![\"The](\"https:\/\/damau.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-Stateless_DaMau.png\" "\\"The")
<\/a><\/p>\nL\u1eddi t\u00f2a so\u1ea1n: <\/strong>B\u1ea3n Anh ng\u1eef c\u1ee7a truy\u1ec7n ng\u1eafn n\u00e0y (The Stateless)<\/b> \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u00e1t thanh trong ch\u01b0\u01a1ng tr\u00ecnh Truy\u1ec7n Ng\u1eafn Anh Ng\u1eef c\u1ee7a \u0111\u00e0i BBC<\/b> v\u00e0o Ch\u1ee7 Nh\u1eadt, ng\u00e0y 12 th\u00e1ng 3 n\u0103m 1995, v\u00e0 in t\u1ea1i Hoa K\u1ef3 trong t\u1eadp Vietnam Review<\/b> s\u1ed1 M\u00f9a Thu-M\u00f9a \u0110\u00f4ng 1996.<\/i><\/p>\n \u00d4ng b\u01b0\u1edbc ra kh\u1ecfi v\u0103n ph\u00f2ng c\u1ee7a Nh\u00e2n Vi\u00ean Di Tr\u00fa. N\u1eeda m\u1ea3nh gi\u1ea5y k\u1eb9p gi\u1eefa ng\u00f3n c\u00e1i v\u00e0 ng\u00f3n tr\u1ecf c\u1ee7a b\u00e0n tay ph\u1ea3i \u00f4ng bay ph\u1ea7n ph\u1eadt. C\u00e1i b\u00e0n tay ch\u01b0a ngu\u00f4i ph\u1ea5n kh\u00edch v\u1eabn c\u00f2n run r\u1ea9y. Nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i l\u1ea5p l\u00e1nh d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 r\u1ecbn ra t\u1eeb c\u00e1c n\u1ebfp nh\u0103n tr\u00ean tr\u00e1n \u00f4ng. \u00d4ng lau m\u1eb7t b\u1eb1ng \u1ed1ng tay \u00e1o r\u00e1ch b\u00ean c\u00e1nh tay tr\u00e1i. <\/p>\n M\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00e3 k\u1ebft th\u00fac, t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng n\u1ed7 l\u1ef1c \u0111\u1ec3 tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea7n \u0111\u1eddi t\u00f9 \u0111\u1ecdng. B\u1ea5t ch\u1ee3t, m\u1ed9t c\u01a1n ho b\u1ecb n\u00e9n trong l\u1ed3ng ng\u1ef1c \u00f4ng b\u1eadt ra th\u00e0nh t\u1eebng \u0111\u1ee3t co gi\u1eadt r\u1eddi r\u1ea1c, khi\u1ebfn h\u01a1i th\u1edf \u00f4ng kh\u00f2 kh\u00e8 v\u00e0 gi\u1ecdng \u00f4ng tr\u1edf n\u00ean kh\u00e0n \u0111\u1eb7c. \u00d4ng khom ng\u01b0\u1eddi, v\u00f2ng tay \u00f4m l\u1ea5y b\u1ee5ng c\u1ed1 gh\u00ecm c\u01a1n ho th\u1eaft h\u1ecdng. M\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00e3 qua; \u00edt nh\u1ea5t l\u00e0 trong l\u00fac n\u00e0y, nh\u1eefng kh\u1ed5 \u0111au m\u00e0 \u00f4ng g\u00e1nh ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u00e3 t\u1ea1m ng\u01b0ng. <\/p>\n \u00c1nh n\u1eafng \u0111\u1eadu tr\u00ean c\u00e0nh c\u00e2y ph\u00eda tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ea7u \u00f4ng. Nh\u1eefng v\u1ec7t s\u00e1ng xuy\u00ean qua kho\u1ea3ng tr\u1ed1ng \u0111an xen b\u1edfi l\u00e1 c\u00e2y, r\u01a1i xu\u1ed1ng t\u1ea1o th\u00e0nh nh\u1eefng m\u1ea3ng v\u00e0ng nh\u1ea1t tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t \u00f4ng. L\u00e0n da \u00f4ng mang s\u1eafc v\u00e0ng v\u1ecdt u \u00e1m c\u1ee7a b\u1ec7nh s\u1ed1t r\u00e9t, c\u0103n b\u1ec7nh \u00f4ng \u0111\u00e3 m\u1eafc ph\u1ea3i nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u1edf qu\u00ea nh\u00e0.<\/p>\n \u201cD\u00f9 g\u00ec th\u00ec m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n r\u1ed3i c\u0169ng \u00eam xu\u00f4i.\u201d M\u1ed9t \u00fd ngh\u0129 l\u1ea1c l\u1ed1i len l\u1ecfi qua t\u00e2m tr\u00ed \u00f4ng, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u1ed1t ra th\u00e0nh ti\u1ebfng b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng kh\u00e0n \u0111\u1ee5c t\u1eeb t\u1eadn s\u00e2u trong c\u1ed5 h\u1ecdng. D\u00f9 sao th\u00ec \u00f4ng v\u1eabn th\u1ea5y h\u1ea1nh ph\u00fac. T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng tr\u1ea3i nghi\u1ec7m \u0111au \u0111\u1edbn \u0111\u00f3 cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ea5m d\u1ee9t. \u00d4ng ngh\u0129. \u201cNh\u01b0ng li\u1ec7u m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 vui m\u1eebng qu\u00e1 s\u1edbm kh\u00f4ng?\u201d \u00d4ng g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u tr\u1ea7m ng\u00e2m khi b\u0103ng qua kho\u1ea3ng s\u00e2n \u0111\u00f4ng \u0111\u00fac nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng l\u01b0u vong gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 \u00f4ng; nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng, nh\u01b0ng l\u1ea1i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ch\u1ed1n \u0111\u1ec3 quay v\u1ec1; nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb th\u1ebf gi\u1edbi x\u1ebfp v\u00e0o lo\u1ea1i \u201cv\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c\u201d \u2013 c\u0169ng nh\u01b0 \u00f4ng v\u1eady. \u00d4ng nh\u1edb \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00e1i ch\u1eef ti\u1ebfng Anh Stateless<\/i>, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nh\u00e2n vi\u00ean trong v\u0103n ph\u00f2ng ph\u00e1i \u0111o\u00e0n di tr\u00fa gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch cho \u00f4ng qua ng\u01b0\u1eddi th\u00f4ng d\u1ecbch. Th\u1eadm ch\u00ed \u00f4ng c\u00f2n \u0111\u00e1nh v\u1ea7n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3 m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch ch\u00ednh x\u00e1c l\u00e0 S.T.A.T.E.L.E.S.S, d\u00f9 ti\u1ebfng Anh \u00f4ng ch\u1ec9 b\u1eadp b\u1eb9. <\/p>\n M\u1ed9t c\u01a1n gi\u00f3 tho\u1ea3ng qua ch\u1ea1m v\u00e0o \u00f4ng, vu\u1ed1t ve m\u00e1i t\u00f3c x\u00e1m b\u1ea9n th\u1ec9u v\u00e0 kh\u1ebd lay t\u1edd gi\u1ea5y trong tay ph\u1ea3i \u00f4ng, nh\u01b0 nh\u1eafc nh\u1edf \u00f4ng v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i \u2013 c\u00f3 l\u1ebd l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ebfn