.i, dda?ng co^.ng sa?n va`o ca^`m quye^`n o+? Ha`
                      No^.i. O^ng tham gia nho'm Nha^n Va(n Giai Pha^?m, bi. nha`
                      ca^`m quye^`n bu+'c ha.i. Kho^ng co`n con ddu+o+`ng sinh
                      so^'ng, o^ng xuo^'ng Ha?i Pho`ng ddi.nh o+? ghe' gia ddi`nh
                      ba` (nha` va(n) Thu.y An. Co^ng an ga`i ba^~y, cho ngu+o+`i
                      tho+. ca.o gia? da.ng ha`nh nghe^` ngoa`i cu+?a ba` Thu.y
                      An, ro^`i la`m quen ca? nho'm, ddoa.n "giu'p" ho. thue^
                      thuye^`n vu+o+.t tuye^'n va`o Nam, ti`m mo^.t cuo^.c so^'ng
                      mo+'i. O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang va` ba` Thu.y An vo^'n la`
                      nhu+~ng con ngu+o+`i cu?a gio+'i va(n ho'a, so^'ng ngay
                      tha^.t, dda^u co' ngo+` ddu+o+.c su+. nham hie^?m le`o la'i
                      do^'i ma(.t cu?a to^? chu+'c co^ng an? Ke^'t qua?, thuye^`n
                      vu+`a ra kho+i, o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang va` ba` Thu.y An
                      bi. ba('t go.n. To^' Hu+~u lua^.n to^.i o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u
                      DDang nhu+ sau: "Va`o Nam la` theo ddi.ch, theo ddi.ch la`
                      theo My~, theo My~ la` la`m vie^.c cho CIA".

                      To`a a'n to^'i cao cu?a nha` nu+o+'c dda~ vo^.i va~ ca(n
                      cu+' va`o lo+`i bi`nh to^.i ddo', kho^ng ca^`n mo+? phie^n
                      to`a, kho^ng cho phe'p bi. can tu+. ba`o chu+~a, ke^'t to^.i
                      o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang la` to^.i gia'n ddie^.p CIA. Vi`
                      gia'n ddie^.p CIA la` bo.n pha' hoa.i, ne^n o^ng DDang la`
                      te^n pha' hoa.i, li~nh a'n kho^? sai chung tha^n. Chu+a
                      he^'t, ne^'u Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, ngu+o+`i ca^`m dda^`u
                      nho'm Nha^n Va(n Giai Pha^?m bi. lua^.n to^.i la` te^n pha?n
                      ddo^.ng CIA, thi` ca'i co^ng thu+'c lie^n ke^'t da`nh cho
                      ta^'t ca? nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i tham gia Nha^n Va(n Giai Pha^?m
                      dde^`u la` cha^n re^'t cu?a bo.n pha?n ddo^.ng gia'n ddie^.p
                      CIA, ddu+o+ng nhie^n ma(.c quye^`n Co^ng An Va(n Ho'a nha`
                      nu+o+'c ba('t bo+' tu` dda`y nhu+~ng va(n nghe^. si~ cha^n
                      chi'nh cu?a Ha` No^.i... (Ho^m nay, chi? ca^`n tra? tie^`n
                      bo^`i thu+o+`ng mo^.t ddo^ la mo^.t na(m tu` o+? cho mo^.t
                      ngu+o+`i tho^i, ma` nha` nu+o+'c bi. vo+~ no+.! DDu? bie^'t
                      bao nhie^u ngu+o+`i bi. dda`n a'p, ba('t bo+' oan u+'c trong
                      vu. na`y.)

