CHNMT|ROBERTRUARK

GIITHIU

TichuPhicmtloivtkhtmu,khngbitsai,cig...baogi,mangtnChnMt.Clnlconvthngnhtthgii.Nthchmtong,vmiloilngv.Ngitchcnhiukhikhngphilvi,vcmhnmchthatnhhungbov....giitr.cbit,khitncngconngi,nkhngnhmvochaybtkumchnhmvochkn.

Bn cht y phi chng c thy trongmt con ngiM hin i -AlexBarr,nhnvtchnhcacuntiuthuytntngny.ChnMtccoilcuntiuthuytcuicngcaRobertRuark.y

lcuchuynvmtnginng,mtnhvntinng,bgingxgiacngvicvnb.Clngicskhngkhnhnraphnnonguynmucachnhtcgitrong.

NhngChnMtvnkhngmangdngvcamthik,kckhinhckhngtticcnhnvttingtmcthcvitnhcch,tinngvsphnthccah,nhnhboErniePyle,nhvnErnestHemingway...

_QUYNI_

ALEX

Ngunvtoebook:ThnhvinTVE-4U

Ebookminphti:www.Sachvui.Com

http://sachvui.com/

CHNG 1

Trirtnngvyhinc,cinngcaNewYorkmt,cstli,nnglnngi.Tngpminhlnkhi17tngnhtrnkhungManhattan,khoeranhngcyotrnsnthng.Chngcchtginolayngninhngchiclo,cnsnthngcphmtlpbhngxpmn.Khngcmyiuha trongcnhkiucxy tngdy,vthngkhmtm.

AlexanderBarr,vibcc,varakhivinclnh,vmichixabungtmhaibc,mhibtuchyrngrngtrnngi.

Amelia, vAlexander Barr, ang ngi trc bn trang im t li imi, c ci vmtm khiu khch.NhAlexBarr cm thy, nng trnggingnhngivahinratmtthgiitonnhngkvdanh,ttcbnhubmnhbinhngnghchknhmn.Chicccytinamt th g c v nh ru gin pha, rn ra kh nhiu nc cnhkhuutaynng.Mtiuthuclcmlau,bunbchymtrongchicgttnbnglongbncnh.AlexBarrungcnmtcckhianh tngoingvonh -mtbngnhy,mhi rng rng,chicosmi t sng dnh cht vo ngi - nhng cc ru ch khin anh nngthm.Anhlingchicccrangoikhongsnybhng,hyvngcmtchuynngngthnghitrongkhngkh,vkhichmchmnhnqualan can xung ng ph tt bn di, anh gn nh b c ch mt cchkhngthchungnibinghcciqutchacthmdchaynhngconngikinbtxu,ttcubthmmtcchcunglonbinhngvncnhn.

t nhin ton b th gii rng ln tmc u caAlexanderBarrtrongbn taygghcan,bpmnh,vpbcanhpht rang tai.Anhcmthynhmtbnhpscamnhgyvn,rinphngra,vchvnlnobgiychlmtkhibtngcng.Alexmunthtln,munchytrn,munnpvomtxnhymngnhnvxtoclpvbcangbaophcihpsbbtng,Anhmun,anhmun,anhkhngbitmnhmun g na.Nhng anh bit ci anh khngmun.Anh khng

muntichHazeltinesnti.Khng,anhkuln.Khng,tiskhng.Chcchnlskhng!Skhnglmgkia?Ameliavahibngcigingtrconvaquay

mtkhi tmgngnngangsoi tmtbngchicbt lng.Nhanhln no, anh yu, ng bc na.Mnh s bmun ba ti viHazeltinesmt,

AlexBarrnhnvbngcpmtuoi,vhn,nhnhnvomtngil th .Nng tht p, anh thmngh, vi chic o chong en tht gicm.Nmnaynngdimtcmuhtd.Nngp,AlexBarrlingh,nhngvimtcmmdinhvytrngnngrtgingmtchchconlngx.Nngchi li tcvsamngxong.Chicodidticmuenthanhnh-mtchicHattiexinhxn-ctcnthntrnchickhn trimu tacachicgingkh ln.Khinhxongimtvtrangimntphnmtcnli,nngchuiuquachicodiHattie,cnthnvi lplamngkhnglmsonmidybnlno.Saunngvut limi tc,mmmi sondnu, riquayngi livni, nhAlexBarrbittrc:

Anhyu,chngtabmunmtthi,ngiililinavhymcqunovo.AnhbitbnngihucaHazeltinesgigicchnhxcthnoriy.Numuncchtthigianunggkhinthanhphinhanhln.

Khng,anhnhcli-phichnganhnivy,hayanhmichnghlanhnivy?Khng.Anhskhng.Chcchnlanhskhng.

Amelianhnanhvkhchu.Anhangnigy?Chcchnkhngcig?ChcchnanhskhngnmunbaticaHazeltines.Nhngchnhliuemni.GingAmeliakinnhnmtcch

cuknhnhgingcabtcngimno.Nngngln,phradngvcaoln,yncamtphnngoibami tui,chicochongenngindthnglmthonnhbngcrnchcvcpmngnynbtht limtcchngoanngonnhchicdy lng.Nngcncda trngmn,cpmtxanhsuthmvkhunmtmangnthophngcamtcgi vt sa, nu khng tnh n chicmi thng thng chun limi khi

mmci,khincinhncanngcngthmngyth.Lcnyynngkhngmmci,

Xinanhnhanhlni,nuanhkhngmunnmun.Nhnemny,emxonghtri,chcnmconathi.

AlexBarrkhngthybngcrnchcvcpmngtrncng.Anhcngchngnhnthyncdatrngmnhaycpmtxanhsuthm.Anhkhngthymtphnngoibami tui cao lnvyn.AnhkhngnhnthymtphnxinhptrongtranhcaDalivArtzybasheff.

Anhthychicnhitkcmvocpmngtrncng.Anhnhnthytbiucnhdungyvgivinhngdukimtramuilythihnsng.Anhnhn thynhngchic taxi thhnhn trn lng,ch i cht lng ca s sng timc nhng ngi nhn cmt cucsngming thmmunc thnhanhchngx tibcsphkhoa,ngistimthchtlngcassngvotrongctcung.Anhthytinhtrngdichuynchmchpdiknhhinvi(ynhnglibing)vhnhnhrrngcangFallopcbmthucxcnhkhuytttgyvsinhnmu.

Anhnhnthychnhanh,AlexanderBarr,nhmtconngacvsinh,cmuavigicao,kimtraikimtrali,huynhhoangvmmlamchotikhinhngnmtuamclntrongtaianh-AlexBarr,conngactri nga ging khng th lm cho con nga ci t nguyn sinh c.Khoilcthchtvncn,nucthquncnhngchicnhitk,chicbmphunvoctcung,nhngchictaxiangi,tthngixm,nhngngdntrnglmschvquynlchcnhdu-nucthquncsngnghchvngvcanhngbaocaosukiuc,lcianhkhngdngthihcihc,lcikhuyngsvuivnhtthivdngvtkhngcncnglnc-thvng,khoilcthchtvnc.VAmelialmtphnthtxinhp,nubnthchnhngbctranhhnhpbiDalihocArtzybasheff,trongmymcthngtrxctht.

AnhskhngnHazeltinesmunbatihocbtkcigkhcmtlnnona.Anhhaviemy.Nhngtngcuuthtra timimngcaAlexBarrmtcchcngrn,gingnhnhngchlnhchnh.VanhkhngnhnHazeltinesnti.

Anhangnicigvy?GingAmeliathcsbctckhinngnhnsangchngangvadngmttaynhtosmivotrongqun,taykiassongtrongto,lnmtmchiccavt.

Anh skhngnHazeltines, khngbygi,khngngymai, khngbaogi,ntihoc lmbtkcig.Lnnyanh tmccavt,chicmuxanh,vnhanhchngthtnmtcchcuth.Anhvlychicokhocvttrnthnhgh.

Anhrangoiy.Ameliacaumylcu.Mtcthtbmnhylnnhyxungnhcon

chsauvaic.Rangoiu?Cchuyngxyravianhvy?Anhkhnghcchtnghnotrlichochaicuhiny,Alex

BarrnivloobinvobngticamthngTm.mxungchnggipcghnbanngy.Trivnyhinc,hihmvicimcaokhng th khc phc c,mt ni nhc c trng caNewYork.Minhangchyvnsclntrongbngmvaxung.AlexBarrangtrongcnthnhnkhnglgiini,phtxut tmtmcmxc-mtchtlolng,cuknh,kchng.Vaianhvathikhngbitanhcuknhvicig,tisaoanhlicmthythtvngnnhvy,tisaoanh li tbinmnh thnh trcichvmt thnginnhba tiHazeltines.

Timtmi,AlexBarrthmni.Mtmi.Tiphtmvmith.Timtmivphiiph.Tikhngmunnguvibtkchuyngna.Timunmtailmiugchoti.MuncmtcigngtmhnlnmunbatinhHazeltines.

HnhnhviAlexBarr,cnhngngytonltinxu-lutchnhngchuynxu.Ttnhin,trcycnhiutinxuxyra,vanhiphc.Anhlunluniph.Anhlkiphbmsinh.Anhphtmv lmtkiphbmsinh.Anhmun,anh thmnh,cmtchtvuithkhnglinquannviciph.

Clbnthngbothnglnanhxinlicatngbintpttpch chm ngi cho phn ng ny. chng phi l mt thng bo khcthng;Alex cmth synhng thngbonhvy.N thngch

nthunvitrng,ykhnghontonlcchgiiquytnhtidkinkhichngtanichuyn.Ccigchan.Anhsvitlinmtlnnach?

MarchMantell thnhnanhquavnphngidinthngtrc.Alexthnmn,tibitiunylmanhnhmchn,nhngtinghyllccthchoDenbymtntnibt.ythtskhnggingnhdanhtingcarunhoBarr.iu ny hi qu bt ngi vi c gi caDenby.TinghclanhphmmtsailmnhkhiStevebEllen.Thcschakhiukhch lgiichos tanvmtcuchnnhnchcchnnnhth.Khngchnginlmtngynngncu.Anhsthlilnnach.Vxinhytbotrng.ClanhcnichuynnanchayChu Phi hoc u . Ti ngh anh NewYork lu qu ri.... Cnnhiuna,baogmnhngkhonghinchyncmt.NewYorkvomah,nhngkhonghin,gingnhnhang,hnhnhluncxuhngchync.

SaulbcththnglcadSal tqunh,Carolina, litkphtntrongbathngvaqua.CththanhnmtiuvdSal:BluntmghilikhontintiuphkhngcnthitchonhngmilingngcachavmAlex,v,dnhin,chocbnthnb.CngcmtdanhmcchiphduytunhcatchcMantell.Kinhnghimlunmviccnhnvinhon thu thunhpbochoAlexBarr trmikhonbngsc,vnucthc,thngquatikhonngiidincaanh.

DanhmchngqucatchcMantellghilinhnghanvinphmingkinhhongcachamanh.Nunhchamaisutmschocnhngconbmhim,thchamAlexlisutmnhngbnhkcckhngthxyractrongtmtrvcthbucphisdngnhandngcngkcckhngkmvnhngchuynxecpcungdi.Ttcnhnggxyrachohuccoilkhncp.Hkhngbaogivitth;hgiinhocnhin.ChacaAlex,Martin,nthunchllunsayxn;ngvnchattigiaiontiutinkinhnin.

Nhng, mt hm Alex gh tm ni vi ngi i din ca anh,MarcMantell, ng y gi u. Cn sng th cn hy vng, ti khngmunMartingytaitingchogianh.

Alexkhngcmthykhchunthvocingythbynngncnykhivtbchicochongvbatikhngmongmun.Niauvsthngxtbnthnmingltmtrngcaanh.AnhchngcmthydchuchtnoviyucurrnglmangttcaMarcMantellrnganhcntchmscmnh.iviAlexcvnhttcmingi,tAmelia,vanh,nMarcMantell,ngiidincaanh,ucthuytphcanhtbovmnh.Anhngh,khngbngmtnghnhn,nhngcngngangmtngithlnhngh.Alexlngunnnglngskhaitruynimtcchthchhp t chicbngiybbn, ygngng lndanhmc schbnchynhtca tTheTimevTheHeraldTribune,quaytr li toramtchtdanhtingvmtchtmaymnkhthngxuyn.

NutriphchoAlexmtbntnhngangbngilangthangdituytmkhngmangngvmcchngvimphichtngi,csaymmncht,chtvungthhocphungphbcvomttrongnhngkhonhkhctuytvngentithngxuyntncnganh,anhthngccmgicbcbikhchurngcAmeliavMarcMantell,cngnhcchavmanh,cngithuthuvlutscaanh,cnhngthkvnhxutbn,ttcuxemnhbnthnhangblao,nhthmtnginolytrmcahcighuhnhcthnhmtchict,mtciolngchn,haycllvicbnmtbphim.

Ttcmingiuhi lngvinghphi thctcoiAlexlngikhngthgcng,ngoitrchnhbnthnAlex,ngilcnocngcmthymunthtln,ngispxungngrincnkhcchonkhingthipi.Nhngthngthanhstlimnhdyvtmcchiph.Giyanhkhngmuniphna.ylmttrongnhngngygotht,suy sp v nc n.Alex quyt nh rng y chnh l thi im tt nhttrongnmingaynTieradelFuego.

Khibci,mhibchitrongbngchiuchngvng,anhrurnghrngmnhtngphichusbcbimhktchuynitiChicagoy.Chngc li lmg; trcAlexBarrkhngchung thy,vmtcht cn rt lng tmkhng lmanhb dyv lukhi thnh thong saymmringvomtchicgingl.Khng,chcchnkhngphillilmthxc;lsbtmnbunru,btmnviAmelia,vicucsng

cah,sbtmnchuachtvichnhanh.Chicagomramtcnhcami-hnthna,nmlimtcnhcac.Cnhcayngsmlikhichintranhchmdt,vanhtrvnhimtvithctxmxtcahabnh.Cicnhcabmtckvtanchtrongkhonhkhc,vlramtAlexBarrmanhgnnhqunmt.ClngiynymtchtchoBarbara,nhngclcnhncichmnhnhngthmngtcaBarbaraBayne,clcnhnnhngcchtnnhncatanhmixy,clcnhnlithngboJohnthnmncatngbintpvcangiidin,clcnhnthanchnngtcabdSalchnngtvnhngkhonchichnngtcahaibcsinhthnhcngchnngtcaanh,clcnhncingynngbckhngthtnivscuknhttyuvivicmcqunodcuctratntaonhtinhvinhHazeltines-clngnnh l nhng b qun phc ng ght .Chc chn lAmelia nn tngchngi.C thc skhngcn lugichngcngvi tt cnhngonghtkhccactrntngpmitanhlnNewJersey.

tui42,AlexanderBarrangmtgiaionkhngnnhnguvicnhngthtbitrongviccconvknimcamtknghhnhphc gn y t trch nhimngi chng, li lm si ng trong chuynphiulunhmiyChicagoviBarbaraBayne.Vocithikhcmtny,anhcngnhnSheilavilngthnghi.

CHNG 2

AlexBarr ang lc li khp ci kho cha trngcngi nhNewJesseytmchicovtmcicucbthtlctluthtrngthybqunphc.Ttcchng:Bqunomuxanhvigabain,ochong,oma,m(cmlitraivmcal),thmchcmtsbqunomuxmkinhkhngmErnieKingqucqungcolloivikakibcmurtp.Chngctreosauchicmnchethotkhiimtcaanh-manhlilknghinlclicitnggcmicamnh-trongsutnhngnmktkhiqunNhtngngbnvanhctrvnh.

Anhmmcikhithychicmsquancnydivinvngtrnlitrai.

nCha,AlexBarrnito-mtthiquenangngycngtrnnphbin,vthnglmanhkhchu,khianhthikhngnghvn,nCha,mnhthtsmongquayvthigiancncmunchicmnyvittcshnghi.NdngnhchngddnggvocilcqunNhtphnbimnhbngcchphitaynhanhnnhvy.

Anhichicmsquanlnuvixungnhditmgng.Chicmtrngcnghpvibngphcnhvngmont lenvqunanhangmc,vvyanhquaytrlitnggcvgitungbqunomuxanhvingvinvngmtrnhaingtayo.Anhmcvichicokhoc,ciknkhuycchicontlenmuxanh,gingmtthuthtungmc,vlicnhnbngmnhtronggng,hchchiclitraimdnglchsangbn.Chicokhocvnvavnmtcchdchu.

nCha,anhlinito.Mnhtrthnhmtsquanbngiyintrai.Ai bit c?Nu chin tranh cn kodi vi nmna th thmchmnhcthtrthnhmtchucncngnn.Chngphingonxiu,anhngh.Hiquncqunhiuchucnmtytrngctkhih thikhngphong thiu tng thanhninchonhng thuyn trngthiunin.

Anhnhnvaitrcciovt,vquytnhsginchoiquncut,hocmtai,vomtngyno.Chicmsquanyscth

lmchomingikhiciphln.Chtnlmtmnhihc,nhbhuychnganhgomgpcvchlbiuhinchomtctnhanhhngmanhchabaogithanhn,ngayckhintribucanh.

Anhquayxungdiphnglmvic,v,nhthngl,higitmnhkhng thy Amelia ang nm sp c sch trn chic ivng trong cnphngnh.AmeliachabaogirakhinginhJersey.AnhthtskhnghiunicitthbttincaAmeliakhinngc.NhnganhthcbaogihiurAmelia,trmtiu:Anhhiurngnngcmtthinhngrrt,mtthinhngtntmkhmphchbitnhngsvicnhnhtmcuicngharalkhchu,nukhngnithnglkinhtm.Anhhiuiu.Victmbinhngkhuytttnhnytrongtnhcchanhnysinhtkhicuicnganhngthtkinhkhitngktnhnglilmcamnh, tngktnhng li ta thnnhnhtnng tht raquanhiunm.Anhchornglnhnggangxyra-xyra-vicuchnnhn.iu-vanhkhngthngncmtcicibcdcxuh-vthctlanhnggpnhiuhnbnhthngnhnglichmchcnumtcgigpkhkhn.