thi\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u2013 m\u00e0 \u00f4ng s\u1eafp th\u1ef1c hi\u1ec7n trong v\u00e0i gi\u1edd t\u1edbi. \u0110\u00f3 qu\u1ea3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ph\u00e9p m\u00e0u. \u00d4ng c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y bi\u1ebft \u01a1n Th\u01b0\u1ee3ng \u0110\u1ebf. V\u00e2ng, t\u1ea1i sao kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ee9? \u00d4ng ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n tin r\u1eb1ng n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 s\u1ef1 \u0111o\u00e1i th\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee7a Th\u01b0\u1ee3ng \u0110\u1ebf, \u00f4ng s\u1ebd ch\u1ebft m\u00f2n trong tr\u1ea1i t\u1ecb n\u1ea1n n\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ebfn bao gi\u1edd. V\u1edbi m\u1ed9t k\u1ebb ngh\u00e8o kh\u1ed5, b\u1ec7nh t\u1eadt, gi\u00e0 nua v\u00e0 v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c nh\u01b0 \u00f4ng, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u00e9p \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t qu\u1ed1c gia ph\u01b0\u01a1ng T\u00e2y hi\u1ec7n \u0111\u1ea1i th\u1ef1c s\u1ef1 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ph\u00e9p m\u00e0u. <\/p>\n S\u1ef1 ki\u1ec7n k\u1ef3 di\u1ec7u \u0111\u00f3 x\u1ea3y ra m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch t\u1ef1 nhi\u00ean, nh\u01b0 khi \u00f4ng b\u1eadt c\u00f4ng t\u1eafc th\u00ec ng\u1ecdn \u0111\u00e8n s\u00e1ng l\u00ean. \u00d4ng nh\u1edb v\u1ebb m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a vi\u00ean ch\u1ee9c di tr\u00fa, ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e3 ph\u1ecfng v\u1ea5n \u00f4ng v\u00e0i th\u00e1ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc. Ch\u1ec9 m\u1ed9t n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t nh\u00e2n h\u1eadu \u1ea5y; m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u khoan dung \u2013 v\u00e0 m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n \u1ed5n th\u1ecfa. \u00d4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u00e9p \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u0129 \u0111\u1ea1i, t\u1ed1t \u0111\u1eb9p, r\u1ed9ng l\u1edbn \u1ea5y v\u00e0 \u1edf l\u1ea1i \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 gi\u1ea3i ph\u1eabu l\u1ea5y kh\u1ed1i u ra. Ch\u1eb3ng ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ph\u00e9p m\u00e0u sao?<\/p>\n Ti\u1ebfng \u1ed3n t\u1eeb chi\u1ebfc loa l\u00e0m rung chuy\u1ec3n c\u1ea3 kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed, k\u00e9o \u00f4ng ra kh\u1ecfi h\u1ed1 s\u00e2u c\u1ee7a c\u01a1n m\u1ed9ng m\u1ecb gi\u1eefa ban ng\u00e0y. M\u1ed9t c\u01a1n ho\u1ea3ng lo\u1ea1n b\u1ea5t ch\u1ee3t \u1eadp \u0111\u1ebfn khi\u1ebfn tim \u00f4ng th\u1eaft l\u1ea1i. \u00d4ng v\u1eeba s\u1ef1c nh\u1edb ra r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i s\u1eb5n s\u00e0ng trong v\u00f2ng m\u01b0\u1eddi ph\u00fat n\u1eefa, n\u1ebfu mu\u1ed1n k\u1ecbp chuy\u1ebfn bay. \u0110\u00e1m nh\u00e2n vi\u00ean tr\u1ebb \u1ea5y ch\u1eb3ng bao gi\u1edd \u0111\u1ec3 t\u00e2m \u0111\u1ebfn nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u00e0 nh\u01b0 \u00f4ng. H\u1ecd th\u1eadm ch\u00ed c\u00f2n kh\u00f4ng nh\u1eafc g\u00ec \u0111\u1ebfn vi\u1ec7c h\u00f4m nay l\u00e0 ng\u00e0y \u00f4ng r\u1eddi tr\u1ea1i \u2013 \u0111\u1ec3 bay \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc th\u1ee9 ba \u2013 mi\u1ec1n thi\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng k\u1ef3 b\u00ed \u1edf cu\u1ed1i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng h\u1ea7m. \u00d4ng l\u00fang t\u00fang ch\u1ea1y v\u00e0o t\u00fap l\u1ec1u l\u00e0m b\u1eb1ng tre, l\u00e1 d\u1eeba v\u00e0 b\u00eca c\u00e1c-t\u00f4ng. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 \u201cng\u00f4i nh\u00e0\u201d c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng trong tr\u1ea1i t\u1ecb n\u1ea1n. \u00d4ng \u0111\u00e3 s\u1ed1ng \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u1ed1n n\u0103m, b\u1ea3y th\u00e1ng v\u00e0 s\u00e1u ng\u00e0y r\u01b0\u1ee1i. S\u1ef1 \u0111\u00e3ng tr\u00ed c\u1ee7a tu\u1ed5i gi\u00e0 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 x\u00f3a s\u1ea1ch m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 kh\u1ecfi tr\u00ed nh\u1edb, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng x\u00f3a \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u00e1i ni\u1ec7m v\u1ec1 th\u1eddi gian. \u00d4ng ph\u1ea3i g\u1ea5p r\u00fat thu d\u1ecdn h\u00e0nh l\u00fd. Nh\u01b0ng r\u1ed3i \u00f4ng ch\u1ee3t nh\u1eadn ra, m\u00ecnh ch\u1eb3ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec trong n\u01a1i tr\u00fa \u1ea9n n\u00e0y c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 t\u00e0i s\u1ea3n. \u00d4ng kho\u00e1c th\u00eam m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o b\u00ean ngo\u00e0i chi\u1ebfc \u0111ang m\u1eb7c, r\u1ed3i x\u1ecf \u0111\u00f4i ch\u00e2n kh\u00f4 c\u1eb1n, cong queo nh\u01b0 hai kh\u00fac g\u1ed7 v\u00e0o \u0111\u00f4i gi\u00e0y m\u1edbi \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ed9t t\u1ed5 ch\u1ee9c t\u1eeb thi\u1ec7n trao t\u1eb7ng v\u00e0i ng\u00e0y tr\u01b0\u1edbc. \u00d4ng nh\u00ecn v\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng gian tr\u1ed1ng tr\u1ea3i. M\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m v\u00e1n