                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang ddu+o+.c tha? ra va`o lu'c tuo^?i
                      gia`, vo^ du.ng. Tu+o+?ng o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang sa('p
                      che^'t, o^ng tro+`i oa'i oa(m ba('t o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u
                      DDang pha?i so^'ng la^u. Na(m nay ngoa`i ta'm mu+o+i va^~n
                      kho?e ma.nh, co' the^? tu+. kie^'m so^'ng cho ca'i ddo+`i
                      gia` lu?i thu?i kho^ng vo+. con. La.i cu~ng co' the^? nho+'
                      dde^'n giai da(?ng nhu+~ng ca^u chuye^.n ve^` nhu+~ng con
                      ngu+o+`i "mo^.t tho+`i vang bo'ng"!O+? Su+. nghie^.p ma`
                      "Buo^`n qua' cha(?ng co' ca'i gi`... vui le A'n ddu+o+.c!"

                      Ngu+o+`i vie^'t ga(.p o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang va`o mo^.t
                      nga`y chu? nha^.t o+? Ha` No^.i. O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang
                      trong bo^. qua^`n a'o nha`u na't, phong phanh kho^ng ddu?
                      a^'m, dda.p chie^'c xe cu~ ky~, co.c ca.ch ddang ddi ddu+a
                      thie^'p mo+`i du+. cu+o+'i cho ha.nh phu'c cu?a nhu+~ng
                      ngu+o+`i kha'c...

                      Nho+' na(m na`o, o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang oai phong la`
                      the^'! Ngu+o+`i Ha` No^.i ngu+o+~ng mo^. o^ng, theo o^ng co'
                      ca? tra(m nga`n, lo`ng ye^u nu+o+'c tra`o tra.t cu?a
                      ngu+o+`i Ha` No^.i dda~ kho^ng mo^.t chu't ti'nh toa'n,
                      lu+o+~ng lu+., ti`nh nguye^.n da^ng hie^'n he^'t ti'nh ma.ng
                      va` ta`i sa?n cu?a mi`nh, nho+` o^ng thay ma(.t chi'nh phu?
                      nha^n da^n dde^? thu du.ng dda'nh dduo^?i thu+.c da^n Pha'p.
                      Ngay dde^'n Ho^` chi' Minh co`n pha?i khie^m to^'n no'i
                      vo+'i o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang ca^u:

                      - Ti`nh hi`nh lu'c na`y, ca? nu+o+'c tro^ng mong va`o mo^.t
                      mi`nh ddo^`ng chi'.

                      Trong tha^m ta^m, ngu+o+`i vie^'t nha^'t mu+.c ki'nh tro.ng
                      o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, nhu+ng nga(.t vi` tho+`i gian
                      qua' i't o?i trong cuo^.c ga(.p nga^~u nhie^n co' mo^.t
                      kho^ng hai trong cuo^.c ddo+`i, vi` va^.y, sau va`i ca^u
                      no'i tha(m ho?i he^'t su+'c ki'nh tro.ng, ngu+o+`i vie^'t
                      xin ddu+o+.c va`o dde^`, theo nhu+~ng gi` ma` ngu+o+`i
                      vie^'t ddu+o+.c bie^'t, xin ddu+o+.c gia?i to?a 2 ddie^?m
                      nghi va^'n mang ti'nh cha^'t va(n ho.c trong gio+'i va(n
                      nghe^. si~ cu?a Ha` No^.i tho+`i ky` dda^'u kha'ng chie^'n.
                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang dda~ vui ve? cha^'p nha^.n, va`
                      cu~ng ddo^`ng y' cho phe'p ngu+o+`i vie^'t ghi a^m dde^?
                      la`m "ba(`ng" tri`nh la`ng sau na`y, ne^'u ca^`n thie^'t.