Mnh lmhngmtmnp,anhni to.Nhngmnh thikhngbittisaocyliginhngbqunphcchttitnysutchngynm?phichnglmtkiuhnhxcnhccycithiqua,ci thiduynhtmnhkhngcnhmkhngbnghi l cnhngnimammkhchoccnhngnginbkhc?

qua luri tkhiAlexBarr thtsmangnhngnghnngnvchin tranh.Nhng ngh ch k khc chim gi anh; s phin nhiuphctpvtichnh,nhngrcritrongcttruyn,vscuknhvvicliuanhsdngvnphonghictrongcuntruynminy,haych thphihpnvcclmcginhmchn.KhiAlexBarrthainghncunschmi,nhAmeliaslngiutinnivibn,anhlngihunhvdng.AlexBarr thcsb riAmeliakhianh lmvic;iuu tinphini l anh lunb rinng,vtqu s thnh thc saymivinhngammcabn.Niammdnhchonhngthchthcaringanhgitchtnhiucucithoigiah.AlexBarrlloinngkhngmunbiuhinnimammcamnhrabnngoi,vanhghtphitha

nhn s tht khc nghit v nhng khuyt im ring. Anh bit anh cchng,nhngkhuytimthongqua,nhngnuanhphtlchng,clmtngynochngsmti.lldotisaoanhkhngbaogichongiidincaanhbitbn thobanucamtcunsch;anhmunncgtgiakcngvlmtrnccgccnhtrckhinkhiramtcucchtrch.lldotisao,tnhiunmnay,anhkhngbaoginichuynviAmeliavnhngticaanh-cl,anhnhlivistphphnaun-lldotisaonngcmthyxalvicngvicv cuci anh.Nc ci lm saomt thuyn trng ch cm thyhnhphckhianhtahocsngcthnvrurhoclithuynivtrnnvuisng.Cllldokhinanhcmthydchunthsutcucchintranhdingngvaqua.CucchintranhchlmthotngkodicamtrclGingsinh,ngaycsaukhibnbivliumngmtchngngdi.Sau chng c ai ch trchbnv bi.Khng cnhng cuc xung t c bit trc v sau khng c s tr a cangiv.Chnhph ti trchochuyni.Bnc th lmmt lng tctrbngtinthu,viyconduchophpchnhthccaTngthngRoosevelt.

Tiphini,thangisquan,AlexBarrnitomtlnnakhianhnhnchicbnbbnvtranggiyminhcmtnatrnchicmychchiuUnderwoodangchcnhngl thng, lingcho.Tiphinirngivimtqubngichlmtmnhikhnghn,nhtlvinhngqubcquannimkqucrngchngthnhthongvnhncm,vhontoncththoluncngvichngngyvnphng.

Sddtvltrongvicchiaxbtcchuyngnycpdngngaycvochintranh.Dothcskhngcmcchcamnh,khnhiuiuthvxynviAlexBarrtrongthichin,vanhhimkhicthachnhmnhraninchng.Mtlncngihianh:Nhngnglmcigtrongbnnmchintranhy?Vanhtrli,khngcthl,Chngcgnhiu.

Nhngnginhngu?Nungihitradaidng.,nhiuni,AlexBarrsni.BciTydng,aTrungHi,NamThiBnhDng.CcoAnh,c,Hawaii.Khlbnrn,ngbalvmbal.

ilctraddmkhikhngbunncht.Phnlnthigiankhngruwhisky.Nhngchintranhchoitaytimtsviclm.Vanhlngtrnhcuchuynbngtingcictngnhontongidi.

Chintranh,AlexBarrthngnghkhianhcmthychnnnvcimbngbongca s thiuht tingingnhngvnhng rc ri trongcttruyn, lnhu lnnhtcainghnghipngnngivvcngmaymn.

Chintranh,rtcuc,ccAlexBarrbnngoigianhmtcchhonton,hpphpvkhngthongc.llngtrcnkhinngitakhnggyranhngcucchintranhgingnhvymtchtnona.

ChintranhbinAlexBarrthnhmtktmthngvinhquangtrongmtnlctonthkhngchiatchc.Chintranhkhngcchchomttiu thuytgiahaymtkch tcgia.Thmchncngkhngcchchomtnhnvt.Khngaithmquantmnmttcphmhocngivitran.LthiuuAlexanderBarr,liyAlexanderBarr,vcuicngliychhuyAlexanderBarr.Alexgignphongcchcamnh,itinhngniclnh,thchinyccnghav,vkvobnglngnhbtksquanHiqunnokhccphongiuthaychothiuy.

AlexBarrgianhpHiqun,nhanhni,vxanhllmuanhathch,vanhcngchngthchthgsthiutinnghicamtlnhbbinhnusmnhcbtanhrivo.MignyAlextlmhmnhvcdnthnvonibnlychyrn,lnh,nng,auchn.Hiqunlmtngnhphcvcnuinng tt,vnubn tnhcbtugitngikhithamgiahiqun,thcnhiuchibnscgitngimtcchschs,nhanhchngvthnglgithtmtln.Alexkhngnhmnhbgit;anhangpnhiucunschanhsvitsaukhichintranhchmdtvthigianchophp.Nhnganhcmthyrnganhsladbnthnnuanhlivindnlnhminnhpngvtchophpmnhngnhntbnngoinhmtphngvinthngtrncngoilmvicchomtnghipon bo ch ln. yAlex ch rn luynmi tnh ch k. Anh khngmunladithgiihuchincanlccnhnanhtrongmtcucxungtln.Anhcmthyanhmangnthnthmnhcucchintranhhm

naynuchlmtrnlihacamttmavlimsngymai.NhiukhnnganhcththuytphcHiqunanhthchinmts

phngsbndns theochc trch.Nhiubinhchngcnh tranhvinhauvnhngphimtiliuttndng.NhngAlexBarrkhngmunlmmtphngvinna,vnhtlanhkhngmunlmmtphngvinkhocothyth.KhiAlexBarrlmtphngvinchthc,thcinghtuithanhxunmmhigidikodilmtiuxnhcivianh.HnhnhviAlexBarrmtbivitnhkhngxngngvimtnginngc tui v thnh t, phn no nh th SomersetMaugham e s bi hcCharleston.

Saumt shotngbanuvphnnokinhkhng,Alex thanhthnvsnsngtochobnthnmttinhhoaquynlc.Anhngycngccinhnvdngiucaquynlc;anhgy,khunmtdivintraikhusu,vcngcaanh,mcdchngthcschnhxcnhchuynngcachicnghRolexanheotrnctay,lunkodidlmngitatng lm l chmchp.AlexBarrkhngbaogikhinngikhccngthngv s hi h khoa trng.Anhnhnnh qua nhngvic vt, v nlunkhincptrnngcnhinkhithykhngchmicngvicuchonthnhvimtnlctithiu,mcnthychngchonthnhvimt sc sng to lnhnnhiu sovi i hi.AlexBarr khnghyvngccilmnhimvnhngninhMurmanskhayTarawahocIwoJima.Nhngmtkhinni,anhthdi,vgichonhnghnonocaanhtrmlngtrongdngingpngng.Nhnghno,vd,nhncAnh.

CHNG 3

Khichnghayunctmcanh,AlexBarr30tui,vcthmmtchoarmhaibntai.Anhlunnhnnhi-briampanhcthihcihclmttaiha-vivimttcgitngthnhcngtrongnmnm,anhcxemlngikhngschvrrt.Anhchicnthnmtcmuvngtrodivaphi,vvnghtcivnngtrconthlquakiutchicuacngnhiunhghtcinghtrthnhphngvin trongb thy th.Anhschngbaogiphi lo lngvcnnngcamnh.Anhc thnhnhmnhdvaphivi170pound[1] cnnngphnutrnchiucao6feet[2],vlnganhdinmckhinttcqunocaanh,tchicvtmcntinbngphcmuxanhurikhibkhungxngvicidngcu thcavi tut.Huhtmingi lnutingpAlexBarrucmunhixemanhdytrngihcno,vluntrangcnhinkhingheprnganhkhngdyhc,anhchvitlchchttthi.Vhthngtrnmtnilithny:,anhkhngthlAlexanderBarrc,vAlexstrli,vincimaphniTielngiphichpnhnthctrngtichnhlAlexanderBarr.ChtlngBarrduynhtmtibitangvitkimsng.

Sthiuvngthtcnhndin,lpilplivimtvchnngtkhnghthayitrongsutthithanhninlmttrongnhngldochnhkhinAlexBarr yu thchHi qun.Bc lng ca anh khng bt anh phi nnhngncingngn.Nhnghsquanvsquantrdiquynchngphphngquynschhocbibocaanh,hocngaycvkchutincichtthnhcngvnangcdinkhianhmuachicokhocvtpcchchotrcgng.VAlexBarrkhngthlmgcnucaitngtiuanhtimthnolitnno.Vvicnmngoitmvicangiidincaanh.

TrongHiqun,AlexBarrtmthynginhcamnh.Anhcchcvcaocquyncphngring.Rtccanhtrthnhsquanchhuyphanninhchomtckhngbitgvvicvitlchvgiykhngmongmunlmxotrncunhiktnglaicang.c

tnglmtthythtungmkcubloikhitungmbbindosckhekhng tt, v tri timng sngdi yi dng, vimtknh vin vng ao c nhn trm mt ci g to ln s n tung trongkhonhkhc.VcvuimngvcAlexBarr;AlexBarrkhngphilcnocngbahoanhngchuyntmpho.c, trongkhivtvhitnglicilntnhiudotnhcngnhmhaitukhutrcNhttrongmtngy,hiAlexBarr,nhmtcchthin:Barr,anhslmgkhivicnyktthc?Anhschngcctuitrna.VtikhngginhimvcuicngSaipanlcngviccamtthanhnin.

VAlextrli,vincithongqua:Vnmtvicthi,thangi.Vit.Thcralcnylnghduynhttibit,trchttcaHiqun.

Sau vcmt s chpmingv ni: , tt nhin ri!Tiqunmtanhlnhvn.Cltithtngngn,nhnganhchngcvglmtnhvnc.Ti lunhnhdungnhvn lmt tnkchngqunchngvimtnhntnhngiDoThivhithlcnocngtonmiruwhisky.Nhnthninwishky,anhcnghlmttriqumtsitaychngtanidyquayhngbumchnhkhng?

Alex thng ci thm v anh amc d tr ru gin vo h sTuytmt.Thc rac lngi rt lch svhon tonkhngngungc,nhngngthngninhnglihoamkiuHiqunmhinnhinnghckhibsam,uvcbimtchtruRum.Ngi takhngthtngtngclngsni:HyungmtlyhocHynhumtbai.Mimilnidyquayhngbumchnh,ngnhmtc,ngilunchumnhlnhtnhimvtrnbin,luncpbkhingbcquadyphMakalapalmmtsutpOldFashionedtrongCulcbsquan.

khngphilxuhngphbinmtslnthngdntrongchintranhyumnquni,nhngAlexBarr,lmtnhvnhavquanst,bmnmivstndng,mtkiutinhthnthmcthctcdngtrongmtphongcchqunscchpnhn.AnhbitnhiungivuivhngngnhngtnlngkiunhJohn,SmithhayBrownBamihil,ThneohayMhttclc,vhnhnnhngcitnnyvimtnimhnhdinvttin.Hhontontintngvocucchinhtrnnhcah,

vcvchabaogihnyranghrngnhngngiNhthayngicmhmnayh angdc sc bn git, ngymai s l ngi bn vngi lng ging thn thit nht. H tht s cm th k ch. Alex Barr,khng thchucbtks tcginnobaoquanh, likhmphckhithymtngianggindmtcchtrtrungvthnhtht,chodngilmtthngngctoxc.AnhchabaogicuginkhinhimvaanhtimtvntrchnngynhTarawa.Anhnhngphntcgincabnthnanhchoc.XtchocngHiqunlyiphnlnnhngthtiukhinkhccac,khihbtngrikhibinvbbnhhuytp.AlexBarr lmt chuyngia trongnhng th tiukhinkhc ca conngi,phnlnlvanhtchngtuithanhxun.

CHNG 4

GiyAlexBarrthngnghtrnicCha.hn10nmktkhiqunNht tncngTrnChuCngvmingixi smqunphc?Cnhiumtttvimtcucchintranhschsgipchothanhninxakhiccqunruvkhngthiphngmithtrongmtththitranghontontheohngdns.Slantrnhabnhmtcucchintranhttkiuclkhngthtinc.Chngcgphivivc.Mtthythgiloluyngngucvchynng,ngic ttcdngcnthityvmuicanghnghipngyxatruitcttqutnhang,mtlnni vimt thiuu trmng: Cbnh tnh, chmy.y cquchintranhchottcchngta,vkhinquaittcchngtasliphiquaylilmvic.Alex,ngngxa,reoln,Hoanh.

Trongchintranhkhngcsrcrinhtrongcttruyn.Trckhinbtubnbitnsdinranhthno.Khngcnhnggiihntht.Nuhmnaybnbntrtkth,cnhiuchilngianhemcahnsbngitvongymai,vothngsauhayvonmsau.Bncthchiascucchintranhvinhiungikhc.Mtnhvnybnthnmnhvobngticacnphnghutrngmuu,vthymnhanghnhhungthnhnhcncicaIronMaiden,mtc tr tro thamn dc vng m chng c tnh yu bi Underwood ch khng phiRemington. Khng c nh t no thiu mi quan h con ngi n th.Khngcxlimbitgiamnocscnlnhlokinhkhngnhcixlimc to lp bimt chicmy ch,mt ngi n ng, vmt xpgiytrngrtin;mttranggiytrinhbchkuthticmangnhngtinhtrngvcamtkhoicmvtnh.Trongchintranhbnchvittnlntlarichonvoqunlng,gingnhbntnhcitiusnsao.Ribnskhngbaogiphiclintheokiusnkhoachophp,hocthmchsmsoitinhtrngtrnknhhinvi.

Cngbngmnicucchintranhcaconngikhngcrcrivithum.Khngcssobtmthngvtnhtrngtichnh.Ttcmingi,tngicxungnvinhsqunubitngikhcslm

g khi ng tin ln ting.Mi cpbc ccquyn can, vngi tachpnhnrngmtiyhiqunkhngmccnhiunchoctinbngngicnhiuvchhocccnhtngmuvngtrnveo.Thhngcamtclkhngthtngtngc,vvybnhontonkhnglonchuyn.Vicbtphnlnntnhngcons,vnubnchingqunbicabn,vnuchintranhdi,thmchbnscthlmtsquancpcaonhtvcphprcmingtrngbclnvnhmcamnh.Nubnkhng tranghongcchochicmcnh tngvnglngnhauikmviiqunhmbctrnveo,thlciquig?Bngimtiysquanlngisquanngnhbngimtsquancpcaonhtlngisquan.Hygichodanhtingcabnctrongschvmtngynohstngchobntgiygiing.Khibnclichotheongnghil,nhngkhkhndnthngcabnslibtu.Nhngbnkhngcnphinghnnngaybygi.Chintranhvncnchottcmingi,thmchcErniePyle.

Chati,AlexBarrngh.Sgiucmchngtakimctrongmtcuc chin tranh tao nh kiu c.Mt trng thi hng hi l lng khngngng,vhontonthiustquyt.Khngcmhi.Khngcsphnx.Khngcsccngthts.Chcsccngvaphi,ci,nhcsnikhnghim tc, to ra mt con tuhonho, khi anhc nngoi n v trong s biu l hng thng nhn thc ca anh rng nhngngikhcangsng trongcngmt thgiianhnumnh trongcnphngkhckhcidoanhtrititncaMakalapa.Tikhngmunbtkganhhngrmno,csni,tikhngmunbtkcithngrngkutonovmttmhuychng.Chcnchotimtsccngvaphivcontustrngthihonho.Chngtikhngcnmtbbnanhhng.

Ti c ln l g anh hng rm, Alex ngh. Ti thc s l mt gYankeeDoodleuicong.lkhiticshnghitrongichn,ngnlatrongimt,chicotranhcttrnngivchicmychxchtayvungvynhmtlc.lkhiticthdngruginlmthucngvnthcncahngkhngmkhngbvovin.llcchngcngnninoqucao,chngcdngsngnoqurng.lkhitigingnh

JimmyJames,vttcccJimmyJameskhctrni.Phnlnnhngiuxyralhhoctrnnniting,tasng,hocvdngvcht.JimmyJames-AlexBarrnhnmt.iuquakhluri,vthtlrtsailmvicmtthanhninlimiminmxungkhichacchithcstrnnniting,tasnghoctrthnhvdngvdodtrcttcnhngvncvchrarrngnthtrnvchqunhm.JimJames-cnAlexBarr42tui.

VytisaongynoticngnghtiJimJames?AlexBarrbcbithitrongkhingmnhnmtcchchnghtcnphnglcnocngkhinngi taphi tht ln,Tht lni lmvichonhochomtnhvn,yanhcthvitmtcchtuytvi.

Thcslmtcnphngp-mtcnphngqupgiammnhc c.N to ramt cu lc b bui ti rt th v,Alex lmbm trongming.JimJamesschngbaogitincmtcnphngnhthny.Chodl...,bnkhngthnic.Nubncthlphngvincamttbothbncngcthlcngtcvinchonhiuttpch.Nubncthvitchotpchthbncngcthvitmtvkch.Nubncthvitmtvkch thbncngc thvitmtbphim.Nubnckinhnghimnghnghipthbncthphtrchmtmctrntpch,tpchsracuntiuthuyt,tiuthuytnuidngvkch,vkchsinhrabphim.Tngtvy,nubncthlmlutsthbncthlmquanta,cthlmthngnghs,thmchcthlmtngthngM.Saubnsgiucmtcnphngnhthny.Vbncthghtnvnqusangtrng.