r\u1ed9ng, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ed1ng hai \u0111\u1ea7u b\u1eb1ng hai kh\u00fac g\u1ed7 l\u1edbn, l\u00e0 chi\u1ebfc gi\u01b0\u1eddng \u2013 c\u0169ng l\u00e0 t\u00e0i s\u1ea3n duy nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng. \u00d4ng v\u1ed7 nh\u1eb9 v\u00e0o g\u00f3c \u201cgi\u01b0\u1eddng\u201d. T\u1ea5m v\u00e1n c\u1ee9ng v\u00e0 \u1ea5m, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 h\u01a1i \u1ea5m t\u1eeb th\u00e2n th\u1ec3 \u00f4ng \u0111\u00e3 in h\u1eb1n l\u00ean m\u1eb7t g\u1ed7. C\u1ed5 h\u1ecdng \u00f4ng ng\u1ee9a r\u00e1t. M\u1ed9t c\u1ea3m x\u00fac kh\u00f4ng t\u00ean ngh\u1eb9n l\u1ea1i trong l\u00f2ng. B\u1ea5t ch\u1ee3t \u00f4ng b\u1eadt ho d\u1eef d\u1ed9i. C\u01a1n \u0111au \u1edf b\u1ee5ng khi\u1ebfn \u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i g\u1eadp ng\u01b0\u1eddi xu\u1ed1ng. Ti\u1ebfng loa l\u1ea1i vang l\u00ean, nh\u1eafc \u00f4ng r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1ec5 gi\u1edd l\u00ean m\u00e1y bay. Nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t con v\u1ecbt l\u1ed9i trong b\u00f9n, \u00f4ng l\u00fang t\u00fang ch\u1ea1y ra kh\u1ecfi \u201cng\u00f4i nh\u00e0\u201d c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, h\u01b0\u1edbng v\u1ec1 v\u0103n ph\u00f2ng tr\u1ea1i.<\/p>\n Nh\u01b0 th\u01b0\u1eddng l\u1ec7, m\u00e1y bay b\u1ecb tr\u1ec5, chuy\u1ebfn bay b\u1ecb ho\u00e3n v\u00e0i ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3. Nh\u01b0ng cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng th\u00ec \u00f4ng c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 \u1edf \u0111\u00f3, \u1ea5m \u00e1p cu\u1ed9n m\u00ecnh trong chi\u1ebfc ch\u0103n l\u00f4ng m\u1ecbn, ng\u1ed3i \u1edf gh\u1ebf g\u1ea7n cu\u1ed1i m\u00e1y bay. C\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c ph\u1ea5n kh\u00edch tr\u00e0o d\u00e2ng trong l\u00f2ng \u00f4ng. \u00d4ng m\u01a1 v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u00e0 m\u00ecnh s\u1eafp tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea7n d\u00e2n c\u01b0 c\u1ee7a n\u00f3, d\u00f9 ch\u1ec9 trong m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian ng\u1eafn. C\u00f4 ti\u1ebfp vi\u00ean h\u00e0ng kh\u00f4ng, v\u1edbi n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean m\u00f4i, ti\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ebfn h\u1ecfi \u00f4ng c\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n \u0103n g\u00ec kh\u00f4ng, v\u00ec l\u00fac b\u1eefa \u0103n ch\u00ednh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ee5c v\u1ee5 tr\u00ean m\u00e1y bay, \u00f4ng \u0111ang ng\u1ee7. \u00d4ng v\u1ed9i v\u00e0ng l\u1eafc \u0111\u1ea7u d\u00f9 kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u r\u00f5 c\u00f4 n\u00f3i g\u00ec. D\u00f9 sao th\u00ec \u00f4ng c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e2u c\u00f3 \u0111\u00f3i mi\u1ebfng \u0103n \u2013 th\u1ee9 \u00f4ng \u0111ang \u0111\u00f3i l\u00e0 t\u1ef1 do, l\u00e0 ph\u1ea9m gi\u00e1 v\u00e0 nh\u00e2n t\u00ednh. V\u00e0 \u00f4ng c\u1ea7n m\u1ed9t n\u01a1i \u0111\u1ec3 g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 nh\u00e0. <\/p>\n C\u00f4 ti\u1ebfp vi\u00ean b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111i; n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean g\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1eb7t c\u00f4 h\u00e9o l\u1ea1i nh\u01b0 chi\u1ebfc l\u00e1 m\u00f9a thu kh\u00f4. \u00d4ng kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ec3 \u00fd \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00f4. \u0110i\u1ec1u \u00f4ng c\u1ea7n ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t t\u1eeb \u2013 kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n d\u00e0i d\u00f2ng \u2013 tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t kho\u1ea3ng tr\u1ed1ng nh\u1ecf c\u1ee7a t\u1edd gi\u1ea5y di tr\u00fa, \u0111\u1ec3 ch\u1ec9 r\u1eb1ng \u00f4ng thu\u1ed9c v\u1ec1 m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 \u2013 b\u1ea5t k\u1ef3 \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00e0o. \u00d4ng \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 \u201cv\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c\u201d qu\u00e1 l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i. \u00d4ng ph\u00e1t ng\u00e1n v\u00ec \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3. \u00d4ng c\u1ea7n m\u1ed9t n\u01a1i \u0111\u1ec3 g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 nh\u00e0. Nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft n\u00f3ng h\u1ed5i r\u1ec9 ra t\u1eeb kh\u00f3e m\u1eaft. Trong ba m\u01b0\u01a1i ng\u00e0y t\u1edbi, \u00f4ng s\u1ebd s\u1ed1ng \u1edf m\u1ed9t qu\u1ed1c gia t\u1ef1 do, t\u1ed1t \u0111\u1eb9p v\u00e0 t\u00e2n ti\u1ebfn. Qu\u1ed1c gia \u1ea5y \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u00f4 t\u1ea3 l\u00e0 ph\u00e1t tri\u1ec3n, nh\u01b0ng \u00f4ng t\u1ef1 h\u1ecfi li\u1ec7u n\u00f3 c\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111i\u1ec1u h\u00e0nh b\u1edfi nh\u1eefng con ng\u01b0\u1eddi th\u1ef1c s\u1ef1 v\u0103n minh, ti\u1ebfn b\u1ed9 hay kh\u00f4ng. \u00d4ng hy v\u1ecdng v\u1eady… <\/p>\n Nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft l\u0103n ch\u1ea7m ch\u1eadm, u\u1ed1n l\u01b0\u1ee3n tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f4i m\u00e1 h\u00f3p c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng, ch\u1ea3y xu\u1ed1ng c\u1eb1m, khi\u1ebfn \u00f4ng c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y nh\u1ed9t nh\u1ea1t. L\u1ea7n cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng \u00f4ng kh\u00f3c l\u00e0 t\u1eeb r\u1ea5t l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i \u2013 khi \u0111\u1ee9a con trai duy nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng b\u1ecb gi\u1ebft b\u1edfi m\u1ed9t qu\u1ea3 l\u1ef1u \u0111\u1ea1n, n\u00e9m v\u00e0o \u0111\u00e1m \u0111\u00f4ng b\u1edfi m\u1ed9t b\u00e0n tay xa l\u1ea1. H\u1ecd \u2013 (C\u00f3 Tr\u1eddi m\u1edbi bi\u1ebft \u201ch\u1ecd\u201d l\u00e0 ai) \u2013 \u0111\u00e3 gi\u1ebft con trai \u00f4ng nh\u00e2n danh m\u1ed9t \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3 t\u1ed1t \u0111\u1eb9p. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 quy lu\u1eadt c\u1ee7a chi\u1ebfn tranh, \u0111\u00e3 t\u1ed3n t\u1ea1i su\u1ed1t h\u00e0ng ng\u00e0n n\u0103m, k\u1ec3 t\u1eeb khi con ng\u01b0\u1eddi hi\u1ec7n di\u1ec7n tr\u00ean tr\u00e1i \u0111\u1ea5t. \u00d4ng kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n tr\u00e1ch ai c\u1ea3, nh\u01b0ng…<\/p>\n \u00d4ng c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng kh\u00f4ng ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn qu\u00e1 kh\u1ee9 \u0111\u1ea7y \u0111au th\u01b0\u01a1ng. T\u01b0\u01a1ng lai \u0111ang \u1edf ngay ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc. Ba m\u01b0\u01a1i ng\u00e0y trong b\u1ec7nh vi\u1ec7n t\u1ea1i m\u1ed9t qu\u1ed1c gia ph\u00e1t tri\u1ec3n \u2013 v\u00e0 ai bi\u1ebft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 s\u1ebd c\u00f3 c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 \u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u00e9p \u1edf l\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc \u1ea5y nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1eadp c\u01b0 h\u1ee3p ph\u00e1p. \u00d4ng \u0111\u00e3 qu\u00e1 m\u1ec7t m\u1ecfi khi b\u1ecb coi l\u00e0 v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c. \u00d4ng \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u1ef1ng \u0111\u1ee7 r\u1ed3i. T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 h\u00e0nh kh\u00e1ch tr\u00ean m\u00e1y bay d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 \u0111\u1ec1u im l\u1eb7ng. Kh\u00f4ng ai \u0111\u1ec3 \u00fd \u0111\u1ebfn \u00f4ng. Nh\u1eefng con ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00e0y \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi \u00f4ng gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ngo\u00e0i h\u00e0nh tinh. \u00d4ng lau \u0111i nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft \u0111\u1ecf ng\u1ea7u, nh\u1eafm m\u1eaft l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng m\u01a1 v\u1ec1 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai. \u00d4ng bi\u1ebft r\u1eb1ng \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1edf tu\u1ed5i \u00f4ng, vi\u1ec7c m\u01a1 v\u1ec1 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 l\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u n\u1ef1c c\u01b0\u1eddi \u2013 nh\u01b0ng v\u00e0o l\u00fac n\u00e0y, \u00f4ng c\u00f2n c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 l\u00e0m g\u00ec kh\u00e1c?<\/p>\n M\u00e1y bay h\u1ea1 c\u00e1nh \u00eam \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ee9c \u00f4ng kh\u00f4ng nh\u1eadn ra m\u00ecnh \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1eb7t ch\u00e2n \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1edbi. Khi c\u00f4 ti\u1ebfp vi\u00ean \u0111\u00e1nh th\u1ee9c \u00f4ng d\u1eady, \u00f4ng ng\u01a1 ng\u00e1c m\u1ed9t l\u00fac. M\u00f9i b\u00f9n v\u00e0 r\u00e1c th\u1ed1i t\u1eeb tr\u1ea1i t\u1ecb n\u1ea1n v\u1eabn c\u00f2n \u00e1m \u1ea3nh c\u00e1c gi\u00e1c quan c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng. \u00d4ng b\u01b0\u1edbc theo nh\u1eefng h\u00e0nh kh\u00e1ch cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda c\u1eeda b\u00ean m\u1edf ra t\u1eeb th\u00e2n m\u00e1y bay. \u00c1nh n\u1eafng chan h\u00f2a khi\u1ebfn \u00f4ng ngh\u1eb9t th\u1edf khi b\u01b0\u1edbc xu\u1ed1ng b\u1eadc thang. M\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi \u1edf \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00e0y d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 s\u00e1ng h\u01a1n v\u00e0 d\u1ecbu h\u01a1n so v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng g\u00ec \u00f4ng t\u1eebng th\u1ea5y \u1edf qu\u00ea nh\u00e0 v\u00e0 trong tr\u1ea1i. \u00d4ng ng\u1ea9ng m\u1eb7t l\u00ean nh\u00ecn th\u1eb3ng v\u00e0o \u00e1nh m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi ch\u00f3i l\u00f2a, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 \u0111ang g\u1eedi l\u1eddi t\u1ea1 \u01a1n \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ea5ng th\u1ea7n linh n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 n\u01a1i cao xa. \u0110\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ban ph\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00e0nh n\u00e0y th\u1eadt xinh \u0111\u1eb9p. \u00d4ng s\u1ebd y\u00eau m\u1ebfn n\u01a1i n\u00e0y. \u201cXin h\u00e3y cho t\u00f4i \u1edf l\u1ea1i; t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 qu\u00e1 m\u1ec7t m\u1ecfi v\u1edbi ki\u1ebfp s\u1ed1ng v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c; l\u00e0m \u01a1n…\u201d C\u1ea3m x\u00fac tu\u00f4n tr\u00e0o t\u1eeb l\u1ed3ng ng\u1ef1c \u00f4ng nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi c\u1ea7u nguy\u1ec7n \u0111\u01a1n \u0111i\u1ec7u v\u00e0 trang nghi\u00eam. <\/p>\n \u00d4ng b\u01b0\u1edbc h\u1ee5t v\u00e0 ng\u00e3 xu\u1ed1ng c\u1ea7u thang nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc t\u00fai h\u00e0nh l\u00fd. M\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi r\u1ef1c r\u1ee1 c\u1ee7a qu\u1ed1c gia ti\u1ebfp nh\u1eadn d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng m\u1ea3y may quan t\u00e2m \u0111\u1ebfn \u00f4ng. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta khi\u00eang \u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn tr\u1ea1m c\u1ea5p c\u1ee9u s\u00e2n bay nh\u01b0 khi\u00eang m\u1ed9t t\u00fai h\u00e0nh l\u00fd. Th\u1ef1c ra \u00f4ng c\u00f2n nh\u1eb9 h\u01a1n b\u1ea5t k\u1ef3 b\u1ecdc h\u00e0nh l\u00fd n\u00e0o m\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta mang l\u00ean m\u00e1y bay. <\/p>\n \u00d4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c x\u00e1c nh\u1eadn \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ebft t\u1ea1i ch\u1ed7.<\/p>\n Thi th\u1ec3 c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng l\u00e3o t\u1ed9i nghi\u1ec7p \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i tr\u00ean b\u0103ng gh\u1ebf b\u00ean trong tr\u1ea1m y t\u1ebf s\u00e2n bay su\u1ed1t v\u00e0i ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3. Gi\u1edbi ch\u1ee9c th\u1ea9m quy\u1ec1n \u0111ang g\u1eb7p kh\u00f3 kh\u0103n trong vi\u1ec7c x\u00e1c \u0111\u1ecbnh h\u1ecd n\u00ean x\u1eed l\u00fd th\u1ebf n\u00e0o v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e3 khu\u1ea5t. C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 tr\u1ef1c t\u1ea1i tr\u1ea1m ng\u1ed3i b\u00ean b\u00e0n l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c, nh\u00ecn v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda g\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1eb7t v\u00e0ng v\u1ecdt c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng l\u00e3o \u0111ang n\u1eb1m b\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ed9ng b\u00ean kia c\u0103n ph\u00f2ng. Ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3 ngay l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c. M\u1ed9t v\u1ec7t c\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1edd nh\u1ea1t v\u1eabn c\u00f2n l\u1ea3ng v\u1ea3ng tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t nh\u0103n nheo c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng l\u00e3o. C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y b\u1ea5t an khi c\u00f3 thi th\u1ec3 c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng \u1edf \u0111\u00f3. Tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00e2y ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd x\u1ea3y ra chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y. L\u1ebd ra h\u1ecd ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u01b0a thi th\u1ec3 \u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn nh\u00e0 x\u00e1c, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u2013 v\u00ec \u00f4ng kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 c\u00f4ng d\u00e2n, c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1eadp c\u01b0 h\u1ee3p ph\u00e1p. H\u1ecd d\u1ef1 \u0111\u1ecbnh s\u1ebd \u0111\u01b0a \u00f4ng tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i tr\u1ea1i t\u1ecb n\u1ea1n. Qu\u1ed1c gia n\u00e0y \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ee7 nh\u00e2n \u0111\u1ea1o khi cho ph\u00e9p \u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u1ec3 c\u1eaft b\u1ecf kh\u1ed1i u trong ph\u1ed5i \u2013 nh\u01b0ng \u0111i\u1ec1u ki\u1ec7n l\u00e0 \u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i c\u00f2n s\u1ed1ng, \u0111\u1ec3 tr\u1ea3 \u00f4ng v\u1ec1 l\u1ea1i tr\u1ea1i t\u1ecb n\u1ea1n sau khi \u0111i\u1ec1u tr\u1ecb xong.<\/p>\n C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 m\u1ec7t m\u1ecfi v\u00ec ph\u1ea3i ch\u1edd \u0111\u1ee3i. C\u00f4 b\u1ed3n ch\u1ed3n kh\u00f4ng y\u00ean. C\u00f4 ch\u1eb3ng th\u1ec3 l\u00e0m g\u00ec ngo\u00e0i vi\u1ec7c ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c ch\u1edd. Gi\u1edbi ch\u1ee9c \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u00e3 g\u1ecdi cho qu\u1ed1c gia b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3, \u0111\u1ec3 th\u00f4ng b\u00e1o v\u1ec1 c\u00e1i ch\u1ebft c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng, v\u00e0 h\u1ecd \u0111ang ch\u1edd c\u00e2u tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. S\u1ef1 h\u1ee3p t\u00e1c to\u00e0n c\u1ea7u l\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u thi\u1ebft y\u1ebfu v\u00ec l\u1ee3i \u00edch chung c\u1ee7a th\u1ebf gi\u1edbi. C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 li\u1ebfc nh\u00ecn g\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1eb7t \u00f4ng l\u00e3o. \u0110i\u1ec1u khi\u1ebfn c\u00f4 b\u1eadn t\u00e2m l\u00e0 c\u00f4 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 hi\u1ec3u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u1ea1i sao m\u1ed9t con ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1ea1i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 n\u1edf m\u1ed9t n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf \u2013 khi \u0111ang b\u01b0\u1edbc qua c\u00e1nh c\u1eeda c\u1ee7a c\u00e1i ch\u1ebft.