                      Cuo^.c ho.p dda^`u tie^n va` lo+'n nha^'t cu?a va(n nghe^.
                      si~ Ha` No^.i, dde^? tho^'ng nha^'t lu+.c lu+o+.ng cho^'ng
                      thu+.c da^n Pha'p do o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang chu? tri` bao
                      go^`m ddu? mo.i tha`nh pha^`n va(n ho'a, co' ddu? ma(.t
                      nhu+~ng nha` va(n nghe^. si~ no^?i tie^'ng nha^'t, thuo^.c
                      ca'c dda?ng pha'i: Quo^'c Da^n DDa?ng, Co^.ng sa?n DDe^.
                      Tam, Co^.ng sa?n DDe^. Tu+', tha^n Nha^.t, tha^n Ta`u, tha^n
                      Pha'p, ca'c tha`nh pha^`n to^n gia'o kha'c nhau, v.v... Mu.c
                      ddi'ch chi'nh cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u D Dang la` ke^u go.i
                      lo`ng ye^u nu+o+'c cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, ddoa`n ke^'t
                      la.i vo+'i nhau, xo'a bo? ha^.n thu`, xo'a bo? mo.i chi'nh
                      kie^'n ba^'t ddo^`ng ca' nha^n, vi` dda.i cu.c cho^'ng
                      thu+.c da^n Pha'p, da`nh su+. ddo^.c la^.p cho to^? quo^'c.
                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang dda~ nha^n danh ddie^`u ddo',
                      hoa`n toa`n dda(.t ne^`n va(n ho'a cu?a Vie^.t Nam, va(n
                      nghe^. si~ Vie^.t Nam du+o+'i su+. chi? dda.o tuye^.t ddo^'i
                      cu?a dda?ng Co^.ng sa?n.

                      (Ba^'y gio+` Tru+o+`ng Chinh la` ngu+o+`i phu. tra'ch va(n
                      ho'a cao nha^'t, nhu+ng qua' lo^. ma(.t, vi` ai cu~ng ro~
                      Tru+o+`ng Chinh la` ngu+o+`i cu?a dda?ng Co^.ng Sa?n, kho'
                      lo`ng thuye^'t phu.c ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng nha` va(n ho'a cu?a
                      Ha` No^.i ma` so^' ddo^ng la.i la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i kho^ng
                      ta'n tha`nh co^.ng sa?n).

                      Cuo^.c ho.p na`y ddu+o+.c tho^ng qua, mo+? ra mo^.t khu'c
                      quanh mo+'i cho ne^`n va(n ho'a cu?a Vie^.t Nam tru+o+'c
                      ti`nh hi`nh ddo^?i mo+'i (1945), dda^?y ngu+o+`i nghe^. si~
                      cu?a Ha` No^.i (va` sau na`y cu?a Mie^`n Ba('c, cu?a ca?
                      nu+o+'c) va`o ti`nh tra.ng sa'ng ta'c, sinh hoa.t va(n
                      nghe^., hoa`n toa`n le^. thuo^.c va`o he^. tu+ tu+o+?ng
                      ddo^.c to^n cu?a ma^'y ngu+o+`i ca^`m dda^`u dda?ng co^.ng
                      sa?n. Co' hai ngu+o+`i dda pha?n ddo^'i du+~ do^.i ngay tu+`
                      dda^`u. Ba` Tuye^'t Khanh va` o^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u.

                      O^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u, mo^.t ho.c si~ va(n ho.c no^?i tie^'ng
                      cu?a Ha` No^.i dda~ ddu+o+.c tru+.c tie^'p ga(.p o^ng
                      Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang dde^? pha?n ddo^'i. O^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u
                      cho ra(`ng, va(n ho'a va(n nghe^. pha?i ddu+o+.c quye^`n
                      tu+. do, nhu+ quye^`n tu+. do ye^u nu+o+'c cu?a mo^~i con
                      ngu+o+`i va^.y. O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang dda~ thuye^'t
                      phu.c o^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u ba(`ng lo+`i hu+'a danh du+.:
                      "Ha~y ddi theo ca'ch ma.ng dde^? dda'nh ddo^? thu+.c da^n
                      Pha'p, tha('ng lo+.i ro^`i, chu'ng ta muo^'n co' tu+. do ca?
                      nu+o+'c co`n ddu+o+.c, nu+~a la` ma?nh dda^'t tu+. do con
                      con cho ddi.a ha.t va(n ho'a va(n nghe^.". O^ng Tru+o+ng
                      Tu+?u dda~ ba^'m bu.ng nghe theo.