Cngviccabuisngnmrirctrnchicbnlnnmccthnhtcconvoi,l10tranggiynhmy.Cngviccabuichiusl10trangnhmykhc.Tnhss,20tranggiyschabynghnt.lsnlngcamtngy,sungymttuntrongcnphngsangtrngnyivimtnhvnrtgiuc.Sulnbylbnmihai,hailnbnhailtmmit,vhailntmmitlmttrmsumitmnghnkiay.Mttrmsumitmnghnt.lstcamtthnglmvicbntun,mitunchcmtngynghcthchoLuke.ngbngiLukettbng.Lukengitronggccivnphngqusangvimt

thkqun,nhngkhngxngngvivnphngcangchccthk.Bnphiginglutxagn,hoconqunskhngknhtrngngichhuy.

Phnglmvicrngthnhthang.NcAmeliathitknhnmnhmcchgnginimvuicangichtrongcngvic.Ameliartthnhthovnhngiunhgnginimvuicangichtrongcngvic,haynithngra,nungchiuatrnhntrongttcnhngnginngthngminh,mngiththabitnhngngithngminhlnhthnoriy.lcikhinhungnhiunth,nhngngithcthlmgc?

ylphngchitinhtdnhchomtatrgiu.Tkhichintranh,Alexnghincumtstrongnhiukhacnhllngcacucsngthcbn ngoi, nhmt cuc sn ln, v cmt thi gian khi tc gi nokhngvittnhtmtcunschkhpvchuPhithkhngngxchdpchoanh.yccchin liphmangnhnanhchngchc:ngvsng,davu,khinvgio, cungv tn.cbi tr c thmm, ttnhin,nhconhlntrnlsi.Kodititntrn,svvngnu,vttcnhnggbncnthtstonnmtcnphng,mtcccng,lcycungngtonmtmuvngnht.

Chai,tagitbaonhiuconvtvtidicimcvnhc,Alexngh.Linhdngcuuto,linhdngcuunh.Chnvnyala.Voivtru.Watebuckvlinhdng.Grantvgerenuk,Tommyvdikdick.Lnlinhrattaibn,hmrnglnnhera trnchicuguvnanhlnliclmthnhcimntchaitrnquyru.Ngavntrnsn,bogmtrnging,sttrnlsi.TalTarzan?CnngilJane?Ttcudicimcvnhc.

Ngnschnyxpchnglnngnschkhc.NhngbnbabcdattnhtcaBbchkhoatonthncAnh,Nhngcttruynchnh,Nhngotngkhcthngvsgindcamng.Hemingway,Maugham,Steinbeck, Faulkner, Wolfe, Lewwis, Kipling, Capote, Stevenson, Poe,Conrad,Dickens,Lamb,Boccacio,DuMaurier,cDashiellHammettvRayChandler.Schvbngchy,schvquynanh,schvtnhdc.Nhngcun sch sch s v nhng cun sch bn thu, Decameron v Emily

Dickinsson.GallicovGalsworthy.,vng,cmtdanhmcngtho,cbcbadamchvngp.SchcaAlexanderBarr.KchcaAlexanderBarr.TuyntpccbibocaAlexanderBarr.Hptuynca,chcccbncngonccaai.Chathatichochngcon,AlexBarrngh.Khinomnhc thigiani tm?Khinomnhc thigianidulch,isn,ungru,tngi?Chatritrncinng,khinomnhcthigiannbuingiitpbnthonhmythhai?luriktcithimnhphibnkhonlolngvtpbnthonhmythhai.

cthtstrangnh,AlexBarrngh.Nhngchicgttncckhudngtrongmtthgiicbnlvdng.Clchngtacnhngchicgt tntonht,nhngchicivngrngnhtvnhngchicghlnglynhtmmtnhvntngmuacvphitrgibngmttmhnnhb, bnghaingn taynhb.Chng ta cnhng tm thmdyhn,nhiu khay lm hn, nhng ngn n c cch iu t u vi nckiucpvlnhn,nhngahtdikuknkthnsovibtcaiquanh y.Chng ta c nhiu khn tm, khn giy v khng c dao co.Mnh liqunkhngmuadaocori.Amelia thngnnhngchititny.CltthnmnhnntraonhngvicychoLuke.Nulcthanhsni,Ch:Daoco,tinmua:thuphthm.

Mnhcngqunkhngmuabnquynchosucunschti,AlexBarrngh,gingnhmnhphiqunkhngmuabnquynchotnhyu.Dochng ri bmnh, ging nh nhng li dao co. Ngi l a conhoangngthng.Ngicttcchngvttcchnglngtrotndongi t to ra bng ciming chua cht cangi.Chng c ai phimuamtgiychngnhnlngi,cnyngiangnichuynmtmnhnhthngin.

Ngimunlaino,lJimmyJameschng?Chttrckhinmtristanvomng?Cichtyqualuri.Vciquiglstanvomng,ttcnhngcidongitora,choringngi,ngirngmnh?Hmnaytakhngthchngilm,AlexBarr,anhlmbm.Civngngnchnghpvingi,mngithlibochnhngiangtrthnhngngn.Ngiqugilmmtgngc.Nkhngphhpvimtchoarmtrntrnngi,hayvikhunmtcntArchibaldMacLeish

cangi.Mtnhthchnhtr.lciclnginnlm,mtnhthchnhtr.Mtnhthchnhtrbnmihaitui.

Anhlinhnnhngtranggiynhmy.Clngisthchnhnnungivncntheongintn,anhlinito,cnvoquyru lmmtcc thanh li thcskhngmun.C lnginncmtngithnyubgitchttrongkhilmnhimv.Ttcnhngngitthnulmth.JimJamesbgit,cnngithgiuln,vthngicthlmvictrongmtcnphngsangtrngvitnhngcuchuynsangtrngchonhngcgisangtrng.Giatavinhau,tanghngibcmithi hoc, ngi Barr ,AlexBarr ni, v rtmt sut p ru gin vochiclykiuc.Anhthngungmikhichophpmnhnghlituitr-tuitrvSheila.Chngcnnianhcngbitrnglthchichogancaanh.

_QUYNI_

SHEILA

CHNG 5

Sheila!AlexBarrthdi.AnhgnnhqunmtSheila.Sheilagnh?Audrey?Khng,Aubreythnghn.Vimtcxonmuenctngn,ncdatrngsavcpmtxanhtm,bngcrnchcdichicontgind.Sheilayudu.

Vtrtluri.Qungnm1943,thngBanm1943,nuanhnhkhngnhm.LcAlexkhngcn lm tr lcna.Anhang lmt trunguqunchhuymtkhuiHiquntrongbphnctn licnv.Ccsquanvnhngthanhninthucicnvcttrncctubun,baogmnhiuonhtngalnghnghalncachuMtinhngninghonnnhMurmanskCalcutahayvnhBaT.

Miculcitnngitatchoicnvtrongnhngngyuca chin tranh, khi Luftwaffe lm ch bu tri v by ch si tu ngmqucx liu lnhvyhmcc ca sngncM, lmn tungccchuyntucaqunngminhtrckhichngranbin.Ccbinhscaicnvcalntrnnhngtubunbngoilchngtrmcp,nhngthcchtlphngchinthutbnscaitubunMchoNga,nuNgabtngkhipnhhabnh ring rvic.Alexbxungmtcchtytinvoicnv,gingnhnhiusquandnskhckhngcchuynmnckh-ccgiovin,nhvn,luts-saumtkhatphunngn.BathngsaukhimuabqunphcutinAlexthymnhangbnvonhngchic tungm(vikhupho127lychc lphthitsnmttanno)trnchuynidctheobbintCharleston,trckhianhcchithnhlpihtngNewYork.thctp,anhhngchoithuthchackinhnghimcamnhbnvoctbumcanhngtuchmmcktnhnhngchiccnantensutdcbbinncM.

Miih tng -cho trnmt trm tuTdochychm-cmtsquankthutvichcdanhHiontrngnhntnhiutiphvyv tu h tng nh sp xp cc tu khc trong on. Tu Hi ontrngnycGimcQuncngchntyhng,ticuchpih

tngtrckhitphsdyvcccontuclpngoivphnkhihngvMurmansk,cmtsthuynhtngbsungnhcaCanada,AnhvMdnquaiTyDnghungd.TucaAlexcchnnhvytrongchuynithhaicaanh,chnmtncuyut,cinocng cht y cht n hoc xng du, i qua by ch siUnterzeebootenang tn cng tNewYork tiNorthCape, cn nhng chicHeinkel vDornierthbayytrinhnqumikhinhngihtngkitsciquanhNorthCape.Murmansk lHnh trnhT thn;ngiNgaanginguynvt liu,cnLuftwaffetmthinhhoncucchinvincAnhtptrungtncngNgavnhngtuynngtiptchoNga.NcAnh,gnnhngqusaucucoanhtcutin,angnghlyhivdndpnhngngnt.

BychsinhtiticnvnonntsutqungngtSandyHook ti b bin Scotland. Pho sng khin bng m nh ln ma qui.Thulivapghrnvociymngmnhdy8ttaycanhngtubunangrsngtrongmnsngmdyc,utunmvouitu kia v x vo nhau nh nhng con nga b nh. Tri lnh nmckhng th tin c, nhng khu sngmy v Oerrlinkon c lm nngbngnx.Ruthvnlithnhnhngccbng-ttcmingiucru,vstipxccathptrndatrnslinhngvtxcloangl.

Cmtcuctngtincngkodi24gi,vclcAlexkhngngiracsut tmngy, thnhthongchpi trongbungli,nggcngaych camnh trn i ch huy.Mt ln, khi cuc tn cng tm lng, anhtranh th ci b bqunphc cng lau ra c th hi hmcamnh.Khiangxtxphngthchungbongrovangvanhchybra ngoi boong tu lnh but d trn ngi hon ton khng c g ngoichicmstiu.

Chngcngyhaymnokhngcthngbovnhngtuchndcbntunghocnhngxetngbbnchy.Nhiutulnnhhngnhvtrctrcngcbttlisauhoctrigitkhiihtng,bbmcmtcchauxt ri ln ltb tungmbnchm.Chngcmtn lcnocuhnhngcontugpnn.Trnmtncybng,cucsngchkodichannmpht.

Khi i h tng lt c nLochEwe, pha bc Scotlland,Alex cayng nhn thy anh l ngi cui cng cn sng st trong hi chi bi NewYorktrckhichuynibtu,vrngbathnhvinkiacnntinanh.

LHiitrng,AlextheothangttxungchicxungangdpdnhdonhngnhiqunHonggiaAnhmhngingenchohpbnvtnglaicaicnv.Tnhtonchothy32trong120tumt-viutitnhtcnangchkhihiquaCape.

VinsquanchhuyhiqunAnhcnrttr.Anhtaccpmtxanh,songqungmtmngmtmivbrudiqunhoevng.

Ccanhtrmtgichngchochuyniny,anhtani.Titrongbanchhuyvchng ta thyvic tip tccuc tnstny lkhngkhnngoan,clphtxtchchtyangiccanhquanhCape.HinLondonyntnhnhmtxovy.nhiutunnaychngcg-vciy,nCha,titinchngtachckhongsubngmvtqua.

Vinsquanngngligiylt,vnhnnhmngiM.TtnhintibitihtngnylmtphatrnhdinhontonM,

nhnghinccanhangthucquynchngti.CcanhsnigvvicthvnmayEstuary?Khngcgnhiuquanhgyrcrichoccanhnhngcmttuphngnglirnhri.Lnnhanhvovbcdhngtrongmttunriquaytrlilthngminhhnc.

AnhtanhnAlexangnhnmtTinihy,vcngnhCha,Londonkhngctnphtxtno

ych?Vinsquanlcu.RakhivdngchnhhchongiNga-vbtkiugsnvi

ncNgagici.TiphnnohnhdungraMurmansknispcn.Nsc a ti vng vnh v sau bng ng b t Abadan. iu nykhngphiddngvinhngchng trai caccanh,nhng t ra th tricngmhn.Ti tin lng thuyn trngyangchhuymtHiikhtkh.ngmunmtchtrurumch?

Nucnthtithchmtchtxnghn,Alexni.Tivncnlnhcng.

Snghmsau,nhngthngchncalichngtungmthuv,vih tngc tchc li,vinhng tuh tngnhkoci sutdcngkhinchuynincasngThamesdin ranhanhchngvhnn.H ch gp vi rc ri nh vi nhng chic tu phng li, chng inhngchuynngnmaulvrtluisaukhihaichicbbnchm.HbnhyntinvosngThames,vtucaAlexbneobnRoyalAlbert.

Anhngcmtltkhichngtraicbrudi,qun,mtiu,ilnboong.

Ccngnngiantonsngcamnhvbndcvotkhali,anh tani. Vic tucangkhngb tncngskhng lp linubncnthmchngta.Chngticquinhringvvkhvchngtikhngmunbtkbinhsnocaccngssutbnphilnhcachngti.ngcthbomantontucaccngvctdohonton.Chngtisangicamnhlnboong.

AnhtahnghinhnAlex.Nutilngthtissasangqualoa,anhtani.tralcoruv

xhimtcht.ngcyucuphicmttiH.Qlc9gisngmai.CmtsviccnlmviCquantnhbovCquandnvn-phtmtbntinvnhcvtinhthn.Sau,clngsctdochonkhinhneo.Anhtabttayanhvmmci.Hyvuilni.ngncnhgit chc yna.Londonvn lmtkinhnh sng, ngaycphasaunhnggckhut,ycmi loiphn,vsaumicnhcathbaucmtqun rubmt.Ticnghekvmtch rttuytOrangeCourtphcvmnthtnngchenrtngon.Nhiungicthchchchong.

Anhtabcinhngliquayli.Tiqunkhuyimt.Hsginchongmtchicmtvolc

8h15.Tikhngmunngblctronghthngxebut.AlexlcukhianhquayliphngchhuynhxucdngchTrung

yAlexanderBarr,Phngvkh inpha trn.Theoanh,hnhnhngiAnhrtxemthngcucchintranhcah,cucchintranhmhtratht bi trn t lin, trn bin v nht l trn khng.NgiNga ang bnhlui lintc;iqunti tcancmMqucb thmbiBc

Phi,RommelangthochyincungsamcminTy,ngtipttM-micaanhlmtvd-angbctt,vRAF[3]hunhbphhuhontontrnkhpncAnh.

Anhivophngtmnhnmdiliivbtukc.Anhcobrulmchmvimtsnhnhm,vquytnhiuutinslmlgiphothsba,trckiavnlthcttc,sasangchoanh.Sauanhsxemlisngngvhnhlcamnh,rilnbidomtchtthylimttdichn(chictupplclti80,40vmbnny,40vmbnkia, gnnh sut lt p, v anhvngicv tr camnh),cnsaucthhithmxemliucqunrunognbntu,ninginngcthmuamtltbiangmvmtkhoanhphomtkhngcvchnngtnhmithcnlitronghmlnhcatu.

AlexBarrvuilnichtkhimcquno.Muxanhcachicogycmgichngkhitrnlndackcschs,sanhiutunngimihikhchu totra t thnthmnhtrongbqunphcdycpcaihtng,vicmgicnheotrnmtmtchicmtn.

Giyanhiquahai ln, trongkhinhiungikhccht trnnhngngn sng trngxa caiTydnghungd, xmxt nh cichtvlunhthlvnhvin.Nhiungicht,nhnganh,AlexanderBarr,vncnsng.

Vanhchorngmnhlmttcngvic,mcdanhbnhchosyvy.Khngchbnhtrnbin,mcnbnhvociquannimthmnhun trnghc.AlexBarrkhngcbtkknngckhno;anhc thvnvaruybngmych,vnhng thao tcngincavic thay lp lunkhinanh tryhttngn tay.Anhhc thucconngcamnhthngquanghhnghi,bnphoviukhinithuth,vhccnhiuiukhcmkhnghgianln.

Vmtsdngpho,trntubn,anhtktqutt,vtnht,nhmttaybnsngc,anhhiunhngtincvcntrnhmphothkhngckinhnghimmanhnhhunluyn.AnhnhnchictuutinCharlestonvislngtng,vlpcdanhschtrcgcmnphivmn tri tuvisgipcavinpho ths2chuynnghipcaHiqun,anhnybavoicnvvnhng li lmphmphi

trnb.Giydngnhmivicutrichy.Anhctrongtaymtithu

thtt.Anhhccnhiuiucgitrthctintronghaichuynimiy.Qunsbsungcaibovvtrangclytstnbinhcnli-nhngchngtrainngdnmtcnlngttIowa,nhngkmthu chm mn t New Jersey, v nhng tn gy ri trn ng phBrooklyn.Cctukhutrcvtutuntiuhtlyphntinhtynht.Phncnbcavomtnvkhngaimun,diquynnhngsquankhng phn bit c mn phi vi mn tri, v vn gi vch ngn ltng,thanglcuthangvboongltng.

DiquynAlexcmtnhnvtcbitkhchu,mtcubgcBaLanbolnquNewJerseyctnlZabinski.Micontuucmtatrngnghch,vZabinskiltaichcaAlex.NucknoungsaybtnhvgyritrnbthlZabinski.Nucknohtthuctrong kho sng trong khi c hiu bo tu cht y n dc, th lZabinski.Hnhnhkht thuctrongkhigc,hocnggtkhigc,hocnghquphplunlZabinski,ngickhunmtbtrhoaccivngunkhngthayitrnvivvnhvosngsa.

VccunStaythyqunvCcquinhcaHiqun,Alexclmttc,tphtgiamtrntu,bttrcthmnninmtcchnhnni, Zabinski vn tr tr.Cu ta lun ni a, qun tha ngi, vmtsngmysabi,mingc,khntht lch,cnoqunth li thibnthu.