<\/p>\n Khi m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi \u2013 m\u1ed9t m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi s\u00e1ng h\u01a1n v\u00e0 d\u1ecbu h\u01a1n \u2013 \u0111ang d\u1ea7n l\u1eb7n sau nh\u1eefng t\u00f2a nh\u00e0 ch\u1ecdc tr\u1eddi quanh s\u00e2n bay, m\u1ed9t b\u1ee9c \u0111i\u1ec7n t\u00edn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u1eedi \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb qu\u1ed1c gia b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng l\u00e3o. H\u1ecd g\u1ecdi \u0111i\u1ec7n \u0111\u1ebfn s\u00e2n bay. Ngay khi nghe ti\u1ebfng chu\u00f4ng vang l\u00ean t\u1eeb chi\u1ebfc \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i \u0111en tr\u00ean b\u00e0n l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c, c\u00f4 y t\u00e1 b\u1eadt d\u1eady v\u00e0 ch\u1ed9p l\u1ea5y \u1ed1ng nghe. C\u00f4 n\u1eafm ch\u1eb7t \u1ed1ng nghe b\u1eb1ng t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 s\u1ee9c l\u1ef1c c\u1ee7a b\u00e0n tay, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 l\u00fac n\u00e0o. Gi\u1ecdng n\u00f3i c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng l\u00e0m c\u00f4 \u0111i\u1ebfng ng\u01b0\u1eddi. C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 tin v\u00e0o tai m\u00ecnh \u2013 nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 s\u1ef1 th\u1eadt. C\u00f4 ph\u1eabn n\u1ed9 v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng \u1ea5y, d\u00f9 c\u00f4 r\u1ea5t r\u00f5 r\u1eb1ng \u00f4ng ta ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi truy\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ea1t th\u00f4ng \u0111i\u1ec7p t\u1eeb qu\u1ed1c gia b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng l\u00e3o.<\/p>\n \u201c\u00d4ng \u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 c\u00f4ng d\u00e2n c\u1ee7a qu\u1ed1c gia \u0111\u00f3, v\u00e0 h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng cho ph\u00e9p \u00f4ng \u1ea5y tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNh\u01b0ng t\u1ea1i sao?\u201d c\u00f4 y t\u00e1 h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n \u201cB\u1edfi v\u00ec \u00f4ng \u1ea5y l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c,\u201d ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi.<\/p>\n \u201cNh\u01b0ng \u00f4ng \u1ea5y \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ebft r\u1ed3i, li\u1ec7u m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ch\u00f4n c\u1ea5t \u00f4ng \u1ea5y \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y kh\u00f4ng?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cR\u1ea5t ti\u1ebfc\u2026 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cT\u1ea1i sao?\u201d c\u00f4 y t\u00e1 h\u00e9t l\u00ean trong \u1ed1ng nghe, gi\u1ecdng \u0111\u1ea7y cay \u0111\u1eafng.<\/p>\n \u201cT\u00ecnh tr\u1ea1ng ph\u00e1p l\u00fd c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng \u1ea5y \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y kh\u00f4ng r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng, gi\u1ea5y t\u1edd cho th\u1ea5y \u00f4ng \u1ea5y l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c,\u201d ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng \u0111\u00e1p, b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng \u0111\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ec1u, d\u1eedng d\u01b0ng.<\/p>\n C\u00f4 y t\u00e1 nh\u00ecn ch\u1eb1m ch\u1eb1m v\u00e0o khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t v\u1eabn c\u00f2n mang n\u00e9t c\u01b0\u1eddi th\u1edd \u01a1 c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e3 khu\u1ea5t. S\u1ef1 s\u1ee3 h\u00e3i s\u00f4i l\u00ean trong huy\u1ebft qu\u1ea3n c\u00f4. C\u00f4 g\u00e1c m\u00e1y m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch \u0111\u1ed9t ng\u1ed9t; l\u1ea9m b\u1ea9m m\u1ed9t m\u00ecnh v\u1edbi gi\u1ecdng th\u00ec th\u1ea7m y\u1ebfu \u1edbt, \u201cC\u00e1i \u0111\u1ed3 v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c! T\u1ea1i sao \u00f4ng l\u1ea1i ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00f4 t\u1ed5 qu\u1ed1c ch\u1ee9?\u201d C\u00f4 quay l\u1ea1i nh\u00ecn v\u00e0o g\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ebft. C\u00f4 ngh\u0129 r\u1eb1ng \u00f4ng c\u1ea7n m\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m v\u1ea3i li\u1ec7m. C\u00f4 ph\u1ea3i \u0111i t\u00ecm m\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m kh\u0103n tr\u1ea3i gi\u01b0\u1eddng ngay l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c. D\u00f9 sao \u0111i n\u1eefa, c\u00f4 c\u0169ng gh\u00e9t kh\u00f3e c\u01b0\u1eddi th\u00e1ch th\u1ee9c \u1ea5y tr\u00ean m\u1eb7t \u00f4ng gi\u00e0.