                      Ba` Tuye^'t Khanh, ki.ch nghe^. si~ thu? vai "Kie^`u Loan"
                      trong vo+? ki.ch tho+ cu`ng te^n cu?a Hoa`ng Ca^`m, die^~n
                      vie^n xi-ne^ no^?i tie^'ng dda^`u tie^n cu?a Vie^.t Nam dda~
                      pha?n ddo^'i o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang ba(`ng ca'ch ye^u
                      ca^`u ca? ban ki.ch DDo^ng Phu+o+ng le^n tie^'ng trong
                      cuo^.c ho.p, (Nho'm na`y go^`m co': dda.o die^~n Hoa`ng
                      Ti'ch Linh, nha` tho+ Hoa`ng Ca^`m, nha` va(n Kim
                      La^n,v.v...) Mo.i ngu+o+`i ne^? o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang,
                      kho^ng ai da'm le^n tie^'ng, ba` Tuye^'t Khanh bu+.c bo^.i
                      to tie^'ng ma('ng cho mo.i ngu+o+`i mo^.t tra^.n ta`n te^.
                      ro^`i xa'ch va ly bo? ddi tha(?ng... O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u
                      DDang cho ra(`ng ba` Tuye^'t Khanh la` ngu+o+`i pha?n bo^.i.

                      Quan ddie^?m cu?a o^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u va` ba` Tuye^'t Khanh
                      gio^'ng nhau, muo^'n ddo`i tu+. do cho va(n nghe^., nhu+ng
                      tha'i ddo^., ha`nh ddo^.ng bie^?u hie^.n la.i kha'c nhau,
                      da^~n to+'i con ddu+o+`ng ddi ngu+o+.c chie^`u, va^.y ai
                      ddu'ng? Ai sai? Ai me^? Ai ti?nh? O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang
                      la` chu? tri` cuo^.c ho.p va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam cu+'u quo^'c
                      dda^`u tie^n, cu~ng la` ngu+o+`i tru+.c tie^'p ta'c ddo^.ng
                      to+'i hai ngu+o+`i O^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u va` Ba` Tuye^'t
                      Khanh, va^.y thi` sau 50 na(m, nhi`n va`o toa`n die^.n xa~
                      ho^.i Vie^.t Nam tre^n pha.m vi ca? nu+o+'c dda~ ddu+o+.c
                      ddo^.c la^.p, lie^.u dda~ ddu? dde^? o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u
                      DDang nhi`n la.i va^'n dde^` cu~, ru't ra mo^.t ke^'t lua^.n
                      na`o ddo' cho su+. kie^.n tre^n cha(ng?

                      Ngu+o+`i vie^'t thu+a vo+'i o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang:

                      - Thu+a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, to^i ra^'t ki'nh tro.ng
                      o^ng, to^i va^~n ha(`ng coi o^ng la` ngu+o+`i anh hu`ng
                      tre^n ma(.t tra^.n va(n ho'a, to^i va^~n coi o^ng la`
                      ngu+o+`i anh hu`ng cu?a tho+`i dda.i! Nhu+ng to^i xin phe'p
                      o^ng dde^? ddu+o+.c to` mo` cho bie^'t, ti'nh cha^'t anh
                      hu`ng cu?a o^ng ddo^'i vo+'i chuye^.n cu~ nhu+ the^' na`o?

                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang no'i:

                      - To^i sa(~n sa`ng tra? lo+`i ca^u ho?i cu?a anh. To^i cu~ng
                      ra^'t vui, ca'c anh Vie^.t Kie^`u o+? nu+o+'c ngoa`i tro+?
                      ve^`, co`n co' lo`ng quan ta^m dde^'n nhu+~ng va^'n dde^`
                      pho^i thai cu?a ne^`n va(n ho'a Vie^.t Nam ho^m nay.