MthmAlexmthtkinnhn.Anhcngkhngcntintngna,vdngnhZabinskiang t t lyi con tucaanhkhi tayanh.ChabitlcniuhnhcngrniqunnhvctrlngthpcaHiquntrnchic tubunmmt thy thhcviccngc lnggpiAlex,vbccnhbuncmghtnhnhngkntrnngichc.KlutlnghimkhctrchuyngyricaZabinski.

Alexcnhnnithmlnna,giZabinskilnphngmnhTicthuytphccu,AlexnivibmtBaLantrtr.Ti

chocunmloihnhpht.NhnghnhnhchngnhicgvociuBaLanbucacu.Tichorngciduynhtcucthhiura

lvlc.Vthtinhthoilonnyra,acuxungdihmhng,vZabinski,tispbtxccu,nhchocuthyngbngvingaytrcmtccthythcaticngnhmthuthcatu.Ticmyigngnhbc;iulnhHiQunnirngcthdngchnggiitr.Chngtascmtvititmcmuavui.

MtncichmchpntrnimidycaZabinski,cutangngnghup:

cnm,iu,cutani.Chucngmunchuynvuivimtxquanchttitlo.

Cuangcy,Alexni.ithi.HtroxunghmtusbasaukhiAlexthngbobuitrnhdink

xovkthutnhmmcchgiitrvcvtinhthn.Thlhmtubvycngbimnhnvintubuncihh,hcngcitohnkhithyhainginngciquno.Alexgyvsnchc,songZabinskicthnhnhtobcuncuncbp.CutaangmvmtgchmtuvAlex,ngitpnhiumnththaonhmithanhnin,cmthytimlnhikhixemngtcchncaZabinski.Cidnginngnlchbchbinmt;gtinvosnutrc.Zabinskinhnnhynhnhngmbnnhi:nhnh,ci,nvchngtrnhngcmvhnhtkhngkh.

Ngitanl,mtthuthtrongpheAlexththmvingikhc,thngnhiBaLannyxp thnhcucu tranhgiiigngvngJersey.Chcchnnschospnmbtru.

iyAlexanderBarrkhngmtqunhiuthigianhiurnganhang ng trn mt sn u khng chng dy vi mt v s bn chynnghip.Zabinskianggiuctanh,chdngduynht taytrinhanhnhnlintcthoivomtanh;cntayphithnhthonglimtrngbnganhvimtscmnhckmnnli.SitaycaAlexdihn,vikhianhtungracmtcm,cnZabinskithchngbunlcumikhibdnhn.

Hnhcvihip,mihipdi2pht,vivin thuyn trngtubuncmngh,vsaunmgiyutincahipthnht,Alexbit rngZabinski c thhgc anh ch bngmt cm,nugmun.Nhng g khng lm th, gmun a ct vin s quan ch huy ca

mnh,vtxungquanhhmnhngtingcikhckhchphtrangycngto hn. Alex c th thy chnh anh lm mt con tu ca mnh, khiZabinskimmcitcvthoivoanhviquna.

Vohipba,mtanhbbtmu,cnbngthbmng,Alexgignglnvni,Xinngh.

Tichngnhncgc,anhnitip.Tislnphngvbnglinhngchrchda.Tranhththi,Zabinski.Taosquayli.

Anhchytheothanglnboongvivophngmnh.Trongphngthtlanton.Mttrongnhiutrchnhimphthmchtlnvaisquanicnv l lmngipht lng tm thikhi tucngncngoi.Alexchmchmmu trnmt,dnmtmingbngdnh lnvt rchch lngmy,vcnnhccchgichomnhcanton.Anhvitaylyramtxu nhng ngmi xu c bc giy.Anh nht xu tin y vo tronggng, nhng ngn tay thoi mi cm gn cun kim loi nng, buc chtgng,vvuivtrtxungthang,itayignggichongianhtrntayvn,chnkhngchmnbcthang,theokiuthyth.Anhlaovocahm,htln.Ri,tiptc!vchmgngviZabinski.

ZabinskisnsngchoAlex thnh thongmcmtquvog,mmci tccoikhinhscmnhcacn,vcngvnchogmtchituytvitraloxcvnhtrnhngnddi.GngoiulivcivimkhngikhinhnccmmnhnhtcaAlexvocm.

Giygthayichinthut,btthnhlnhnhnhvomtAlex,ri thng tay xungAlex mc vo cmg.Alex nhn thy rmnmt ci cm rng tr tro, anh xoay gt. Chic gng nng n gingthngvocmZabinski,vtNorfolktiArchangelncNgangitacthnghethytingxnghmgyvn.Chgybtudimtbntaivnggyidcsutntaibnkia.

VlnhlngtrtrotrnmtZabinskibinmt.Alexlicnhng,sau lnh lngnhn chmchmm lnh ca anh, ri chmchmnhn cnlnhlnghnvomthuthtubun.Anhgtu.Muchynhgittmtanh.

Aicthdichontnc,anhni.Khinontnhhyan

lnphngkstrng.Chngtasphilpmtsngdnchonn,mtithkhngphilcngnhnckh.Anhnhnhngrihmtu,vtquamthuthangtngginranhngli,trvphngravtthngvthobcuntinrachoanton.

SauAlexBarrkhngcngprcricnhntrntu,ithythcaanhvov trchinungntnggiyvluncBchhuybiudng.

Vng,anhnmcithyth,viuquantrnglanhvtqua.Nuanhcthlmiuquaytrli,hiuthmmtngivlmiuquaytrli...vng,bnchngvngquaycachuyninysausuthng-nubncnsng.

VAlextnhtoncsng.Anhnhnthynhiungitrongsnhngbn thn thit ca anhhi thi vimi cht chc, vi cmgiccht chc trn ngi h. V h thng dnh trong vng hai chuyn htng.Alexkhngccmgicsbtrngbom.Anhlinhcmrngmnhsthotkhicngvicchndcny,svitvibivngichocctpch,vrianhshccnhngiutthn,ttnhtlcnctrnbbintrongmtcngvicdchu.

Nhngcht,anhngh,mnhlmc,vmnhvuimngkhichngnhmnhbngvicchungvtrchutintrongtrnuquynAnh.Ldolnutinkhinbmnhcthamgiachintranh-anhnhnmt-c l l thotkhimmnh,vngybbnhcmtrckhicchuyn t dn qun. Thm ch ng y khng cht v bnh cm. ng ykhngbmtrongbqunphc.ngbmngaynh,trnging,trongkhimth trnntobonhmty tkhngchuynvichthptrnm.Alexcnnhrtrnhngbuichiumb,ylngnhittnhcaconchimsncavngFlorencetrvnginh,nittcmingiunmrnrm,baogmngni,bni,chavcchnhanh.

CHNG 6

Chicxemusngdongilixetni,mtphncmitcmuxmngn lmcthng tr chuyncaanh liaAlex tiSchhuyhiqunM.

Chati,Alexnghkhiquanstkhungbphhu,nhngtanhchy,nhnghbomrng,chcchnbncemnchoninymtcngvicqusc.

AnhthynhngngicaHiqunrtthnthin,khngchthmnhnhnhngg jkbngiycaLuNmGc.Cquan tnhbocmtcuc ni chuyn ngn vi anh, sau khi xem xt nht k hi hnh, v richuynanhchophngquanhcngcng,phngnycvquantmticnhnAlexhnlsphnthcscaihtng.

Anhthyy,vinthiutPROni,nghnlbinbch,ccanhlituhtngutincpvosngThamesktkhicucoanhtcbtu,ccanhanglnhngtinthisnnghiphtvnc.Vvicanhkhngbitcchnhxcangkhinanhthmchcnnitinghn.Lcqunangthchinnhiubi tngthutcaJoeBlowtBcPhi,ThuqunangthuthptintcvnhngtrngiaochinThiBnhDng,cnHiqunthanggngscthhinsthngthirm.Hyxemxemliuanhcthchotibitsvicdinranhthnov,nhmttiuthuytgiavmtkchtcgia,chnhxccianhcmthy.

Trongphnlnthigiandinratrnnhtichcmthyphnnobtcng,Alexnivthmngh:Barr,contrai tai,mihygilinhngiudin rachobn thnmisauny thamkho.HychoHiqunthctvgiliucon.Mtngykiachcchnmiscnnchngchomtcunschno.

Thcs lkhngcnhiuchuynk,Alexni.Tri lnhynhlngtthinvchngtibbotrnphnlnqungng,sngmthdycvhngngrcri.Ringtimnithtismtsngchtubunmchngtigilnhngthuyntrngyvavotihnlstungm.Chng ti b tn cng trn phn ln qung ng ti Scotland.

Songtichthcstrngthymimttungm.Cmtqubomphtungmmnphituhtng,chngtiquaynvphavthibaychictungmranhiumnh.

Anhnnt?Tikhngbit.Ttcmingiubn,kcnhngthuthcati.

Khmnicailngithcsbntrngn.Nhngcnginolmiuy.

VinthiutHiqunPROmmci.,anhgilihuhtthngtinchoringmnh?Anhscngiyphp

caCquankimduytWashington,anhbitch.Ti bit.Alexmm ci p li. Ti cha nh vit bt c iu g

trong lcny.Tichnhxhimtchtvkhmphnhngkhoi lctimncathnhphny.ngnnnhlchngticmtthigianditrnbin.Thcckhchsnthsao?

Cmtschchngticththuxpchoanh.NhngtibitnhngcgiPROSavoykhp.Nuanhscticthtphngchoanh.

Ctphngchotii,Alexni.Tithngngmnghankhicnlmtcubtrnitubunvthilmthnocsng.Thnhnghotngkhcthdinrau?

ngbni,vinsquanPROtrnhtrngni.Cchotngdinrakhpmini,tixingiithiuqunbarMtrongtanhGrosvenor-ditnghm.Tisgii thiumtcu lcbnhcgi lDeanery,ngaybnkiaqungtrngDorchesterlcngvinLane,cnculcbDeanerynmtrnphDeanery.Ti sgii thiuvianhmihnh lang,miquybar,miquncph,migcph,micngvinLondon.Ngitakvi ti v khngkh bn rnWashington.Washington ch lmt n tuvin soviLondon thi bui ny.Cuckhngkchgii phng ramtlngnhtnhtuynAnhdnhbnhngoi.

VakpnuanhinsangchobnanhSavoy.Tisquayvtulytquno.Thschhuybochchnhnmu?

CngSavoy.QuentReynordsangiuhnhmtloinhikhchdnhchottcmingi.Anhbitanhtach?

Tibit,Alexni.Liuticthbitainakhng?Harison Salisbury. Walter Cronkite. Tom Wolf, Ed Murrow, Red

Mueller.Vmtsna.HSavoybanngyvDeanerybanm.Tisnhiu.Htrich,ngichhuy?Ti on th. Hy vit vi bi hay vo v ng qun ni r vi

Washington,hsctmlngcaanhcngnhtmloncaanh.Khinovnutivit,tisnir.cmn.Hnphivuiratrkhicrabin,vinsquannimtcchthm

mun.Theomtcchkhngkhipno,thngvy,Alexpvbci.

Nkhinchomttdngnhquvngchcdichnta.

CHNG 7

London,trobi,nhamnhvyhbom,mtinvmtmngtrongm,bbavybisthiuthnvnghokhcanni,nlcanhnghngngivphiumuathcphm,vnccivvuitikhiukhch.dngnhhontonkhngcnilos,vscanmkhngphilgito.

Vng,Londonhnhvobanngyvhuynnovobanm.Banngycccngvin,GreenvHyde,ynhngngilnhxanhlmtnhvicccgidinhngtbo.Banm,trongccquybar,ccqunrucngkhaivccqunrubmt,minhlkhckhiu.Bnbcvobtkkhchsnlnno,gtuvimtcgi,vikhisaukhithomnchobnhocchocta.Cgiycthlmtncngtchocmtconim.

Alexvncmthynimhnhoanklcachintranh.NcM,ynnbnkiaidng,khng thbitccmgicny.Amelia,ngianhbliWashington,khngbitgvbomvnhngtrnnmbom,vtungmvtum,vloitnhbnvtnhanhemmchintranhemli.PhicngBaLan,nhnvinRAFvibriacong,lnhHiqunrurm,WAAFS, WRENS, nhng c gi ATS v ATC - nhng c gi Ailen,ScotlandvxWalestilmvicbnybn,vnhngngiangrangsaugilmvic-ttcuungru,khiuvvtdolmtnh,vtrangoitnhhunghklcachintranh.

CmtvisongincamcngchcMbginhpnganggiatngthngttptrongccqunruvtrgicaohnmlnhlngtlmtnhvigiaphng,nhngiuphnlnchxyratnhl.TiLondon,rnphCurzonvdctheoMall.

Khinbthathinth,sthtlnuAlexkhnggpSheilaAubreyDeanery,Sandyhaymttrongvsqunru.

Anh chm trn nng khi ang vi vng n ngi khi ca lc bnLuftwaffebtucuc tncngu tincacuckhngkch thhai,bangysaukhiAlexacihtngtiEstuary.

Nngpvcng,Alexngh,mitcenxongngng,cpmtxanhthmgnnhlmutm,lndatrngsavthnhnhgicmtrongchicochongbungditrnichnmnhd.ChclngiAilen,anhnghkhicnggnanhsautmmncady.

Anhmcrabaothucvchachonng.Cchtthuckhng?Anhni.tbomnyclssmquathi.Cmn.Nngnhnanhchmchc.Tikhngnghlnssmqua.

Tmthanhcan.Nngchmla.Nhngmthanhnycvnhylmttrnln.Tihunhqunmtngingcig.

Tikhngbit,Alexni.Vitiyllnutin,nhngtinghncngmtphnlkhimkhuytcati.

Nngnhnanhqualnkhithucvnhnmy.Lm sao n li l khuyt im ca anh c?Mt g ngiM to

mmkhc.Trongmtphtanhtasggmmnh.Vicmtinkhintonthgiichvinhau.

Vng,ngltikhngthngntBerlin,Alexhtlnquatingsngcaox.NhngphnnotiamtituhtngtiEstuary,vtirngbncnghephongphanhvn.Tinghenichongiccccmtknghkhakhvibnbcachngtitngtrn.ClchuynvingthmnhnylmtcnhbonhnghotngtrongHiqunsaunycaloinginhti.

Chngangtinhnhmttrnchinkhthngminh,nnghtlntrli vmm ci. Cmn anh nhiu v nhng iu phn khch dnh chochngti.Tislchngtisngquthanhbnh-mthititgnythpnth,hunhanhkhngthbitlangcchintranhnuanhkhngngheiBBC.

TntilAlex...phncuicunicaanhchmtronglotbomngn,tanhrunglnbnbt.Ctingknhv.Tingngctrnvitingphophngkhng,khinanhphihtln,Barr!

Hnhnhclmquen...Limttingnlnnaphabnkia,ccmchycngddihn...vianh,nnghtln.mnaychngtathtmaymn.Chngskhngdibomlnnatrncngmtkhuvcu.TilSheila...Mttingnddinakhintanhrungrinh,...Aubrey.

Shiubitcackhngngri,Alexhtln.Chpbomlolnhai lncngmtch....Limttingnna.Aitrnkiaangtmchngta.Cvanitnclg?

Aubrey. SheilaAubrey, c gi ht ln. Nghe xem.Ting m cangctrnunhi.Nhngchngtraicachngtibtchngphi thochy.Tht rachngkhngnnchochng tichicngctuynphngth.Anhsnghethyciboynngaybygi.Thykhng.Tingsngcaoxangttdn.

Viphtsauciboynvanglnrnr.Vylchomnay,cgini.Vngthi.Sngmaitiphidy

sm.BKhngquncnnti.Rtvuicgpanh,iu-anhbotnanh l Barr phi khng? Cho d anh mang n cho chng ti chuynvingthmtrliny.

Alexlicnhnngh.Cnsmlm.Tikhngcholticthmiccungvilyvn

mtcht?Tilmttcnhngiutaihimticthlmtrongmtbuichiu,Anhmmcingngngp.Tickhtmiquanhtrongcithnhphrnglnny.Tilngimiy.

Cgi lnh lngnhnanhmtcchngvc.Cnnhcmt lt, cgtu.

Tichol...anhthtskhnggingmtgngiM.Tikhngcxcphmanh,cninhanh,nhngti...

Tibitcnhnig,Alexnivnmlykhuutayckhihbcrangoiph.nungqumc,tnhdcqumcvyqumc.Tikhnglac.Vticnglmtnginngcgianhhnhphc,nuiucmtchtngha.ChngtaangcchkhngxamtnicgilDeanery,mtvingibncaticng-nhngnhbo,phngvin,phtthanhvin,iloilvy.Hocmunhnmtcht,chngtacthgitaxinSavoy.

Ti nay th chng ta khng th gi c taxi n Savoy, c ni.Anhnhnkiaka.NhngDeanerythc.Tisngcchvikhinh.Cthibc.

TrongDeanerythtngkhch,khithucmmt,no,quybarcht

cng,ccbnyngi, lnxnvisphnkhchcunglonthngckhingitakhngbgitchttrongmttrnbom.HnhnhctimtnaLondonphidngchnylmnitrnkhibkhngkch.VhnhnhttciqunbochuungDeanerykhitrnbomutinquai.

Khng hay lm,Alex ni. C l tt hn ta nn th nGrosvenorhocDorchester.

Chng cng chng hay hn cht no u, nht l m nay. SheilaAubreyni.Nhnyxem.LmvicBKhngqunchongitamtvicquyn.Tichlmtnhnvin,tmthi.Ticmtcnhnhvivimnbthpphp trong t lnh.Nuanh thch - ch ciu l tikhngcgrc[4],clngoitrmttsherry[5]

VyticththuxpstinMtmthngcati,Alexnivchenvo quy bar, y anh ni n ngi phc v.Ngi ny lc u lia la,nhngrisaucilcucthaybngmtncui.HnrahiuchoAlexitheovonhvsinh.LtsauAlexxuthinvichicovtmnghiphngln.

ithi,anhni.VnhHillStreet.Ctingchchnhkhianhbci.