<\/p>\n the stateless<\/strong><\/p>\n This story has been broadcast on the BBC English Short Story Programme<\/strong>, on Sunday March 12, 1995 and published in Vietnam Review <\/strong>Fall & Winter issue (1996)<\/i><\/p>\n He stepped out of the office of the Immigration Delegation. The free half of a piece of paper fluttering between the thumb and the index finger of his right hand which was still tremblingly satiated with excitement. Sparkling sweat seemed to ooze from the wrinkles of his forehead. He wiped his face with the torn sleeve of his left arm. <\/p>\n It was over, all those struggles to avoid a restless life. Suddenly, puffs of air compressed in his thoracic cage were thrust out in sporadic spasms making his voice hoarse and low. He bent forward, clutching his arms around his stomach, as if to squeeze the erratic cough. It was over; at least for the time being, all those sufferings he has been experiencing. <\/p>\n Sunlight perching on branches of the tree above his head. Blots of light filtered through the leaf woven spaces, dropped yellowish patches on his face. His skin was painted with dull jaundiced colour of malaria, which he had contracted years ago in his home country.<\/p>\n \u201cThis must come to an end, somehow.\u201d A wandering thought leaking through his mind, vocalized in a hoarse voice deep down inside his throat. He was happy anyway. All those harrowing experiences were finally ended. He thought. \u201cBut was it too soon for me to be happy?\u201d. He nodded pensively as he crossed the yard crowded with people in exile like himself; those who have a home country, but still no place to return; those who have been classified as the stateless-like himself-by the world. He remembered the word STATELESS, which was explained to him through the interpreter by the officer in the immigration delegation office. He could even spell it correctly as S.T.A.T.E.L.E.S.S. though he could speak just a few words of English. <\/p>\n A gust of wind touched him, caressing his dirty grey hair and tapping the paper in his right hand, reminding him of the trip; to heaven, perhaps, that he was going to take in the next few hours. It was a miracle. He felt grateful to God. Yes, why not? He was quite sure that without God’s help, he would perish in this camp until who knew when. It must be a miracle for a poor, sick, old stateless like himself to be allowed to go to a modern western country. <\/p>\n That wonderful event just happened naturally the way a lamp was lit when he turned the switch on. He remembered the look on the face of the immigrant officer, who had interviewed him months ago. Just a smile on that man’s kind face; a nod of his tolerable head and it turned out alright. He was allowed to go to that great, nice, enormous country and remained there, to have his tumour removed. Wasn’t it a miracle?<\/p>\n The noise from the loudspeaker shook the air, and woke him up from the depth of his daydream. He was immediately stricken by a pang of panic. He just remembered that he must be ready in ten minutes, if he wanted to catch the plane. Those young people never paid attention to old folks like himself. They didn’t even mention to him, that he was supposed to leave the camp today; to fly to the third country; the mysterious heaven at the end of the tunnel. He ran awkwardly into the hut made of bamboo sticks, palm tree leaves and cardboards. This was his home in the refugee camp. He has been living there for four years, seven months and six days and a half. Old age amnesia could erase everything from his memory but the time concept. He must hurry to pack his luggage. But he realized at once, that he did not have anything to call his in this shelter. He put on another shirt outside the shirt he was wearing, and slipped his feet that were stuntedly dry as two logs of wood, into the new pair of shoes that were given him by a charity organization a few days ago. He looked around the empty space. A wide plank of wood supported on both ends by two thick logs of wood, served as his bed, is the only property he owned. He patted the corner of the \u201cbed\u201d. The \u201cbed\u201d was hard and warm, as if the warmth of his body had been glued to the wood. His throat got itchy. An unknown emotion was choking him. Suddenly he coughed violently. The pain in the stomach forced him to double up. The voice from the loudspeaker hit him again, and reminded him that he was already late for the flight. Like a duck wading in mud, he ran awkwardly out of his \u201chome\u201d toward the camp office.<\/p>\n As usual, the plane was late, and the flight was delayed for a few hours. But finally he was there, cosily buried under a fuzzy blanket, in his seat, near the rear of the plane. The excitement took over his feeling. He was dreaming about the country that he was going to be a part of its population, though for just a short period of time. The stewardess with a smile on her face came to him to ask if he wanted something to eat, since he had been sleeping when she had served the main meal on board. He shook his head hastily though he did not understand what she said. After all, he was not hungry for food, he was just hungry for liberty, for dignity and humanity. And he needed a place to call home. <\/p>\n The stewardess left; the smile on her face shrank like a dry sheet of autumn leave. He did not pay attention to her. What he needed is a word; not any word, on a small space of his immigration paper, to indicate that he belonged to a country-any country. He had been called a stateless long enough. He was sick of it. He needed a place to call home. Hot tears oozed out of his eyelids. In the next thirty days, he would be in a free, good, developed country. The country has been described as developed, but he wondered if it has been run by civilizedly developed people. He hoped…<\/p>\n Teardrops, running sinuously and slowly on his hollow cheeks, down to his chin, tickled him. The last time he cried was long