{"id":22105,"date":"2011-11-09T01:03:00","date_gmt":"2011-11-09T01:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/damau.org\/archives\/22105"},"modified":"2019-02-26T03:54:31","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T03:54:31","slug":"nui-oan-lung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/22105\/nui-oan-lung","title":{"rendered":"n\u00fai o\u1eb1n l\u01b0ng"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ennis Del Mar th\u1ee9c gi\u1ea5c tr\u01b0\u1edbc n\u0103m gi\u1edd, gi\u00f3 l\u1eafc l\u01b0 c\u0103n nh\u00e0 m\u00f3c k\u00e9o, r\u00edt quanh k\u1ebd c\u00e1nh c\u1eeda nh\u00f4m v\u00e0 khung c\u1eeda s\u1ed5. Hai chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o s\u01a1 mi treo tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i \u0111inh rung nh\u00e8 nh\u1eb9 trong gi\u00f3 l\u00f9a. Anh d\u1eady, g\u00e3i v\u1ea1t l\u00f4ng b\u1ea1c \u1edf b\u1ee5ng v\u00e0 mu, l\u00ea ch\u00e2n \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00f2 ga, \u0111\u1ed5 c\u00e0 ph\u00ea th\u1eeba v\u00e0o c\u00e1i ch\u1ea3o men m\u1ebb; ng\u1ecdn l\u1eeda cu\u1ed1n l\u1ea5y n\u00f3 trong m\u00e0u xanh. Anh v\u1eb7n v\u00f2i n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 ti\u1ec3u v\u00e0o b\u1ed3n r\u1eeda ch\u00e9n, m\u1eb7c \u00e1o s\u01a1-mi v\u00e0 qu\u1ea7n jean, mang \u0111\u00f4i gi\u00e0y \u1ee7ng m\u00f2n, n\u1ec7n g\u00f3t l\u00ean s\u00e0n \u0111\u1ec3 lu\u1ed3n h\u1eb3n ch\u00e2n v\u00e0o. Gi\u00f3 th\u1ed5i l\u1ed9ng su\u1ed1t chi\u1ec1u d\u00e0i l\u01b0\u1ee3n cong c\u1ee7a c\u0103n nh\u00e0 m\u00f3c k\u00e9o v\u00e0 anh nghe ti\u1ebfng c\u00e1t s\u1ecfi l\u1ea1o x\u1ea1o d\u01b0\u1edbi tri\u1ec1n gi\u00f3 h\u00fa. Ch\u1eafc s\u1ebd kh\u00f3 k\u00e9o xe m\u00f3c ch\u1edf ng\u1ef1a tr\u00ean xa l\u1ed9. Anh ph\u1ea3i thu x\u1ebfp v\u00e0 r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi ch\u1ed7 n\u00e0y s\u00e1ng h\u00f4m nay. Tr\u1ea1i \u0111\u00e3 rao b\u00e1n l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa v\u00e0 h\u1ecd \u0111\u00e3 ch<\/em>\u1edf \u0111i con ng\u1ef1a cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng, tr\u1ea3 ti\u1ec1n m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi ng\u00e0y h\u00f4m tr\u01b0\u1edbc, ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 th\u1ea3 ch\u00eca kh\u00f3a v\u00e0o tay Ennis, n\u00f3i, “\u0110\u01b0a cho b\u1ecdn c\u00e1 m\u1eadp nh\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea5t, tui chu\u1ed3n \u0111\u00e2y.” C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 anh s\u1ebd ph\u1ea3i \u1edf v\u1edbi con g\u00e1i \u0111\u00e3 l\u1ea5y ch\u1ed3ng cho \u0111\u1ebfn anh khi t\u00ecm ra vi\u1ec7c kh\u00e1c, nh\u01b0ng anh tr\u00e0n ng\u1eadp c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c h\u00e2n hoan v\u00ec anh \u0111\u00e3 th\u1ea5y Jack Twist trong m\u01a1.<\/em><\/p>\n

C\u00e0 ph\u00ea c\u0169 s\u00f4i l\u00ean nh\u01b0ng anh b\u1eaft k\u1ecbp tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi n\u00f3 tr\u00e0o ra ngo\u00e0i, \u0111\u1ed5 n\u00f3 v\u00e0o chi\u1ebfc t\u00e1ch c\u00e1u c\u1eb7n v\u00e0 th\u1ed5i l\u00ean l\u00e0n n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111en, \u0111\u1ec3 m\u1ed9t m\u1ea3nh c\u1ee7a c\u01a1n m\u01a1 tr\u01b0\u1ee3t \u0111\u1ebfn. N\u1ebfu anh kh\u00f4ng ch\u00fa t\u00e2m, n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 kh\u01a1i d\u1eady ng\u00e0y qua, h\u00e2m n\u00f3ng l\u1ea1i th\u1eddi x\u01b0a l\u1ea1nh l\u1ebdo tr\u00ean n\u00fai khi h\u1ecd s\u1edf h\u1eefu th\u1ebf gi\u1edbi v\u00e0 d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec sai l\u1ea1c. Gi\u00f3 qu\u1ea5t v\u00e0o c\u0103n nh\u00e0 m\u00f3c k\u00e9o nh\u01b0 \u0111\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t tr\u00fat xu\u1ed1ng t\u1eeb xe \u0111\u1ed5, d\u1ecbu \u0111i, ng\u01b0ng h\u1eb3n, \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i s\u1ef1 im l\u1eb7ng t\u1ea1m th\u1eddi.<\/em><\/p>\n