CHNG 8

Cnhbxu;mtphngngnh,mtphngkhchlnhnchtxu,cnbpcbpgakmtlnhnmmtgc,vmtphngtmmngyntrongcthvitaylycmith.Songnthtsngsavvuimtsaunhngtmrmcamutinngn,mycythutinnhoavngtrnbnncnhktrcchicghsphamucamsm.AlextchaiScotchlnbn.

Cllloilmthcng,anhni.Nhngylloittnhtmticthkimcch.Voginy.

Thtkdiu,cni.ylchaiwhiskyyutin-hocgnnhutin-mtinhnthyktkhichintranhxyra.Cciokhocvmangnvophngng.Khngcrnglm,cni.Nhngtra tikhngphichung.Phngtmchvachomtngi.Cltrongtlnhc khay nh nu anh thch cho vo whisky, ti nghe ni phn lnngiMuthchth.

Ticthungchockhng,Alexni.Trongtrnghpcbitnytischo.Thcnc?

Mt cht sa thi.Ti thchn m.Ti s ra vi anhngaybygi.Nhnlctm,anhcthxemxemccigtrongngndikhng.Hnhnhcmttphmt,bnhquivcxcxch.Hocticthlmchoanhmtqutrng.Hmqualngymuahng.Chclcgimbnghp,nhsgiptngicaccanh.

Nghenhyn ticvy,Alexni.Ti lmt trongs tngi trongqunirtthchgimbnghp.Tritquthni,cccctrchhunkhivchinany.Hncphiangiuhnhmtchen.

Mtcgilunlmiuttnhtcthc,SheilaAubreynikhirakhibungng.Clmiugvimitcenquntt,tlimi,vvnchicontlengindtrnchicvyvitut.Chicobstknolnhngngconggicm.

Chotibitvci,Alexnghkhihchmcc.nginlm.SinhAilen.Tibmcitsm,chavhotngcho

IRA,mvautim,yltionth.MtngibcphnbitmtivtilnlnSussex,vthtikhngnigingAilen.Tiihcchonkhichintranhbngn,cnsauthilm.Tikhngthchlmnhngbqunphc-tiltikhngthtrthnhmtWren[6]haymtFannie-vthtikimviclmb.Ththi.

Cththisao?,vng,mtngi chngchaci.SheilaAubreych tay ln tri.

Mt s quan RAF.Mt ngy anh y khng tr v. T chng cn gnhiungoicngvic.Ngaytutikhngmunntrongnhnsquan.Nhngngynythtchngddngg,khittcmingiungvngsaumtlycocktail...

S rt kh chng li sc p ng vo c, Alex ni v nm cht tay.ngs.Tinhginglngmnkhch,vskhnglidng.

Nu ti ngh l anh nh th th ti khng a anh v nh, SheilaAubreyni.ylcnnhduynhtmtic.Nhcabctikhngmaybtrngbom.Thcnanhthsao?

Vit vn, Alex ni, bt chc kiu ni nhm nhng ca c. Thnhcngkhimtn.Mtv.Khngcon.Ththi.

Anhvitg?utinlbo.Saultpch.Rinsch.Gnynhtlmtv

kch.Khitiithnvnangctrnhdin.Anhrtrahaiiuthucvacmtiu.Cmn.Vkchytnlg?Khng c g nu khng c ting ci. Khng hay lm, ti e l th.

Nhngrtnkhch.Ccaumy.Ticvkch,vtinghlticmtquynschnoy

caanh.NuanhlBarry, thanhlmg trongbqunphcHiqun?Tisaoanhkhng lmphngvinchin tranh?Hocnuanhci, tisaoanhkhngnh?Titinlhhonqundchchonhngngicgianh.

Alexciphlnvrtthmruvochaichicly.Tikhngmunbln.TimunlngiutincahBarrtht

sratrn.ngnitingaytubbnYanki[7]bt lmtbinh,cncha ti thb cmkhi th chin thnhtkt thc.Timun lmmt anhhngbtcdvnhncucchintranhtbntrong.

Anhangkochntiy,cni.Tikhngthtinc...cibonglivangrnbnngoi,vngitalinghethytingngcm.

i,Chai,chngquayli,chtlnttingnong.Tinghlchngchomtmttp.Tichngbntmnulmtln,nhnghailnth....

Alexthycrunry,anhnhnhngttayquavaic.Sut,anhnitrongtingmm.Chngssmctithi,cnchng

tamtgnhtmnay.traycngl...tingbomctnganglinicaanh.

...lg?Mtchtrbomtthnngoing.Chngtacru,cnhsngv

cviphntrmmaymn.SaukhiciboynSheilaAubreyni:Thtstikhngchomnhlngingungc.Nhngnhngtrnbom

lunkhinngitacngthng.til,saukhindinrathngxuyn,nhngcasbv,lachysngrc,nhngniquenthucthchcnlmthbomtotng...,ngicvnrunlntngt.

Thino.Tisngrangoimtcht.Anhttn,kormcavnhnchmchmvobngm.CvnhmtnaLondonangbcchy.

Khltit,anhbnhtnhni.TinghlsphiitrckhicthquayvSavoy.Chonkhingphcdndpchttvicuhalmxongphnviccah.

mnayanhkhngthvSavoyc,SheilaAubreyni.ngxalm.Anhphinghliythi.Vdsaoinaticngmunanhliy-tikhngmunmtmnhmnay.tikhngphilcianhangnghu.Tikhng...til...

Alexmmci.Tibitclg.Vtibitlckhng.Yntmi,tisli,vrt

bit n. Ti s co trn trn ivng v st rut ch tri sng. Hay c haichngtacngnginichuynchonsngmai.

Sheilaquaylivnhnhnghnlnmanh.Cmmcingngngp.Thcskhngphiltilolngnhiunth,nhngmnay,tich

muncmtaicnhtimkhng...timuncmpmkhng...Tismem,memkhngphinhclitmkhng,AlexBarrni.

Emcthtinvoiu.AlexBarrnmtrnging,taytritcngvmiuangnpvovai

anh,khngdmcngsnhthccgiangngngonlnh.Anhmcqun socvci trn, cncgimcbng.Ngi c thmngtvmmmikhicthuubncnhanh.

AlexBarrnhn ln trnnh,giyncnh tayang tdivmmcigiuct.Anhvutvedcngnhthddnhmtconngahaymtab.Anhkhlcu.

TrongttcnhngnginbLondonmngicthlngingcng,anhngh,ngithythvachntchnrocpbnangphinmthunkhitvimtbnchungphng.Tiangnmvimtcgipmcha lmgqumtnhn.Amelia s chngbaogi tinciuny.Vachpicmtltthccigchmnhvovaikhinanhchongtnh.

C tr y, anh cmun ungmt cht khng, Sheila va ni vabcvotrongchicochongdi.Anhngcch?Tixinlivsngungctiqua.Songxincmnanh,Alex,cmnanhrtnhiu.

Alexataydimt.Minganhkhkhcvdnhcht.Tingsaynhcht,anhnidi.Vkhngcncmntiu.Liu

ccciggingnhdaocorukhng?TightphinSavoy,nuncnngvng,vibruxanhrthny.iulHiqunvttc.

Tisxemxem,cni.Vxemlunmntrngmchngtakhngnmhmqua.

C kh nhiu th chng ta khng lm m hm qua,Alex ni bnggingkhaokht,Thtlmtmcbit.

SheilaAubreymmcivnhnmi.Tinaytikhririnuanhkhngcvicgtthnlm,cni.

Tisxongvicsm.Lcnmgi.Nukhngcvicgtthnlmthtiskhngbl.Cstmti

Savoy,chquybarch?Vng,cnivkhhnlnmkhianhiracatmtaxi.LtsauAlexticBchhuyHiqunvcbittucaanhb

trngbomtrongtrnoanhtcmqua.Khngcgnnglm,nhngcnscoisccasquanchhuy.Khuphosmtuitubxdchkhivtr,cnhaikhuOerlikonthvphngcucha.Cmtvihhiboongdi.NscnhginuAlexchumtphntrmlngkhngrtnchtiEstEndthyisachangiAnhangbnrnvinhnvdngchn.Bngichiuvncnbn.Anhi lnbvgiinnBKhngQun,vcui cngcnivi cAubreybphnMtm.

Vcngxinli,anhni.NhngtielchngtakhngthgpnhauSavoynhhnc.Contuckcatibhhichttdotrnbommqua,tiphitrngcoinhngnginghngcac,mhthhnhnhmunlmvicsutm.Cmtshhngphadicthcsachangaytrongm,nhnghhngnyscntrvicbcdhngnukhngnhanhchngkhcphc,vchngticlnhbcdhngthtnhanh.Rttic.Ngymaicckhng?

Ngymaicngc,SheilaAubreyni.Nhngticmtsngkinhayhn.Nuanhcthxongvicvobtclcnotrcnam,saoanhkhngnnhtivchngtalicmttiynlngna.Clchngtaskhngphihtlnvinhau.Ruwhiskycaanhvncnlimtty.

Rttuyt.Nucthgiiquytxongcngvicy,nhtnhtisgcanhc.

Alextrtbbbohlctmgiti,vvahutsovacorulithtkvchiquabqunphcmuxanh.MnhphinhnithuthngiAnh,anhngh.TrongmtngyhhonthnhlngcngvicmnulmHamtonRoadsthphictun.Contumnvtckchn libnghocc lcnhnmi.DngnhbnphtxtdychongiAnhbitphithayinhthnovkhinmingiulmvickhn trng - phngkhng, cuha, cuh.Anhhut so.BygimihntmgivnumaymnanhsncWestEndlcchngi.Ch

cntmctaxi...Mtbuitinhiuhahn.Nng,Sheila,ngianhgptrnng,mi

ngyulmsao,miplmsao,midthnglmsao,mingtngolmsao,vsaucchxsmumccaanhmhmqua,hahnnhiuiupsn.

Anhhutsovthmkhenmnhvmquakhnglidngsgngi.Lcnophinthnsn,vissaymtrnvntchaipha,vthigian rtngnngivnngbit thigian l rtngnngi, trongvngmttunna,mckhikhngn,anhsliphirakhi.

Sheilakhngdimda,khngonganhnhngcddimanhthycckhchsn,qunbarvculcb.Nhngvolcnynnglttcmiphn -nngnhhnvphnno lgaph trongchintranh, v nng bit s ngn ngi ca thi gian trong chin tranh. ykhngxtnquannimcaAmeliav lngchung thy.y lLondonthichin.Ctungmdibinvmybaytrntri.Thigianthtngnngi,vthigiancngthtngtngo.mnaySheilaslingynlnhtrongvng tayanh,khngchvcani,gingnhmta tr trongbngti.

Chammcivianh,Alexrikhituvthyngaymtchictaxi.Ngi lixe sn sngng,d saochngnaanh tacngcnquay liWestEnd.

mquachngtigimttrnratr,ngilixenivivhnhdin.iu,ngbn?

HillStreet,Alexni.Vphinhanhhtmccth.Mtqubngyuangiti.

Qur,ngbn,ngilixenivnhymt.ny,nhngqubngyu,phikhng?

Qung,Alexnictngnvnumnhtronggcghngmnghvnhmnh,nhngcuckhngkch,ngphvcgingyuctnlSheila.

Hva tiqungtrngGrosvenor thcibongct ln.Trii,ngi li xe ku ln. Phi quay li thi. Ti ch c th a anh tiGrosvenor,ttnhin,trphianhmuntrn?

HylmthtanhGrosvenor,Alexni.Quthamabt.ChnmphtnaltitrongnhcaSheila.cri,ticthchynsaukhiboyn.

Bocig?Ngilixehivtingmrlnvtingsngphngkhngbtunphaxa.

Chnggc,Alexni.ni.Ngi lixe trc tanhGrosvenor.Alex tr tinvchybvo

trong.Chhnhlangchtcng,quybarMtngdicngvy,nhnganh xoay x lch c n quy vmoi c t ngi bnmt chaiScotchln.

mnaybncthhinscmnhcachng,vhnhnhchngbkhuvccng lni ln li trnkhuWestEnd.Tingncanhngqubomlnkhincasrunglnlpcp.Clckhchsntngnhbtrngbom-thtkhmniclgnnmcno.NhngkhuphocaoxHydevGreenParkkhinrngngitavavonhaulpcpynhca svy, v c thnghe thy ting rt camybayxpitfai ni ln trntingmuucanhngmybaynmbomln.Gingmtrc,nagisautingmtthn,vtingsngcaoxcnglngdnkhilclngngkcabnphtxtquayvHLan.

Mtvcy,nginngcnhAlexni.Tikhngngcnhinkhichngtptrungluthvokhucng.lkhichngqungthngmttrixungqunCafdeParismmtgcmthykhchu.Lchchtnythtchngclngtm.ylbnhcabnc.

KhiciboynvanglnAlexbci trongm,mtlnnali thyLondonntvblabaovy.Xecuthngrciinhivccicuhsnsngvovic.

Anh i qua nhng ng gch vn v hngHill Street, vn cha nmchcahnhcaLondon,vsauvikhinh,anhnghmnhlcng.Nhng khng, la sng anh nhn thy tmbinHill Street.Anh nhnragcph.

ichnaanhithmvibcvhngmqua,trongbngti,vtnhintimanhthtli.

Khngcchungbm.Khngccag.Khngcnginhsau

khungca.Khngccgi.Schngbaogiccgi,chngbaogiccgiy.

SnghmsauAlextnhdy,mingngnghttonmiruwishky.Ccimibsonmanhnhtcukhngthnhraniikhi.Gianhtm,nhanhon,ncmt.

_QUYNI_

BARBARA

CHNG 9

NhiunmsauAlexBarvnthngtnhvimnhrnganhchabaogithcsmunlmiugcnghachoBarbara.ChuynthuyttrnhChicago,btungaysaukhichoracunschmi,khinanhsaykhtvanhghtcitranhanglm,vanhmangnguyncidvkhchuylnmybaymtgitrckhincgicmtcvnghoengicngghvianh.

Hnhnhngi takhngphcv ru trnmybay,mtgingnimmmirrngnhthcanhkhigicnglm.Ngunhintililkiungi c lunc chai ru trong ti xch.Tinghngc thhocctnhlihocctrtbhontonnikhscamnh,ngBarr.Slthnoy?

Cbitti?Alexvahimtcchngungcvachpmt.nhsngkhinanhbchi.Chngtagpnhau?

Tibitng.Cnnghontonkhngbitti.Tichabaogithcsgpng,nhngngitaanglnbacanhiutbovtpch.Cnmtchuynna,chngtatrncngmtchngtrnhtruynhnhsaukhi ng thc hin vi mnh kho nh vi cc nh xut bn. Ti tn lBarbaraBayne.Mtdinvinchuynnghipti.

Alexlichpmt,lnnytmmhn,vnlychairubtcnphntlt.Khkhnlmanhmitptrungc.

Ttnhinltibitc.Tinhnthyhngtphimcac.Nhngcctcen.Vlntrnhdinmiynht...lnm...

Gy khuy ng sau nm bui trnh chiu? ng cng thy y, phikhng,vngvnnhungwhiskyca ti.GingBarbaraBaynevanglnvuivtrongchuynbaymticithnhphykhibimktgiphtnvAlexkhngcnmuntina.

Thtstikhngcholbphimhontontit.Vtinghc...Xngng,ccnhphbnhnith.lttcnhngghnhn

thyti,mttkinhtm...xngng.Nhngsthtltikhdtnhvhim khi cm th ngi khc, nhng din vin thnh cng hn. iu

khin ti cmi khng ngt. ng cmun phamt t nc vo rukhng?

, khng.Alex lc u, sau hi ci ngi xungBarbaraBayne.Tinhlmmthichairuny.Ticnctipthmsinhlc.Ccmunungmtchtkhng?

Khng, cho n khi no ngmi ti i n tra Chicago, BarbaraBaynedudngni.Tiithikhcnynhiunmri.Tinghcunschmiynhtcang,cunMiiumty,thtltuyt.Nhnphicrtratganrutngivit.

ng.Ncrtratganrutti.Nhnglngtctiuhacuicng.Dsaoinancngrtctndng,vtisvuilngacintra.Ticngsvuilngacinti,vticng...

BarbaraBaynemmci,lmlnsuthmlmngtintrnm.Khng.Nhngthsphinmunhnnhiu.Alexcmthyngngvichnhmnh.Anhmmmtmbaothucv

amicmtiu,nhcchbochachovicquanstchmchhn.BarbaraBayneckhunmtscntnhtcbngvmtlmngtinrtsu.

Tinhnilmnaycmttrnchincnbngmtinghticthlmcvui,nucthchnhngtrnchinu.Anhgichuyn.

Ti thch nhng cuc chin, Barbara Bayne ni, mi th loi. Tithchxemmtcucchinlnhlngchochnl.

Trnsnkhu trngccao lnhn,anhniquaiu thuc.Vgidnhn.Trnphimthtrngcrthhngvlmli.Nhngticholvcthuctupphndangmen.Ticholcghttinirngnhngntrngctrhn,xinhphn.Vngythhnnhiu.

BarbaraBaynebmtcvnghoercrkhiu,vkhologivnhangphikimch.

llicangilmu,cni.Tithtskhngbitnhnganhchng y nh lm t ngy ny sang ngy khc.Ti cbit on phimngnvvtconlngmtdinrartttvikiumtnutrnsngcthcati.

Tis thchcnumtcmuhng.Vvtchonhau.l li tn

tngutincatitmnwhishkycac,vthtinghltischimlicichaivsaunyvomtlcno,givbnhthng.Lctisaranhnglikhennglc.