ago, when his only son had been killed by a grenade, thrown into the crowd by an unknown hand. They (Heaven knew who they were) killed his son in the name of something good. These were the norms of war for thousands of years, since the beginning of human era on the earth. He did not want to blame anybody but…<\/p>\n He tried not to think about the harrowing past. The future was right ahead. Thirty days in hospital in a well developed country, and who knew if there would be some way that he might be allowed to stay in that country as a landed immigrant. He has been tired of being considered as a stateless. He has suffered enough. All the passengers on the plane seemed to be quiet. Nobody paid attention to him. These people looked like alien to him. He wiped the tears off his blood-shot eyes, closed his eyes and tried to dream about the future. He knew that it could be ridiculous for a man of his age to dream about the future, but what else could he do at the moment?<\/p>\n The plane landed so smoothly that he did not realize that he already arrived in the new country. As the stewardess woke him up, he was confused for a while. The foul smell of mud and garbage in the camp was still haunting his sense. He followed the last passengers toward the side door opening through the fuselage. Sunlight overflowed and choked him as he stepped down the staircase. The sun in this country seemed to be brighter and softer than the ones he had seen in his country and in the camp. He turned his face up and looked right at the dazzling sun, as if he were sending his grateful emotion to a god somewhere up there. This blessed country was beautiful. He would love it here. \u201cPlease allow me to stay; I have been fed up of being stateless; so please…\u201d His emotions gushed out of his chest as a monotonously solemn prayer. <\/p>\n He missed a step and fell down the stair like a bag of luggage. The bright sun of the host country seemed to show no concern for him. People carried him to the first-aid station of the airport like carrying a real bag of luggage. He actually was lighter than any bag of luggage people carried on the plane. He was pronounced dead on the scene.<\/p>\n The body of the poor old man was left on the bench inside the first-aid station of the airport for a few hours. The authority was having difficulty determining what they should do with the dead. The nurse on duty at the station sat at her desk, looking at the yellowish face of the old man lying there, across the room. Something must be done immediately. A ghost of a smile still lingering on the wrinkled face of the old man. The nurse felt uneasy in the presence of the old man’s body. This never happened before. They should have brought the dead to a morgue, but they couldn’t because he was neither a citizen nor a landed immigrant. They intended to send him back to the refugee camp. This country was humanitarian enough to allow him to come here, to have the tumour in his lung removed, but he was supposed to stay alive, and go back to the camp after the treatment.<\/p>\n The nurse was tired of waiting. She was in a fidget. There was nothing she could do but waiting. The authority here had called the country of asylum, to inform the authority there about his death, and they had been waiting for the answer. Global cooperation was essential for the mutual benefit of the world. The nurse threw a glance at the face of the old man. What bothered her was that she couldn’t understand why a man could have such a smile, while stepping into the door of death.<\/p>\n When the sun; the brighter and softer sun, was declining behind giant skyscrapers around the airport, a telegram was sent to the airport from the country of asylum of the old man. And they phoned the airport. As long as she heard the ringing sound from the black phone on her desk, the nurse jumped up and grasped the receiver. She held the receiver with all the strength of her hand, as if it were going to disappear. The man’s voice paralysed her. The nurse couldn’t believe her ear, but it was real. She was infuriated at the man, even though she knew very clearly that he just passed the message to her, from the country of asylum of the old man.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is not a citizen of that country, and they do not allow him to come back to their country.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cBut why?\u201d Asked the nurse. <\/p>\n \u201cBecause he is a stateless,\u201d said the man on the phone. <\/p>\n \u201cBut he is dead, can we bury him here, in our country?\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI am sorry but we can not.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d shouted the nurse, into the mouthpiece, with harsh bitterness in her voice. <\/p>\n \u201cHis status here is not clear, his papers showed that he is stateless,\u201d answered the man, in a monotonous, nonchalant tune.<\/p>\n The nurse stared at the face of the dead, which was still masked by the negligent smile. Fright was boiling in her blood. She hung up the phone abruptly; mumbling to herself in a low, feeble voice, \u201cStateless! Stateless! Why do you have to be stateless?\u201d <\/p>\n She turned around and looked at the face of the dead. She thought that the dead needed a shroud. She must look for a bedsheet at once. She hated that defiant smile on his face anyway.<\/p>\n