                      - Ngu+o+`i xu+a co' ca^u: "Muo^'n bie^'t anh ta la` ngu+o+`i
                      the^' na`o, ha~y cho anh ta mo^.t chu't quye^`n lu+.c..."
                      To^i xin ddu+o+.c ho.c lo?m ngu+o+`i xu+a, gia? du. to^i
                      ddu+o+.c phe'p... cho o^ng mo^.t quye^`n lu+.c, mo^.t
                      quye^`n lu+.c tha^.t lo+'n, la`m... Chu? ti.ch nu+o+'c
                      Vie^.t Nam cha(?ng ha.n, thi` o^ng se~ ha`nh xu+? vo+'i
                      chi'nh o^ng nhu+ the^' na`o?

                      - Anh muo^'n dde^` dda.t nguye^.n vo.ng gi`?

                      - Thu+a... To^i muo^'n ddu+o+.c ddu+a o^ng ra to`a! To^i
                      mo+`i o^ng ra ddu+'ng tru+o+'c va`nh mo'ng ngu+.a dde^? to^i
                      ddu+o+.c... to^' gia'c o^ng hai to^.i lo^~i. Mo^.t, o^ng
                      chi.u tra'ch nhie^.m nhu+ the^' na`o ddo^'i vo+'i o^ng
                      Tru+o+ng Tu+?u, vi` nghe lo+`i o^ng, theo kha'ng chie^'n 9
                      na(m dda(`ng dda(~ng, sau na`y tro+? ve^` Ha` No^.i dda~ bi.
                      ngu+o+`i cu`ng tra^.n tuye^'n bo? tu` chi? vi` xin tu+. do
                      cho va(n nghe^.? O^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u bo? bu't, Ha` no^.i
                      ma^'t di mo^.t nha^n ta`i. Hai la`...

                      - DDe^? to^i tra? lo+`i luo^n... To^i sa(~n sa`ng ddu+'ng ra
                      tru+o+'c va`nh mo'ng ngu+.a, nha^.n la^'y su+. truy to^'
                      mo.i to^.i lo^~i cu?a mi`nh tru+o+'c nha^n da^n. Rie^ng
                      vo+'i o^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u, to^i dda~ giu+~ ddu'ng lo+`i
                      hu+'a vo+'i o^ng Tru+o+ng Tu+?u. Ngay sau nga`y Ha` No^.i
                      tro+? ve^` tay ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, to^i dda~ ddu+'ng ra
                      dde^` nghi. nha` nu+o+'c tra? la.i tu+. do cho va(n nghe^..
                      Ye^u ca^`u na`y do Tru+o+ng Tu+?u dde^` xua^'t ngay tu+`
                      ho^`i dda^`u kha'ng chie^'n, to^i dda~ kho^ng que^n. Ca'i
                      gia' to^i pha?i tra?: Sau khi ddi ga(.p nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
                      la~nh dda.o dda?ng, to^i bi. dda^?y va`o to^.i cho^'ng
                      dda?ng vo+'i ca'i a'n tu` kho^? sai chung tha^n, to^i
                      tu+o+?ng no^~i ddau kho^? cu?a to^i, mo^i ngu+o+`i dde^`u
                      nhi`n tha^'y ro~ ra`ng, co' the^? minh chu+'ng cho to^i
                      mo^.t ddie^`u: Lu+o+ng ta^m to^i ra^'t trong sa.ch trong
                      va^'n dde^` na`y.