Anhliungvgiuchairasaulng.TnthtcaclBarbaraBayne?Barbarathng.Nhngnchnghpvicihcngcmcati l

O'Shaughnessy,vngiidinutinmticquytnhbitihBayne.Tichothccaanhtalbane[8],minglciticvishindincaanhta.HkhilychngcatilEmory.ngbit,ngimanghEmorycbit,vichicmiquphivhontonkhngckhnngdinxut.Chngtiangtrongtintrnhtnhmng,mtcchhpphp.Tithylhaidinvintikhngbaogilmnnmtmah.

Ykhintinhli,Alexni.Ttcnhngnamvndinvinmtigp,ctrongvngoisnkhu,hnhnhucquannimlDuselun to ra mt s x nhc ring cho ti nng ca mi ngi, v rngBernhardrrngthngtorantrongthtrngcphiumah.

lthtbihaygptrongkinhdoanh,vthtratikhngthykhcnhaunhiu gia din vin v nh vn.Nhng ti phi ni rng trng anhkhnggingmtnhvn.Trnganhgingmt taymigiicphiuichtthnhcnghn.Cphianhangngvainhvnkhng?

Khng, cm n. Alex Barr li lc u. Hu htmi ngi u nitrngtigingmtgioscichtthnhcng.Vticrttlngtrnngc,thctlkhngcslpdymusc.

Sovimtgiosthanhqungnnp.urituthuccaanh,nuanhlmttcgichthc?uricianhchmicithintnhtnhcamtnhxutbn?

Khng c. Ti ght. Nht phng o v lm kht lt cc gt tn. Bukhngkhcanmgito.Bukhngkhtri thcgidi.Thchthucl.Chcchnsbungthphituinmmi.Mtthiquenxu,nhngtimthcn,whiskyvtnhdchnlnicotin.

Theothtno?BarbaraBayne thmth.nCha,ckhngchckhun mt p m cn c s trong sch v khe khon trong tng txng.

,ikhi,thcnvwhisky,Alexmmci.Vchuynruchcqulmtcgingyu.Mchodkhngciu,ccngcmtkhunmtbuismxinhp.

Cmn.Thtlnhngtp.Ticthnivianhnhvy.Chodcidvkhchumanhangmangthaychotuthuc.Vanhthcskhnggyntngchotinhmtnhvnbnviiugrtquantrngnirngkhngmtnginothtshiucngoitranh.

Tichlmtnhvnchuynnghipccucisngtckhnghimtc.Nuciugquantrngltrathphnlnldotnhc.TisltikhngtiuchunvoctrngFaulknerHemingwaycatnhlpdngsausnkhu.Tichvit,un,hngngy,vhyvngngiidincatikhngnhnnhnhiuqukhinhncbntho.ngtabit,tilnhnnhym.ngtacbmtlmiu.

Khnghnhdinvnghvitvn?Khngnhgilinhngvinngctraivgitunratnhngngntayanh?Khngphidcscutranhmtcchqutinhvivinhngngchcaanh,nucimchuynnghipcthbn?

Rtt.Thctlkhngc,AlexBarrnhchmpbcbi.Tikhngthchnhngk tcao ti,nhngti lmt taychuynnghip trongsutchngythigian.Tithchmtgiimkhemnhvtt.Ticthiukhinmtsthuthbtklutvobtkginotrongm.

Anhni nhmt tc gi trongm ca nh xut bn,BarbaraBayneni.Cnnhngkhacnhquphikhccatnhcch?Khngcngaycmtchttnhcchnghsthngthng?Mtknhv?ch?Ghttrcon?Ttnhintibitanhcv.Tinhnthycykhthngxuyn21.Cyrtp.

Cmn.Cyrtp,vcycnglmtphnrtdthng.Cychcmtnhcimcbn.Ticmthycyhiutiqur.iunilnrngcybittilmtngichngphngng.Tinghcyghtnhntnhmtigihucung.

KhngcsbnlnxuhctnhnolratrnmtBarbaraBayne.Chicmychthi?Chicmychthi.iukhngmayltikhngbitsngtheobt

kcchnokhc.Vcngkhngmaynhth,khiclgimc,lnhqunl,lngisnxut,ngivitkchbn,vttcnhngdinvin,givtr,namvn,dadenvdatrng,rikhihtmtngytrongcimcaIronMaidencmtminmcnhmtngaychnhtnhcchcamnh.Ttcnhnggcmunlmlmmnhvomtccpmartinivthmnhxunggingvicunschcacnmsutrongtimthc,nhccththcdyvichivitonbtnhtrnghnnbunthmngymai.Cuicngccthcmtcunschnhngccnggnnhxabchnhbnthncvi tcchlmtconngi trongqutrnhbunthmxydngnnn.

BarbaraBaynegivrngmnh.Nukhngqubmt,vanhlmgkhianhangthainghnmta

continhthnmi?Ti tht s khng bit,AlexBarr tr limt cch nghim tc. Ti

onlnhngththngthngthi.Nh,lmu,quno,nhht.Cycrtnhiu.Mtvihitthinngungc.Chngtikhngccon.

Tri,BarbaraBayne ni. Ti khngmun anh vnh vin l a trcngtrongnh.baogianhvuiacha?

Khitilmvicthkhng.Thngthtiqumtmi.Cngckhitibcngvicyvitmcimccthgilthvui,nhngtithytikhngquantmnhiunvicnhunhtsaysa.Tihaycnhngdvxuxavsphingvingimtichabitr.

Theoquanimca ti thccnhimsc thcaanhhiu r,anhbn.BarbaraBayneni.Tinghgencaanhng lnh,hoccig.Linhhnanhcncrunglnchtt.Chngtasthiumnaysaukhixongcngvic?Haysaukhimybayhcnh?

Hyccoinhtilcu,AlexBarrni.,Chicagoyri.Clmchochuyningnli.Cmn.Bygichmongchngtakhngmxungcisnbayvdngngyuny.

Nu th th chng ta cng ch i theo hng hin nay thi, BarbaraBayneni.TiangivkhtkinhkhngvtikhngnphngPumptrongbdngthiuno.Bochoanhbitltinungrttnkmy.Tilmtcgikhemnhvkhuphnrtnnh.

Ticmangtheotin,vcngcnhngthtndngp,AlexBarrni.Chicmybaychmtvimtcvamnh.,chngtalmnsngli.ithi,hykimtaxivphinPump.Khngcxcphmnchairudcmgiptisngst,nhngtignnhlkncmartinivobuitra.

Anhqu rt thv,BarbaraBayneni. ino.Hyvnganhkhngphnivicnmtaynicngcng.lthiquenumthicati.

Trongtrnghpcactisphvquitcluiphnivicnmtaynhaunicngcng,AlexBarrni.Thmchticthdndnthchn.

Anhbitkhng,Barr?Lcnyhangiquangbnghngvphanhnkhch.Bitgc?Tikhngnghlanhcchi,BarbaraBayneni.

CHNG 10

Ti khng r liu iu ny c ng vi n lc ca chng ta khng,Alexni.Viti,hnhnhcnhiuknbmvyquanhhnhiticnb.CucuhaythcscuicngtixemltrnutincaLouisConn,ngaysauchintranh,khiConnuviJoegilucnkhiConntphvJoelmnguianhta.

Hangdngbatranhanhtrctrnuccholcucgpdanhdcanhvch thgiihng trung tng laidoccnh ti tr truynhnhtchc.

Tichabaoginghethytnnhnggny,nhngtikhngtheodinhiu trn u. Ti bit mt s tn tui nh Sugar Ray, Marciano vGraziano, nhng khng bit g v Barney Rosses, Henry Armstrong, LouAmberses,chngnincontrainhBaer,CeferinoGarcia,vxinChagipchngcon,TonyGalento.Tixemhuhtnhngtrnuhay-cthni l tt c nhng trn u hay - trc chin tranh. Sau chin tranh tichuyntxemquynAnhtranhgiisangxemubtt,trathbcngtrungthc.

Barbaracnmtmingthtb.Tiyuquh,dnbmhaykhng,cni.Tithngxemhtrn

tivi,nhngchabaogithyhbngxngbngtht.Alexlcu.Truynhnh-vsgiuc-lmtiutannhngththch.Truyn

hnhgitchtnhngcu lcbnh,nibncon trai tht shcccchnhnhau trckhichngbnmvomtcucu thts.Cnsgiucthlmtiutannhngammmnhlit.Aicnmunbvmivrchtaikhicthlmratrmmttunnulnhnvinvnphngvbatrmnulthhn?Mtcibngrngmilmramttaymgii.lcchduynhthcthvnlntngph.

Anhnhnngh,vtmsc.Sp n lc phi i nu chng tamun xem Tiger Taggert nh gc

BoloBermudez.Qulmttrnucbitvothigianny.Tigerthts

lngida trng.Tingh chng taangcnkit nhng taymbcdatrng,

Hlentheoliindythba.Saoth,chngtacchngikhubochcm,Barbarangcnhin

hi.Qubtni,cingsauhngtrmdyghcgilkhuboch

nhngngyny.lbiutngcaav,vmtsngivncnnhti tnhngngyc ttpbibin Jacob,khi timcnhngmn.

Mtnginngbchtngtrngnhthnlngicaquaylitchgcsnu,btgpnhmtcaAlex,ngtavytay.

ChoWhitney,Alexhtlnqualpkhi.lWhineyBimstein,cl l hun luyn vin v i nht v bt t nht mi thi i. Hy nhnWhitneyvihaimingbovrngtrongmingvcbitkhngaiskuginhnhauvmu.ngyvRayArcellnhngngicnht.

Mtngikhc,ccpmtcvcangi,vytaytmtmkhccasnu.

ChrisDundeey.HmnayDundeecvchohc trcamnh.TibitDundeetkhingycnlnhqunlvangnghoi.Ticholtibitttcbnh.LouDiamon.ChngtigiDiamonlNgibghitrungthcvngychabaogintrmtoachhng.AIWeill,ngiuviAmbersvchongtavvnkhiLoukhnglmcthmtlnna.FatEddieMeadvnngcngchancangta.Tibit ttcbnhkhiticntrvhmhhchimith.

Anhthchnhlihiyphikhng?Clth.TithchnhlicimmGalento,ynhngbia,gpmt

Louissungscvicmctribtngcngvichirakhinanhchngnygnmthtnhukh.TinhcimWashingtonkhiBuddyBaer,vschanhiukinhnghim, tungcmtayphi trngcmJoevchoanhtabayquavngdyrivolngti.Ccthkhngtin.NhngJoeluntrlivnhgcnhngngitngthnganhta,riMarcianothuytphccJoegiinghbngmtlotcmtayphi.

Ngidnchngtrnhanggiithiuhaivs.Vsdatrng,Tiger

Taggert,ngisnchcy tnnhang, tc tua tav trngcvmt taym c.Anh ta cng kh do dai.V s damu, BoloBermudez, ngichcnchkhngcgccnh.

AnhtalngiCuba,Alexni.Mttnccnnghoichsn sinh ra nhng v s gii t nhng cnh ngma.H phi vung daonhiukimmixumingy.Tisnhcucvichainmt-minnm-vogngiCuba.

Anhnhnthychchnhlch?Chngcchchnhlchnothcsquantrngtrongmttrnunh

thny.Sunnmvchocchn.Cmuncchkhc,tischochainmtvchnvsdatrng.

TislyTiger,Barbarani.Trnganhtarlmtvs.Cnhtayanhtartkhe.

cri,cxemxem,Alexni.Cngrika.Tigerdichuynlun.Anhtathntrngtinvphagiavi,tay

thp,vkhigngiCubavmvgmlntungmtcbt,gdatrngytnnhangvncnhtaytridimtrngmichth.nracvkhngmnh lm, khng hn mt c y - nhng mu bt u chy ra t miBermudez.Tigerdi chuyn,vn rt thn trng,vgingmtn tayphivobngvsCubakhinanhtagpngili.Bclivsau,TigermcmtctaytritngtvocmvsCuba,vngitacththyuanhtakurngrc.

mnaycvngny,AlexlmbmkhiBolomghith.Ccmuntitrtinngaybygikhng?

Khngphilcny,Barbarakhnkhnni.Nhnka.BoloBermudezcnvocTiger,vtrongtthmst,anhtaang

lin tc tungnhng c khngkhip vo cimng sngy g ca g datrng.Khitrngti tchhra,vsCubammnhvocmTiger, lmanhchngnychongvng,trngtingnvsCubali,cnhcoanhtakhngcmvochgy.CmutrnvaiTigertchmibchymucaBermudez, nhngmng sn ca g da trng cng cmt vngmuhngaunhcdonhngcnhgiplc.

Clchbcatidaischntatng,Alexththm,Xemka.

Bermudezgmln, tungmtcmthngbngtay trivoming,vthoimtcmcmnhvohmTiger,tiptheolcmtayphivocm.MingTigerbnramttiancbt,vBolotrnpanhchngvodythng,lintcthoinhgigovobng.

Tigerbtngikhidythng,tungmtcmtaytridithp,vttchomtctayphikhingdaenngkhuugixung.Anhtabmntmvngdykhicngvangln.

,gca timtmtimvbnhbnkhihnmstngi,Alexni.Nhngchaxongu.Hiphairi.

Chaivsgmlngiavi,tintibngnhngbcdtkhot,ng th th.AlexnhnBarbaraBayneang thhnhnbng chicmitrnghng.imi cmm li thnhmtng thng,vngccphpphngmilnhaigvsvavonhau.

Khngcmnhkhegcucu.Alexngh,haignngmnhTony Zale tng m, khi ng cn l k bt kh chin bi, nhHenryArmstrongtngm,khingcnlchiccixaygidodai.MtphicaBolo hon ton sngv, vimt vt rch su trn lngmyangphunmu.Trng tich lmravmuntchhaivsangmcnglynhauvmnhaunhthhtmunbgychnhh.AlexchtnhncuchuynvcchmtconthhoangccitnAce

Hudkinomtlnbpnttritim,cthvlinhhnRubyGoldsteinbngcchnhaisnganhtasaukhigtraiDoThinhckhicmttrnuthngtrongti.Gallicovitvchuynnyrthay.

VsdatrngTiger,ngidnhymucavsCuba.Bnthnanhtakhngbvtthngno,nhngchaimtsnghpthnhhaikhenh,vbnganh tangynhbvaidonhngcmgn tnbomanh taphichu.mngngcdy,gotht,vAlexsngsttrctinghtthethdtnphtratcgitcvngxinhpngibncnhanh.

Githni,Tiger!No,no,ngri,ngri!BarbaraBaynelalnyphnkhch,vAlexcthnhnthymutrnglratrnngtcac,gingnhmtmtconngain.

Cngvang lnkhihaiv sngchmchnnhau,vghmchtnhauchonkhitrngtiphithbotchhra.

Nutikhnglm,AlexnikhviBarbara.Hnhnhchngtaangthamgiavomtcuctnsty.

Barbaranhkhngnghethyanhni.Cangchmngiraphatrc,thmtcchnngnhc,cpmtdnchtvogccavsdatrng,ninhngngisnscanglmvicincungphchisclcchoanhta.

Cngbohiuhipbavanglnvhaignngxvonhaumkhngbunnhnhhoctrnh,chaicngtungracxuynhtayphihovn,vchaicngmtrngvohmcanhau.Cngmtlcchaivsxungsnnhcicybn-gdatrngngsp,cngdaenthngnga.mngkhnginghtcdy, tinggo thtmandi trnngpvtrng,vlimtlnnaAlexgitmnh,nhngkhngbscna,khinghethytingrnrgnnhncncaBarbaraBayne.imiclhmrngnghincht.

C th thy kh r l trng ti cha bao gi gp phimt tnh hungtngt.ngtang,giahaivs,vbtum.KhinbythBoloBermudezqulncmtchn,vngthngcdygiythchn.Glongchongbcragcgiavhnhnbulydythng.Khimnmivsdatrngvnkhngnhcnhchc,trngtibcragcgia,gtuviBoloBermudez,vgCubadaen loo tin li.Trng ti cm tayggi ln.Khingnyvabung tay th v sngiCubalipxungsn,btngnhithcamnh.

Cmngtrntrnmt,Alexni:Quthamabttiinutithyciggingthnytrongnhngtrn

umtixem-haivsnhncaonhaubngcngmtcm.Csngristhy.Ny,cchuyngxyravicvy?

BarbaratinhtnhngichtTi... ti khng th th c.Ti cnmt cht khngkh -mt cht

khngkhvclmtchtruna.Vngi.Tinghtiphirakhiy.Tihtctolmkhng?

toy,Alexci.Tislcscmgiyxnglnvigipchogtraicac.Hnhnhcchabaogixemmttrnutranhgiithcsphikhng?

Chacaimiti,Barbarani.Nhngntht tuytdiu.Tichabaogibkchngnhthtrongi.

Tt hn l cnn trnhxanhng cucub,Alex thm th. Nucnhmu chy tc ng n c nh th ny.Cc tay u b cmt cuthnhng,numtqubbxcngbimtcucu:Quemantengaeltaxicorriendo.

Nghalg?Gisntaxikhinltconbcuicng,cthnhanhchnga

mtqubvnhtrckhictabnhtnhli.Vyanhgisn taxicha?BarbaraBaynehi,vcpmtcm

trn.CrtnhiutaxiriChicago,AlexanderBarrni.

CHNG 11

Anhcnghenilmichynsxyratheocchny,AlexBarrni.Songanhkhngtin.Anhvnchathtinclmichuynlidinrangnhth.Khngsmqu,khngnhanhqu.Ngnnhxyra,mtln,London,trtluri,trongmthoncnhgingthny,cngcmuvskchng.Nhnganhangsangngymainhngviccnlmtronghmnay,liucaitrongschngtabitiuhaykhng.