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H\u1ecd l\u1edbn l\u00ean trong nh\u1eefng tr\u1ea1i nh\u1ecf, ngh\u00e8o \u1edf hai \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u1ec3u bang, Jack Twist \u1edf Lightning Flat tr\u00ean bi\u00ean gi\u1edbi Montana, Ennis Del Mar chung quanh Sage, g\u1ea7n bi\u00ean gi\u1edbi Utah, c\u1ea3 hai l\u00e0 trai qu\u00ea b\u1ecf d\u1edf trung h\u1ecdc, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 tri\u1ec3n v\u1ecdng, l\u1edbn l\u00ean c\u00f9ng c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c n\u1eb7ng nh\u1ecdc v\u00e0 s\u1ef1 thi\u1ebfu th\u1ed1n, c\u1eed ch\u1ec9 th\u00f4 l\u1eadu, \u0103n n\u00f3i th\u00f4 l\u1eadu, \u0111\u00e3 quen cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng chai l\u00ec. Ennis \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c anh ch\u1ecb nu\u00f4i l\u1edbn sau khi cha m\u1eb9 l\u1ea1c tay l\u00e1i \u1edf kh\u00fac quanh duy nh\u1ea5t tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng Dead Horse, \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i hai m\u01b0\u01a1i b\u1ed1n \u0111\u00f4 la ti\u1ec1n m\u1eb7t v\u00e0 c\u0103n tr\u1ea1i hai n\u1ee3 c\u1ea7m c\u1ed1, n\u0103m m\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ed1n tu\u1ed5i anh xin ch\u1ee9ng nh\u1eadn ho\u00e0n c\u1ea3nh kh\u00f3 kh\u0103n \u0111\u1ec3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 l\u00e1i xe m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng t\u1eeb tr\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng trung h\u1ecdc. Xe pickup c\u0169, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 m\u00e1y s\u01b0\u1edfi, k\u00ednh xe ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i g\u1ea1t n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 b\u00e1nh xe t\u1ed3i; khi h\u1ed9p s\u1ed1 h\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ec3 s\u1eeda. Anh \u0111\u00e3 mu\u1ed1n l\u00e0 h\u1ecdc sinh l\u1edbp m\u01b0\u1eddi, th\u1ea5y m\u1ea5y ch\u1eef \u0111\u00f3 nghe oai, nh\u01b0ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng l\u00e2u th\u00ec xe truck n\u1eb1m \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, n\u00e9m th\u1eb3ng anh v\u00e0o vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i.<\/p>\n

N\u0103m 1963, khi anh g\u1eb7p Jack Twist, Ennis \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u00ednh h\u00f4n v\u1edbi Alma Beers. Jack v\u00e0 Ennis c\u00f9ng khoe \u0111ang d\u00e0nh d\u1ee5m ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ec3 mua m\u1ed9t mi\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ea5t nh\u1ecf; v\u1edbi Ennis \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t lon thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1 c\u00f3 hai t\u1edd n\u0103m \u0111\u00f4 la. M\u00f9a xu\u00e2n n\u0103m \u0111\u00f3, c\u1ea7n vi\u1ec7c l\u00e0m b\u1ea5t k\u1ec3 l\u00e0 vi\u1ec7c g\u00ec, h\u1ecd k\u00fd v\u1edbi Tuy\u1ec3n D\u1ee5ng N\u00f4ng Trang–tr\u00ean gi\u1ea5y t\u1edd l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u0103n v\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u1eef tr\u1ea1i cho c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t tr\u1ea1i c\u1eebu \u1edf ph\u00eda b\u1eafc Signal. V\u00f9ng th\u1ea3 m\u00f9a h\u00e8 n\u1eb1m cao qu\u00e1 h\u00e0ng c\u00e2y tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a S\u1edf L\u00e2m Nghi\u1ec7p \u1edf n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u00f9a h\u00e8 th\u1ee9 nh\u00ec c\u1ee7a Jack Twist tr\u00ean n\u00fai, th\u1ee9 nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a Ennis. H\u1ecd c\u00f9ng ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ebfn hai m\u01b0\u01a1i.