                      - Thu+a va^ng! Va^.y xin ca'o buo^.c o^ng ca'i to^.i thu+'
                      hai: Ba^'y gio+`, ba` Tuye^'t Khanh ye^u ca^`u va(n nghe^.
                      pha?i ddu+o+.c tu+. do, ba` dda^'u tranh ba(`ng ca'ch ca~i
                      co. vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cu`ng nho'm, ye^u ca^`u ho.
                      ddu+'ng ra pha?n ddo^'i o^ng. Ba` dda~ lo+'n tie^'ng no'i
                      nhu+~ng ca^u chi? va`o ca? dda'm ma^'y chu.c ca'c nha` va(n,
                      nha` tho+, su+? ho.c, lua^.t ho.c, ho.a si~, nha.c si~,
                      ra(`ng: "O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang no'i the^' ma` ca'c anh
                      kho^ng mo^.t ai da'm ddu+'ng le^n pha?n ddo^'i? Ca'c anh
                      kho^ng xu+'ng dda'ng la' va(n nghe^. si~, to^i kho^ng the^?
                      uo^?ng ca'i ddo+`i cu?a to^i ddi theo ca'c anh ddu+o+.c".
                      Ca(ng tha(?ng nhu+ va^.y, ro^`i ba` Tuye^'t Khanh xa'ch va
                      li bo? ddi tha(?ng... Y' kie^'n cu?a ba` Tuye^'t Khanh qua'
                      le? loi, kho^ng ddu+o+.c su+. u?ng ho^. cu?a nhie^`u
                      ngu+o+`i, o^ng go.i ba` Tuye^'t Khanh la` pha?n bo^.i, ba^y
                      gio+` o^ng nghi~ sao ve^` chuye^.n ddo'? Cha('c o^ng ddo^`ng
                      y' vo+'i to^i mo^.t ddie^`u nho?: Ngu+o+`i nghe^. nha^n nhu+
                      ba` Tuye^'t Khanh pha?i ro+`i bo? ddo+`i nghe^. si~ la`
                      chuye^.n ra^'t ddau kho^?...

                      Kho^ng mo^.t chu't lu+o+~ng lu+., o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang
                      no'i ra`nh ro.t:

                      - Ba` a^'y ddu'ng. To^i nho+` anh ra nu+o+'c ngoa`i ga(.p
                      ba`, cho to^i ddu+o+.c gu+?i mo^.t lo+`i xin lo^~i. To^i
                      dda~ sai hoa`n toa`n!

                      Nga^.p ngu+`ng gia^y phu't, o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang ha.
                      tha^'p gio.ng bo^? xung, vo+'i mo^.t ve? kho^ng ma^'y
                      ddu+o+.c vui:

                      - Ne^'u ba^'y gio+`, mo.i ngu+o+`i dde^`u sa'ng suo^'t nhu+
                      ba` Tuye^'t Khanh, Ha` No^.i ta dda^u co' bi. xe'o na't
                      ha`ng nu+?a the^' ky? nay, cho dde^'n ta^.n ba^y gio+`...
                      Tha^.t la` buo^`n, bao nhie^`u si~ phu kho^ng ba(`ng tri'
                      cu?a mo^.t ngu+o+`i dda`n ba`!

                      - O^ng co' muo^'n nha('n the^m ba` Tuye^'t Khanh ddie^`u gi`
                      kha'c cha(ng?

                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang no'i cha^`m cha^.m, nhu+ ddang
                      ru't ra mo^.t ke^'t lua^.n tu+` ba`i ho.c sa^u sa('c nha^'t
                      cu?a mi`nh, ddu+o+.c ddu'c ke^'t la.i sau 50 na(m tro+`i
                      la(n lo^.n vo+'i cuo^.c ddo+`i ddu? mo.i ma(.t quang vinh,
                      tu?i nhu.c, cay dda('ng, la^~n vo+'i nhu+~ng ky? nie^.m
                      ngo.t ngu`i:

                      - To^i ra^'t muo^'n ga(.p ba` dde^? ddu+o+.c no'i mo^.t
                      lo+`i xin lo^~i, to^i dda~ pha?n bo^.i ba`. To^i xin
                      ddu+o+.c ba` tha thu+' cho sai la^`m cu?a to^i. Ba` ddo`i
                      ho?i tu+. do cho va(n nghe^. la` ddie^`u ddu'ng hoa`n toa`n.
                      DDo' la` quye^`n lo+.i cu?a ba` Tuye^'t Khanh, ddo' cu~ng
                      la` quye^`n lo+.i chi'nh dda'ng cu?a toa`n the^? gio+'i va(n
                      nghe^. si~ Vie^.t Nam! Va(n nghe^. tu+. do la` lu+o+ng
                      thu+.c nuo^i so^'ng gio`ng va(n ho'a cu?a da^n to^.c trong
                      ta^'t ca? mo.i hoa`n ca?nh.