BarbaraBaynekhngchtngngngngtrntrungiquanhphngtmbaothucl.

Emonanhnghlemmun.Thcslkhng...emkhng...emthcskhng...

Cchnicaemginghtnh...Alexbunbun,nhnglisaucnganhcngheLondon.

ThLondonxyrachuyng?GingAlexycayngAnhphigin tipchu trchnhimvcichtcamtcgim

gnnhanhyu.ylcmtcuchuyndivanhskchoem.Cl anh v c y s u hng trc s thi thc, nh anh v emmnay,nhng...Anh lc u Anh khng bit liu em c tin lmnh nmchnhphc trong taykhinnhaykhng.mhmsauanhquay linhtlytnhyucamnhvthytanhbsanphng.Bnclmanhlhn.Thy.

Emrtlylmtic,BarbaraBayneni.Nhngemkhngticvvicchngtavivlnging,cngnhkhnglichotrnu.Smhaymunemcng s ccanh,mcd...Ccikhckhch. Emphithanhn rngchic taxigi sn lmt tnghay.Bygi,cnhanhnhuni.Emcholchngtannmcqunovidomtvngtronglng.Trihycntim.

Alexrakhiging,vBarbaravnhvolnganh.Emnghanhcthdngcondaocorukhc,cni.Mtanhruria

tuata.cmtlidaocotrongbtrangimcaemy.

Alexauncaumy.HtnhthmnaySheilahinv.nghcaanhltikhianhtmvcomrumimcmqua.Nhngiunykhngxyravimtnhvncv,tnhtvomo.Chagpnhaubuisngvlngingtrclcmimtgi.Chuynxyraqunhanh-ququnhanh.Nhngxyra.Khngnngcn,khngngngngngvnichung-mtnginbp.BarbaraBayne.Mtdinvinniting.Bahipcatrnuquynanhvlngingkhngdod.Anhlilcunhmt v s ang lo o.t nhin anh cm thymnh tht nngni,trongtrngvtrtrungklvtuytdiu.

Anhkhngthngisutmnayc,gingnicacvangln.Nhngvitmchoemckhnganh?

Tt c l ca emm,Alex ni v bc ra ngoi vi chic khn tmqun quanh tht lng.Barbara hn anh khi i ngang qua v pht nh vongianhlnna.

Hm, c ni. Tht l mt ngi n ng sch s, ngt ngo, dthng. imt pht l em xong ngay. Ci be ca em thuc quyn anhy.

Khngcnung,Alexni.Anhsayri.Ccamvanhskchoemcuchuynngngnvcithianhthymtngiubhphilivngdy,vomtconbvsaugitnbngthanhgm,vricngiulnconbunggcvchtbnnhau.Chngaibitphitngitaicaknochokno,gingnhtrnumnayvy.

Emkhngthnghecanhnig,cniquatingncchyrorocavitm.Mcqunovoi.Emangrtvui.

Anhlnginngrtkl,Barbaranimtgisau.mtgiaionnoanhphibbunchnbimtiug,hoc,nhiukhnnghn,bnhbibimtai.Mtmphctp?

HangngimtnicgilLeBoeuf,nghetingdngcmrtrdocgiccitnJerichi,vimtchr,canghtbngmtgingngpngngvthngxuynnhpgingbngchicccvingsutprumnh.Ngnlasptnhtbngloanglonglnbctnglnglyidin.BarbaraBaynevachataychmnhvomAlexBarr,vnhmlnkhichngi,tmtchichnnhnhnglnmianh.

Trcychatngcailmanhdchuphikhng?BarbaraBaynehi.Chacginotngvvomnganhvctacmthythchnphikhng?

Thtsanhkhngbit,Alexni.Clanhchabaoginghnhiuviu.Hnhnhktkhianhbitnhngi lcnoanhcngbnkhngkhip.Clanhkhngcthigiandnhchongimemgillmanhdchu.Clanhkhngchophpiuyxyra.

Anh tht l ngc, anh hiu khng,BarbaraBayne ni.Trng c thtquynrdinhla,ngnlakhcsuthmntngcaigmvchicmi thng, lmsu thmlmng tinmo.Cmcchicodimuennginvichuihtvihoataingctrai,mtnttrangimnhnhngtrnmtvkhngtson.

Anhtht lngc,cnhc li.Vanhckhiuvuiamanhchanhnra.EmthyanhcinikinhkhngtrnphRushStreet,ninhngdinvinthotyvvibtrangphcytuavnm.Khngkhthtthlvtctuvanhcinhmtconlinhcu.AnhhnhphcvotranayPump,vanhhilng,thmchcnhikiuhnhkhiPhilnhraanhvKupnungvianhmtly.Trnganhthtvuisnglccucudinra.Anhhonhpvimingi.Emthyanhvinhngngihubnvlitaxi.Anhthtthvtrnging,thalichoemvsdintny.Nhngbaogi,baogianhthtsmtbnhtnhvrlncha?

Anhelvicrrtkhngcnhiutronggianhanh,ngoitrmtanhbcsutngysayxnvnguynraChavsbtti.ngynglmtanhbc.ngycngghtcanhgiNoel.

Thanhbaogisaycha?Emmunnilsaythtsy.Saybt.Thch.Laht.pphc?

Theoanhnhcthcha,AlexBarrni.Anhthucloingimemcthgilchutitt.Nichunganhbitlcnocninmtrckhicngikhuynanhlmiu.Sthclanhlunnging.

NhCha, anh chu ng, ng khng, Barbara Bayne ni. Emkhngbitliuemcmunidoquanhkhianhlmtrnncmyxayrakhng.C l anht chy chungngavbnvocnh st trckhicnghipncngtc.

Anhc rt t kinhnghimvi ccncng tc,Alexni, mt ln,trntu,anhbitmtnttckhxinhp.

Anhknhnggiaithoikinhkhng.Barbarani.Risaona?Khngcgnhiu.Anhkhngctikholoviscthicnhn.Ai

cnglmmtiugkhngbnhthngtrongchintranh,chodlmnhlnhduynhtlmthayithgii.Trongtrnghpcaanhmnhlnhttnhtcarakhikhuibcbvtheocchkhngainghtivtmclikhuynngaytcth.

Vanhsni:Qunglichttit?Barbarahi.Tnghttclc?Khng,Alexp.Anhchnivithuynphphtrchsngquain

m:Chai.Cuchuynclutruynmivsauny.Anhanghontonbavcucchintranhcaanh,phikhng?Anhkhngbit lnbiuhin r rngn th.Tht sanhkhip s

trccicht.Vbygivnth?Khnghonton.,ng,cl.ikhi.Anhthngccmgicltt

cnhngganhangc,mtngynoscnginlyikhihnhnthu sut anh. Anh khng tin ni l mnh kinh qua chin tranh. Anhkhngtinnilmnhvitttcnhnggmnhvit.Lcnokscanhcngnghclcnhststnganhvotvtigimo.Anhkhngtinlmnhtngbnvoihayhnmtcgip,hayhilnglngngvimtai.

Emc,nhngi ta thngni,mt tinchoanh.Clanhchabaogitriquamtcucchintranhno.Clanhchabaogivitmtcuntiuthuytno.Clmtngynoscnginvlyicaanhttc.Nhnganhcnbitiugnakhng?

Anhnghvy,AlexBarrciu.ng,iu,anhtin.Tthnlanhnntin,BarbaraBayneni,vvnngiquabn

hnanh.Lcnyimicthtmp,mmmivmongmanh.y l cu ni a c, Alex Barr ni. Nhng anh s dng li n.

Phnganhhayphngemno?Khiphibn,BarbaraBaynepvcmlychicxc.

CHNG 12

mcahaiiuthucllpletrongbngti.BarbaranmcuntrnmpvimiugilnbvaitrncaAlex.Anhchtngidyvbtngnnng.

Anhkhngmunuymem trongbng ti, anhni. Emngyunmckhngcuymemtrongbngti.Anhmunnhnthcrcianhangcy.Hunhanhchabitgvcianhangcy.Anhvitayrasauvtphchchicgixungdiuc.Mitcvnghoemtrib,toranhnglnxonnhkiutrconmtquanhnhngch lmcvbvaic.imtnusngnhn thngvoAlex,vimiynscnthihm.

yanhangcmtnginbrthnhphc,BarbaraBayneni.Emchkhngnhciugdinra,haingixa l lao thngvocnhtaynhauvlnging.Chicgingkl,ngyu,tuytdiu.

Anhvnphithctnhmnh,Alexvanivangidythngchnrakhiging.Anhnghmtlyruslmanhhtrun.Anhchaquenvinhngphpmu.Cnem?

Emchol...emthtskhngquantm.Emthyphnnonhangngoivtr,vmtlyru,cchnyhaycchkhc,cvkhngphiliu cc k quan trng lc ny.Bng trc gic em cm thy em sp sabnhvcanh,Barr.Anhangkhngdmrixaemlu.

Alex ri khi ging. Anh rt hai ly t chai Scotch trn t commt,chm thm hai iu thuc vmangmt ly cngmt iu thuc n choBarbara. Anh ngi ln thnh ging v t tay kia ln ng cong ctrmknmtmniic.

Anhni tu lanhkhngthy thoimi lmkhingvingil,anhni.Clanhphibitchttvemnuiusmanglimtkhacnhmimngyu.BarbaraBayne.Lcnyanhcmthyiugnhtrongtruynthntin.Dusaoinathemlaivy?

Barbarachmrimmcivianh,vhngmicpxung.Emnivianhri.Emlmtdinvinchuynnghipti.Mtsn

phmcamththng.Mtmthngphphm.Emcsinhratrongngnghim.Em tht skhngphi l em.Em lmt tcphm lpghp,phatrnvilngbngnhaucanhngqungco,bitpni,bitpht,bitp nhy, bi tp din xut, hot ng mi gii, h thng ng cp caHollywood, nhng nh sn xut, chu ca nhng nh sn xut, li ch tthin,xhiqunru,trlodinthnhtvodinthhai,ccdinvin,ttnhin,vcuicnglmtchttmcnhnkimchoemtmbngihcvonhng lc rnhri.EmlngigcGalatea,kiu trcchin tranh thgii thII.Ttcnhnggv thn thcaemanhc thkimcrtnhiumkhngmttin.

Vslmli,anhhyvngvtinnhth.Alexmmci,hnlnungntayvchmvomic.Thailemtrckhichlntmcemtrongtay?

TinhaykhngtuanhnhngemtnglmtcginhbytnnhangccitnBarbaraO'Shaughnessy,thngtttcuisamvcmtconngamnh.Emchabaogicnhiubpb.Emcngtrngthnhmtcchkhddng.Cccgi thngdythrtsmKilgore,ni em c th thai, cho i ri ln ln trong mt gia nh khngngho lmvy tnh thng.Em smpht trinv thnhnh.Emcngsmnhnthccmemvemkhinbaemngchoemthamgiamtcucthiscp.Nckthpvicucthicacccaobi.Vmtchlnivoiemviciutrcvcibnghiphngyu.AnhtatnlShelleyWaxman,mtanhchngbahoahpdnchomtchinhnhnh.Cthclanhmunnghekhng?

Anhmunnghethtm.Anhbitrt tvcgiO'Shaughnessy.Gihykchoanhvtcphm.

Choemiuthucna,Barbarani.Vchoemmnciocaanh.Emsnictthnkhingidy,mlcnyemangcmthymnhrtrttrntri,trntrihntrcrtnhiu.Ttcbtutcucthi,cildo a y em tiHouston sau khi em tr thnh hoa huKilgore,Texas,nm1936...

CHNG 13

BarrbaraBayneciphln,gingcnh,mpvkhngctrngm.TrngcrtgingtmbunhPhpquynr,mcctrnngichicocaAlexBarr.

trlicuhicaanh,cni.lcchmtcgitminngTexastrthnhmtdinvininnh.Hoctnhtlbcutin.Cmtsbckhcna.EmhccnhiuiuHollywood,baogmsadngcanhngtrnchin.MttrongnhngtrnchinutinmemhclcchchngcPlum-ngltncy,cPrimulaPlum-cgio tingAnhcaem.ylmtbgibo thdainhchdyemnhngtngvnhoa,mtgingnitrmbngvcchkimsotnhpthtrongkhihunhkhngblchichmvoemkhiingangqua.Btaittlen,ngayctrongtittri,vtrnggingnhmtvaikch.Nhngbylmtconbpbgikinquyt,vdichiccocxbctritimcamtErrolFlynn.iuutinemhcctcPlumlccqubtthnnnchtcanhvsinhli-iungitasxuhnudyemngTexas.NhnglcnyemhcccchnitingAnhgingnhby.CPlumibaynhngchlngingcuicucaem,lmmtlinigingmivkhinkiunikodiniucaemtrnnscnt,vnhthainmanhkhngthbitemquutrphiemtcinvlgingmiTexaskiuc.

Nghenhiuvickinhkhng,Alexni.Hncthigianhcnghcaanh.ikhianhchomnhcanmvbitlmcngviccamtnginngmskhngaianhlmnhngvic.

Cuchuynchaphiht,Barbarani.Emphivotrngtrunghc - nhng lp hc c bit dnh cho nhng a con ngang ngc caphimnh,vttnhinemkimcginght.Haemvocclphcnhy,hci,hctodng.Emthtskhngbittisaohbyralmrcrinth,bivharaemchabaogihmnngcnitrnhchiu.Emchngnglphc trongconnginguncamnh,anhnn thathcholininy,nhngvmtkhcthkhngcnhiutinng.

Emlmviclcno?Anhmunnillmvicthcsy?Khiemkhngihc.Giymithhnhnhumh.Emcha

gicludanh-hrtcnthnvchuynny,vhvncnnhnFattyArbuckle.Songcngkhngcnqutrtrnhdinttclbnhkoca em cho nhngmy quay phim phomtmt i ngymi tun.Mtphnchiphgin tip trchoccbihc.SidPolman-idincaem-chnglycgcaemtrongthigianhcvic.Emchlmtphncachicbunhbnthulnlc.ichnemnitinggnbngGrablevnhemcnhiunhngnicngcngngangviElsieBci.EmlHoahuMi th -HoahuKhoai tychin,Hoahunnhiu sachuahn-btccigmPhngThngmi tuynbchindchqungco.EmcnhiunhtrnbohnHitler.EmctrongnhiutpchinnhhnCrawfordlnDavis.Emlmmithnhngch lngvai.Cuicngemnctuimitm-antonhnhmkhngbminguycnghipnglut.Sauemcmttrongccloidanhsch.Danhschnghlnhcuha.DanhschnghhhngtChicago.DanhschmangliNci.llcemhcttcnhngnluchinu.Vnhmtphpmuno,gnnhcb,embmvohnngcvgicamnhchotituimichnynhithuytvsutvtungviscsngbkmnn.Sauemci-Hollywoodtrongtrng,thigiantmhiuviv,trnnVegas-mttrlodin,ngichrarnglcchduynhtanhtakhngbaogisathiem.Cuchnnhnkhngkodisonganhta tm thy emi chn trongmt bc nhp, phnnhmt trongnhngBogarttthnvmtcchbtngemcnHollywood.Embphtrinhmtcchhpphp,ccvictthngbodnvos,vgiySidangistinthcschoem.

AlexBarrbcraphacas,chickhntmbayphnphtquanhianh.

Bnhminhangsmnghng,anhni.Anhphinilchngtalmchom timt i, anh chng thy c cg cngbygi.Hyungthmmtlynai,rianhsgicignsng,iugxyravinginngnhbnghonntmthyemGalveston?

Barbaranhnvai.Chngcgnhiu.Nxyranhvnthngxyra.

Sidanianhtamtltsau.EmonemlthduynhtmShelleytngtmc.Sidgianhtavnphngchonkhikhahccaemktthc.Emnghvicbomuchoemlttcnhngganhtathcslm-vsausathianhta.Emnghnginngnhbnghonnphilngem,mcdchabaogianhtathanhn.Sauemkimchoanhtamtcngvictt-phphngqungcolFalcon,emkhngchclanhtaslncchctrng.Chngemvnntivinhaumikhiemrabin.Anhtacimtcginhnhnngtngovchaiacon,mtamangtnBarbara.

CnPolman?Anhtalthucvoem?Barbaralinhnvaivxetayra.Khngtihnphnln,nhngtthnnhiungi.Anhtakimvic

choem,vnhembitanhtachabaogigianlnssch.Vnphngcaanhtagichoemkhinhngrcrithumvcpchoemkhontinuntrongnhngngyutintinbckhbob.Tinth,baemrai,mangtheokhusnglccaanhta,nhngchngtmciuglmlibnvomtai.Memtrngnomemlcnocngccivgiucchonkhiem19tuivlychng-vtcgitrutinmemmualmtblngchnchom.SaubtrvKilgorekhoeva con gi trong mb gi nhn ri.H vn sng Kilgore, trong ciccoilmtminhtranhgiavnhng.Hlnhngconngingmn,thty.

c g anh cng c th ni th v gia nh anh, Alex lm bm.Vy...?

Mivicunginnmccl.EmchabaogiphnnnvcShelleylnSid.Htiukhnhiutinvhrttrungthnhviem.Sidbovemkhtttrongnhnghpng-clemchtoraskbmtheobngmtnanhngdinvinloiB,vemchabaogiphicnhngicaemtheomthng,chabaogibmcktvonhngtrnchinbnthucaxngphim.Nhngemcngkhngbaoginhcaotinng.Sidginuamyumangtrongmnhbnhtimtitnhngthnch ca anh y ngy cng p hn. N git cht Sid ngay sau PearlHarbor.Emkhngtmchomnhmtidinringkhc.EmbmlyMCA

vhloliumivn.Anh nh l xem nhiu phim ca em trong chin tranh.Alex ni.