                      Ngu+o+`i vie^'t vo^ cu`ng kha^m phu.c su+. pha?n u+'ng nhanh
                      nha^.y, ddo^'i dda'p vu+`a sa('c be'n la.i vu+`a "co' ga^n
                      co' co^'t" cu?a o^ng Nguye^n Hu+~u DDang. Cu+' suy tu+`
                      ddie^?m na`y ma` ra, o^ng DDang nay dda~ ngoa`i ta'm mu+o+i
                      co`n "gang the'p" nhu+ va^.y, ai co' the^? bi` vo+'i o^ng
                      ho^`i tru+o+'c? Qua? la` danh cu?a o^ng DDang ba^'t hu+
                      truye^`n! Ngu+o+`i vie^'t chi? co`n bie^'t cha('p hai tay
                      ba'i phu.c. Hy vo.ng ra(`ng, ba` Tuye^'t Khanh ddu+o+.c
                      mo^.t lo+`i no'i cha^n tha^.t cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u
                      DDang, se~ di.u ca? ta^'m lo`ng.

                      Sau va`i phu't im la(.ng, ngu+o+`i vie^'t vo^ ti`nh buo^.t
                      mie^.ng no'i:

                      - O^ng co' nghi~ la` chu'ng to^i se~ mo+`i ba` Tuye^'t Khanh
                      ve^` nu+o+'c dde^? ga(.p o^ng cha(?ng ha.n? O^ng se~ no'i
                      gi` the^m vo+'i ba` ta? O^ng se~ mo+`i ba` Tuye^'t Khanh
                      to+'i nha` o^ng cho+i va` dda~i ba` Tuye^'t Khanh mo^.t
                      bu+~a co+m tha^n ma^.t chu+'? O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang dda~
                      cu'i dda^`u, tha^`m la(.ng, ddau kho^? ra^'t la^u kho^ng
                      tra? lo+`i ddu+o+.c ca^u ho?i ra^'t vo^ ti`nh, ra^'t la`
                      bi`nh thu+o+`ng tre^n cu?a ngu+o+`i vie^'t...

                      Ngu+o+`i vie^'t cho+.t ho^'i ha^.n vi` ca^u ho?i na`y dda~
                      ddo^.ng cha.m dde^'n mo^.t thu+.c te^' vo^ cu`ng xo't xa:
                      O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang, sau ma^'y chu.c na(m tham gia
                      ca'ch ma.ng, son sa('c mo^.t lo`ng phu.c vu. va(n ho'a cu?a
                      to^? quo^'c, Kha'ng Chie^'n tha`nh co^ng, chu+a ddu+o+.c
                      hu+o+?ng nga`y vui thi` bi. gieo cho ca'i a'n tu` kho^? sai
                      chung tha^n! Nha^n di.p nha` nu+o+'c ddo^?i mo+'i, ddu+o+.c
                      gia?m xa' ra tu`, o^ng bi. tru.c xua^'t ra kho?i Ha` No^.i,
                      bi. qua?n thu'c ta.i que^ Tha'i Bi`nh, bi. theo do~i ga('t
                      gao va` bi. su+. a dua theo tho+`i cu?a dda'm ngu+o+`i vo^
                      ho.c ngu+o+.c dda~i. (Co' tin no'i, o^ng tu+. y' ve^` Ha`
                      No^.i cho+i la` pha.m pha'p, co' the^? bi. ba('t va`o tu`
                      ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o, tha^n o^ng nhu+ con e^'ch na(`m trong
                      hom gio?. Nhu+ng nha` nu+o+'c "linh ddo^.ng", ma('t nha('m
                      ma('t mo+? thu+o+ng ha.i o^ng, ho. dda~ ta.m tho+`i bo? qua
                      cho o^ng, trong giai ddoa.n na`y la` nhu+ va^.y.) Va` nhi`n
                      la.i ca? mo^.t ddo+`i cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang thi`,
                      o^ng DDang chu+a he^` co' no^?i mo^.t nga`y ra?nh rang nghi~
                      dde^'n vie^.c dda('p ddo^?i cho cuo^.c ddo+`i rie^ng cu?a
                      mi`nh. So^'ng tre^n 80 tuo^?i ddo+`i, kho^ng vo+., kho^ng
                      con, kho^ng tha^n thi'ch, (co' the^? co' tha^n thi'ch,
                      nhu+ng ho. so+. lie^n lu.y cha(ng?) kho^ng nguo^`n thu
                      nha^.p, pha?i lang thang cay cu+.c kie^'m so^'ng be^n
                      nhu+~ng ddo'ng ra'c phe^' tha?i, lay lu+'t so^'ng qua nga`y,
                      ra^'t kho^? nhu.c...

                      Ne^'u ba` Tuye^'t Khanh tro+? ve^` tha^.t, lie^.u ba` ti`m
                      o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang o+? dda^u dda^y? Lie^.u o^ng DDang
                      se~ mo+`i ba` a(n bu+~a co+m vo+'i nhu+~ng mo'n gi` ? Lie^.u
                      ba` Tuye^'t Khanh co' hie^?u ddu+o+.c chi' lo+'n cu?a
                      ngu+o+`i anh hu`ng sau ta^'m a'o ra'ch, tre^n khuo^n ma(.t
                      gia'ng ddo.a phong tra^`n cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u DDang?

                      DDo^`ng tho+`i, ngu+o+`i vie^'t cu~ng ho^'i ha^.n vo^ cu`ng,
                      dda~ vie^'t nhu+~ng gio`ng bu't ky' va(n ho.c vo^ va(n ho.c
                      nha^'t trong li.ch su+? va(n ho.c cu?a Vie^.t Nam hie^.n
                      dda.i.

                      Xin qui' ba.n ddo.c va` mo^.t so^' anh chi. va(n nghe^. si~,
                      ha~y thu+' lo^~i cho ngu+o+`i vie^'t, chi? vi` su+. to` mo`
                      muo^'n la`m sa'ng to? mo^.t va^'n dde^` nho nho? trong qua'
                      khu+', dda~ vo^ ti`nh ddu+a mo^.t anh hu`ng cu?a da^n to^.c
                      tre^n ma(.t tra^.n va(n ho'a ra tru+o+'c va`nh mo'ng ngu+.a
                      a?o tu+o+?ng vo+'i nhu+~ng gia? thie^'t, nhu+ng la.i ra^'t
                      thu+.c vo+'i u+o+'c vo.ng trong ta^m ho^`n mo^~i ngu+o+`i
                      Vie^.t Nam ye^u me^'n ma?nh dda^'t va(n chu+o+ng cu?a dda^'t
                      nu+o+'c mi`nh! Pha'p lua^.t ba^'t vi. tha^n, nhu+ Nguye^~n
                      Hu+~u DDang, du` la`m chu? ti.ch nu+o+'c va^~n vui ve?
                      cha^'p nha^.n vie^.c mi`nh pha?i ddem ra xe't xu+? nhu+ mo.i
                      ngu+o+`i thu+o+`ng da^n, co^ng ba(`ng, to? ra sa(~n sa`ng
                      va` dda^`y lo`ng qua^n tu+?, ne^'u ngu+o+`i da^n ca?m tha^'y
                      o^ng la` ngu+o+`i la`m ha.i ne^`n va(n ho'a da^n to^.c.
                      Tho+`i dda.i da^n chu? Muo^n Na(m! O~

                                                                      San Francisco 1994
                                                                      Ly' Kie^.t Lua^n