Khiphimnhcuicngcngticnianhsnglc.Nhnli,dngnhvianh,emphitrnhdinkhongmtlnmithng.Phictitmtriugnngyuemincung.Anhbitanhphilngem.VylqunNht.ChngthngngitrnnhngicaonhngninhPeleliuvxemphimquangnhm.Nuchngkhngthchdinvin,chngsvivi lot nvbn ti tpvomnnh.Chngkhngbaogibn thngmnnhcaem.

Chng ta to ramt ng ng nt va trai va gi iu ngnhanh,Barbarani.Emonlnhnggncngoitinghipsmangimi th.Emphtchnviuy,nm1944,vgianhpnvUSO.emchngphilmiugcbitc.Chhtmtbi,lchngmtcht,niamtcu.cnhnmtcgivibthtochlttcnhnggmnhnggtraitinghipmun.Mcdciphnnolmchmlisnghipphimnhangttdccaem.Sauchintranhmtlotscptrtrungxuthin.Vemkhngcntrcnhtranhvinhngscpmihoclmtdinxutttlmiuggitgntrnphngdinnhnvt.Em lmvic tthn trn snkhu,niemcmtchtvinotrnngi.ChcchnthnhthongemvnngphimnhngemskhngbaogilJeanHarlowvinhngvaigitnhtuytvihaybnbnhBetteDavistrongdinxut.

Cthcnphibn.Emicha?Sp! Ny, anh yu, sao anh khng chp mt i mt cht. Em s v

phngthudnccth.Sauxungnhthcanhrichngtain.cch?

Alexvanivangp.c.Tnhinanhthyrtrtbunng.cchpmtmtchtschngchigchoanh.Cyntmvnhthcanh.Thtlmtm,mtngytuytdiu.Barbara

Barbarammcinghetingngyvanglnkhekhkhicthudnccthvnhnchnivobung tm.Mcquno, cngivobn,kimmttgiy,lycibttrongtiokhoccaAlex,vnguchngocvitlinhn.

_QUYNI_

AMELIA

CHNG 14

AmeliaBarrngivobn trangimvsoikmnh tronggng.Cpmtthn,songsonmihikhngu.Nngsalichkhuytbngmtmukhngiy,vnhnlimtltchicvyenxinhxnttrnging.Nngcuknhlcu,iti,ngilnchickhntrigingmutavnhcinthoivnhanhchngquaysbngchicbtchcatpgiyghi.

XinchogpbHazeltine,nngni,chmiuthucvnhpnhpchntrongkhii.Sau:Al,Ruthy?Ameliay.Ngngmtltbnkia nhn ra. Mnhbit l bnmnhbmun.V c th s khng ti .Khng...imtcht.Nngthmra.Ri:Nhngmnhkhngthlmgc.ylAlex.Anhylirivotnhtrngkchng.Anhyrakhinhvbinri.Khng,bnmnhkhngcichoclmiugtngt.Chlanhytnhinborngskhnginti;anhykhngbitlsiunhngkhngphilintivanhylooikhinh...

Khng, anh y khng say. Thm ch khng h chnh chong na c.Mtanhychnhlnmtvhoangdi,nhkiuqummmvy.

Mtltimlngkoditrongkhichicmyinthoikuvovo.Nhngmnhkhngmun lmhngbn ticcacu.By thbt tin.

Chcnctihaiciavbinnthnhbndnhchosu.Tingvovovanglnubnkia.cri,mnhcholAlexsinuanhyri.Nhngmnhmongcu

nggianhybnganhchnglicinhti.Anhylmtnginngquantrngtrongcngviccamnh.,cri,cri.MnhsgichoAlex,lcnyanhythngnh.

Ph.Ameliathimtmkhivongnghe.c ri b, mnh khng th gip g c nu mnh khng c mt

ngitnhsnsngcmtkhicnnhmtsai.MaylmnhcFrancismcdanhtahitlchthip.cri.Nhngtthnlcucgibatithmmilmphtna,cuchngtinghipcchisasangrutcicht.Mnhsingaybygi.Tmbit.

Ameliattmyvquaymtskhc.

...vnhanhln,nngni.Ameliatrmchicvyenxinhxnquauvquayligngsali

tc lncui.Nngnhnmn tcdi, cuknh lcu,vnh livimtchtchuachtnhnglinhnxtrngAlextoramtchchconlngxvrngnngkhngckhunmtvinhiutcnthhaibn,chodnmnayttccccgiutctheoliy.

Mcxcanhta,nngni,vhnhckomnhlntcdi.Nngtmnlivvtquatai,kolncaophasauu,cuknhmmnhcicptcgichtntich.Giytaivgynnglra.Nngbitunghptrangimtmikhuyntaiphhp,thyn,eonvotai,gilinhngsitcxonxra.Nngchmnchoavochgytrn,vutitaibngnhngngntaycnchoa,xemlintngchavvutnhtvyquanhhng.

Mcxcanhta,nngnhclivvochtrunhpmtchttrckhichyxungchngigccnggitaxi.

Ngiynntrnghsau,btchohaiugitrntrnhmtmvmtiuthuclmickpcnthngianhngngntayigng,AmeliathmnghrngnngmaymnlcnocngcFrancis.Ttnhinanhtavvnhmtnhs.Nhngdsaocngkhngnnicvinhngcuchuynngilimch,vkhngnnibnxnvitinbccaanhta.Vanhtalmtnginng-chtanhtacnhnghammun-vanhtavnkhptraimcdtuitrungnin,khnggingnhnhiugdhi vngbng.Anh ta thngminh, d dm,vng, sn sng.KhngthnhvnnuAlexdngchuyntiulmvnhngbqunotnhcvccaFrancisv rnganh ta sgitmcamnh lymt lyru,mt c gi phi cmt g no tn tnhm khng gi ln nhiuchuynngilimchvctyhngvonhnglclncn.MnungitalyAlexBarr,thluncnhnglclncn.

Nhngnhvn,nngngh,qu thamabt ttcbnh.Mtcgicngumi i ly mt nh vn. Gia nh c khuyn nng. Bc s sn khoakhuync.Nhngngibnttnhtcanngkhuynnng.V,nngthdi,hmicllmsao.Ngayckhithxccamtnhvnnhthtmtranhtacngkhng.

Nngnghmnhquaytrlinhngngylmbotrcy,vnhlibaomnngngicnmtmnhkhiAlexcnbnmimvimtcuchuynno.Hocmunhn,khianhribovchuynsangtpch,mimvisphncngmChabitclu-haylnhlicuchuynvtungm?-trongnhiungyhocthmchnhiutun.Sauanhvnhviynhnggmanhnhnthyvtchnmnhtrongphngchonkhivthtlungtngtrongnoragiy.

Vrinhngcunsch,lyCha,nhngvkch,nhngbuidngvxa,lyCha,vchintranh,lyCha-cucchintranhtitnht,bnnmdiqugi,vithiuthucl,temphiu,vkhngcnginngtrongnhngoi trnhnganhhngbngiychihocnhngngi lnhcuhanthm,nhngngimnngchohvochtrucanngvikhi choh lngingnng,ngoi sbunchnv thtvng - lyCha,nngkhngthnhnikhunmth,chngnintn.Nngkhngxem l s phn bi - chin tranh ang din ra, v ai cng c vogingvibtcai.

CHNG 15

Chin tranh Washington c lc kh l vui, sau khi ngi ta chpnhnnhngthayitrongtinnghisng,saukhingitaquenvirumaCuba, ruScotchCanada, rubrandyCalifornia, temphiu,nhngngykhngctht,chenvcmtvinginngtrnging,chtrmt ngi.V sau khi ngi ta vt qua c ni tc gin vi ngichngcchyingvaimtthythtrongkhithcsanhtachngcnilmg.

AmeliaintitlnviAlex.Anhctiuchuncminginhpngvcgianh;vddnglmmtphngvin;AlexhontoncthtmvnhnmtcngvicvnphngWashington,trongcquancngcnghoccquantnhbo;AlexcthddngthanhnbnchFvthchtnhnglichibnhngkhuytttthxctcchvohiqun.

Tisaoanhphi lm th?Tisaoanhphismvaimtanhhngkhianhthmchkhngccpbcqundchthcs.Tisaoanhkhnginltcaanh.Khihcnhsgianh.GingAmeliatheth.

Alexmmci,ncikhinngitaphtin.Anhkhngmunicgi.Anhkhngmunphithamgiachin

u.Anhkhngmuninkhittclpncbngbtrysc,vcnynhngnginngdnvnhngngichngchonqundch.y ch lmt cuc phiu lu ln.Anh c iu kin nhn, v anhmunlmtphncan.

Ameliagnnhkhcaln.Vytisaoanhkhnglmmtphngvinncngoi,mtphngvin

chin tranh? t ra anh s sng tt hn cht t, v c ccv thmnhthngxuynhn!

AlexchmthucvnhkhithnhmtvngtrnAnh khng mun lm mt phng vin. Anh khng mun nhn cuc

chintngoivo.Anhmunnhnnttrongra.Anhmunlmtphncan.Vkhinquaianhkhngmunbhibmttrongcnphngvibaticcocktailgiithchvit,rttnhngnhnvindnstisao

ngngoilithitthchnvotrong.Clnuchngtaccon...Ginganhthpxung.

uphilitiemmchngtakhngccon!Emkhngdngbtccigktsausuthngu!Nuchngtakhngcconthl...

Anh bit. l li ti anh. Alex di ging theo ci cch lun lmAmeliatcin.Cllldotisaoanhmunratrn...

Lcnythnngniginthcs.Anhmunra trncnggingnhanhmunihun luynmaxun.

AnhmunratrncnggingnhanhlunmunnNewYorktheodicc trnquynAnh.Anhmunra trncnggingnhanhmuntheodinhngviccphncngngoithnhph.Anhmunratrnchvanhmunikhinh!Ameliachimtbngtayrichmchmnhnanhquadngncmt.Vyanhcvicvocucchintranhchttitcaanhivcuanhvtungichori!

Alexnhnhngni:Anhvuivemkhngcoishammchintrncaanhldomtci

gnginnhlngyunc,vrngnhngcmtTrnChucng,Quc x, ''pht xt Nht khng c ng. Cng nh khng ngchtgntmhaylisngMlmrivn.Thcra,chintranhchlmtcucpicnicln,vanhkhngmunblcucuabachnny.Dsaoinathcngqumunlmthayinghcaanh.Lnhginhpngnvongyhmnay.Anhachocmtxpgiy.yllnh.Tbygiemcthgianhltrungy...

Amelianhntgiyinroneonhenhotquamnncmt.Khinothanhi?Hai tun na. Nhng khng cht ngay u. C tm tun th gio

Dartmouthhccchbucdyvnnichochngvbin.Vsau,numaymn,anhscthcngqunWashington,vemslicanh sut thi gian . Cn by gi, hy ung mt ly mng trung yAlexanderBarr,USNR,taihacaphtxtNhtvlthnbooncabnQucx...

***

con hoang vng trm c th tnh nguyn nhn iu khc nghitnhtmngitac,Ameliacayngngh,vithngsau,khingichngbo cho nng bit rng anh c traomt nhim v bmtmang ci tnicnv,clinquannnhngvnthngxuynxyracanhngcontuchyndctrnngnMurmansk.CubBarrcamnh,nngngh,luncchngtmtcig,gingnhkhianhmnhauvimtthythvbgymi.

Song, nhmt ngi nb thc t,Amelia nhn ra rng chng cgclmchochintranh,choAlexBarr,hocchocitrchnhimmvinnngclachn.Nngchomtittingthunginhvistinrtln,ngnychcchnliWashingtontrongsutthigian,vchuynnsngmtcnhvihaicgikhc,NormavBetty-chaiumilychngvulnhnggophtmthicaLcqunvlnhthynhb.

Normatcvngvrtxinhp.Bettytcenvrtxinhp.Ameliatcnuvrtxinhp.Ttchucnhnmtphnlngcachng.Ttchucmtcngvicno.Vbanduynhtmhphimualbasng.

Khcdou cmng caWashington thi chin l qu thanhngcm by n b, chng quy ri ni c tr ca nhng ngi ph n tnhinbcpi tingcorustsotvmihngnngquen thuc.CnhcaAmelialmtkhonhngphn:qunlt,ontvttphitrongbungtm;thngxuynmnttcanhau(Mkip!ylittnilonttcuicngcaty!)vnobnhnolnohpngkem,ngphn,ngncthmvthucnhmngtay.

Cnbpthcslphnggitl;ngnngchanhiumphmhnlthcn;tlnhchcblcvvichaisa.Khngckhurngnohoangvuvhiuqunhhnkhurngcanhngnginb,vinmiph n v nhng ngi n b na trn trung hoc bc trong chic ochongdivimitcunqun,mnnhauquno,khnvsinhv,iunykhhayxyra,nng.(lchaisacaty!)

Sau mt thi gian di trong ci n tu vin ca s tht vng ny, khinhnglthhnhchVcaTom,DickhayHarrymunhnthngl

vkctnhyuhaomndn,cccgiblieovbtusngnghnln.Nhngchicxilpkhngcntreotrnmctrongbpna.Qunoltkhbinmtvolcchpti.trangimbnhtcuthvongnko;dngcvsinhphnkhngcntreotrtrosaucaphngtm,vcccgibtunnhbngiqunlsiuthnhmmccmuanhngchairuttinccighnruginCuba,nhmtscmdvinhngngibntraithanhlch.

Vcnh,t6gititri,cchngkincuctngdiubinhcaccbqunphc-ttcccqunchng,ttnhin,lcqun,lnhthynhb v hi qun, hu ht l nhng thanh nin tr ang nhn nhimv tmthi, trnngramttrn.Micgiucmtngiyuchnhthc,nhiuhoc t -nichung tnht, lunbtuhi,ikhibonhnghaygp hn l gy nhng, c b nhim lu di mt vn phng no Washington. Nhng ngi ny c tn ph hp - nh Jeb hoc Josh hocHoracehocElmer-trongkhinhngchchimdichnhnhucttnDon,Tom,TonyvMike.Ttcbnhucmiuhoevnghicuavcpmtxanh,hocriavcpmtenngtxt.Hnhnhttchulyv,mtcgidthngnoWichita,Boston,ChicagohaySanFrancisco.Hmangtheonhvv,nuc,nhcon.

MtgaphthichincaWashington,nutnhcctalitrtrungvhpdn,thtschailachnngin.Vnlcchnhaykhng.Nuchn,cviclm;ungru,vuichivnthtrnkhngmtphiuFanvBill.Nukhng,ctaixemphim,gignltvcsch,vttcDon,Tom,TonyvMikeuviv raivchtnhngnikhng thnhvnctn,vmtcuchnllngphmtanhchng.Thigian tm hiu t tnh Washington tr nn hnh thc n ni, qua cccocktailthmdutinnhhngHoathngNmhocWilard,ngitahunhhiucuchncnggimtbantihaykhng.

MthiAmeliatritheodngsuihnhddicngvinhngcgikia.Nhngcnhch chai chicging,v ttyucgi tha raphidngchicivngtrongphngkhch,cuicnglmnngghtmslangchv ch ca cuc chi.Ameliakhngphi lngigiboanchnh,nhngnngbmnhbiquannimvsbnchungthy,vtrchichic

gingmikhnglmnngvui.Mibuisnglithymtdvkhchuvmtkhunmtnngmiangcorutrongbungtm.nlckhmnhcnhngchng trai thucnhngbinhchngkhcnhauvivvtquno lnghhoc treovocnhca.Ameliahnhnhngkhngchungchngi,vdorttgplinhngrcri.

Amelianilon.Nngngngvichnh,vdngnhnggirnhriikimmtcnh,cuicngtmccnhmttrngquaynhvimcgihpl,v,mohimviscn,chuynnnincmi,ninhnngnhnxt,btknginngnonngthytrngingchtscthnhnraclngicanngmkhngphikimtrath,vphngtmkhngtreoynhngittangkh.

Nngtiptctinhngbaticcocktail,nhngtrnhnnhngli tntnhsngsngcanhngthiuyviucphaivthngtrvnhmtmnh,ktkhiFrancisHopkinsbcvobatic.Vvoinng.

Cuc sng caAmelia din ra m, theokiumt cgi, viFrancisHopkinsgiynngccmtngibnvmtngitmtnh,mtnginngbtthipkhngtoramiedachongnhhnghivkhhmhnh tngu,ungru,vikhincmcng.Francis tNewYorkxungy trong nhngk hochphngv no v l niman icchon.

Trongthigiansngchungvimycgitrongcnhln,Amelialngicngquyt-mtngikhngngvib,ngiqutdncnh,ngiich.NnglnginhiumnmivngkhiNormahocBettyvuithnqunamtrnhaichicging.Nngccoilkhngbrivolimnthayngitnhhngm.Giynngccnhring,nhng cuc phiu lu tnh i kiuWashington l rt d dng v kn o.Nhngmtiugkhngrginngli.

NngkhngctingcaAlex,vchcthonrnganhangtrnbin.Chngnonginngcanngcn lnhnh trnbin,Ameliathy thtddnglmgimini thtvngbngnhngcuchni thmbo tng,vn th,ixemphimvikhiixemhtviFrancis.Nngkin quyt gt chuyn tnh dc sangmt bn, xp vo nhng vic s lmtrongtnglai,vthnglmvicchonkhimtnhoitrongcahng.

Ngoi Fransis, Amelia cn thng xuyn gp g mt ngi n ngkhc;mt nhboWashington tngcbnhimLondon, songthngquayvWashingtongiisutrongkhiisiungnCnnghocncNgahocmtmttrnclitnotrongconmtnghnghip ca anh ta. lmt anh chng d chu,Timothy, gn bnmitui,lyhnvlchacahaiacon,htkhintivungcngnhautrckhiAlexramttrn.

AmeliahnhphcccTim.lmtmilinktviAlex,vvi nhngngy xa c, khimi ngi theo di nhng cu chuynkhngdnhdnggnsb,nhngtingnvnhngv