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd b\u1eaft tay trong chi\u1ebfc xe m\u00f3c k\u00e9o nh\u1ecf v\u00e0 ng\u1ed9t ng\u1ea1t d\u00f9ng l\u00e0m v\u0103n ph\u00f2ng, tr\u01b0\u1edbc c\u00e1i b\u00e0n ng\u1ed5n ngang gi\u1ea5y t\u1edd ghi ch\u00e9p, m\u1ed9t g\u1ea1t t\u00e0n Bakelite vun ng\u1ecdn m\u1ea9u thu\u1ed1c. M\u00e0n c\u1eeda ch\u1edbp treo l\u1ec7ch, \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ecdt v\u00e0o m\u1ed9t m\u1ea3nh tam gi\u00e1c \u00e1nh s\u00e1ng tr\u1eafng, b\u00f3ng b\u00e0n tay ng\u01b0\u1eddi cai \u0111i v\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3. Joe Aguirre, t\u00f3c g\u1ee3n s\u00f3ng m\u00e0u tro thu\u1ed1c ch\u1ebb gi\u1eefa, cho h\u1ecd bi\u1ebft quan \u0111i\u1ec3m c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh.<\/p>\n

“S\u1edf L\u00e2m Nghi\u1ec7p c\u00f3 ch\u1ed7 c\u1eafm tr\u1ea1i ri\u00eang tr\u00ean m\u1ea5y l\u00f4 \u0111\u1ea5t. M\u1ea5y tr\u1ea1i \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 c\u00e1ch n\u01a1i m\u00ecnh th\u1ea3 c\u1eebu m\u1ed9t hai d\u1eb7m. C\u1eebu m\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u v\u00ec th\u00fa d\u1eef, kh\u00f4ng ai \u1edf g\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ec3 coi ch\u1eebng ban \u0111\u00eam. Tao mu\u1ed1n l\u00e0, ng\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u1eef tr\u1ea1i \u1edf tr\u1ea1i ch\u00ednh nh\u01b0 S\u1edf L\u00e2m Nghi\u1ec7p n\u00f3i, nh\u01b0ng NG\u01af\u1edcI CH\u0102N–ch\u1ec9 Jack b\u1eb1ng c\u00e1i vung tay–l\u00e9n d\u1ef1ng l\u1ec1u v\u1edbi \u0111\u00e1m c\u1eebu, ch\u1ed7 khu\u1ea5t, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 s\u1ebd NG\u1ee6 \u0111\u00f3. \u0102n b\u1eefa t\u1ed1i, b\u1eefa s\u00e1ng \u1edf tr\u1ea1i, nh\u01b0ng NG\u1ee6 V\u1edaI \u0110\u00c1M C\u1eeaU, tr\u0103m ph\u1ea7n tr\u0103m, KH\u00d4NG L\u1eecA, \u0110\u1eeaNG \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i D\u1ea4U V\u1ebeT. Cu\u1ed1n l\u1ec1u m\u1ed7i s\u00e1ng l\u1ee1 khi S\u1edf L\u00e2m Nghi\u1ec7p r\u00ecnh. Mang m\u1ea5y con ch\u00f3, kh\u1ea9u .30-.30 c\u1ee7a m\u00e0y, ng\u1ee7 \u1edf \u0111\u00f3. H\u00e8 r\u1ed3i m\u1ea5t ti\u00eau g\u1ea7n hai m\u01b0\u01a1i l\u0103m ph\u1ea7n tr\u0103m. Tao kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n v\u1eady n\u1eefa. M\u00c0Y,” h\u1eafn n\u00f3i v\u1edbi Ennis, nh\u00ecn m\u00e1i t\u00f3c b\u00f9, b\u00e0n tay to c\u00f3 v\u1ebft tr\u1ea7y x\u01b0\u1edbc, qu\u1ea7n jean r\u00e1ch, \u00e1o kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ee7 n\u00fat, “Th\u1ee9 S\u00e1u m\u01b0\u1eddi hai gi\u1edd tr\u01b0a xu\u1ed1ng ch\u1ed7 c\u00e2y c\u1ea7u v\u1edbi danh s\u00e1ch cho tu\u1ea7n t\u1edbi v\u00e0 m\u1ea5y con la. S\u1ebd c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi trong xe pickup v\u1edbi h\u00e0ng ti\u1ebfp t\u1ebf.” H\u1eafn kh\u00f4ng h\u1ecfi xem Ennis c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 kh\u00f4ng nh\u01b0ng l\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 tr\u00f2n r\u1ebb ti\u1ec1n bu\u1ed9c d\u00e2y b\u1ec7n trong m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i h\u1ed9p tr\u00ean ng\u0103n k\u1ec7 cao, l\u00ean gi\u00e2y v\u00e0 b\u1eaft gi\u1edd, qu\u0103ng cho anh nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 anh kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u00e1ng c\u00e1i v\u1edbi tay. “S\u00c1NG MAI t\u1ee5i tao s\u1ebd l\u00e1i xe truck ch\u1edf t\u1ee5i bay \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111i\u1ec3m kh\u1edfi \u0111\u1ea7u.” Hai th\u1eb1ng ng\u1edb ng\u1ea9n ch\u1eb3ng l\u00e0m n\u00ean tr\u00f2 g\u00ec.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd t\u00ecm th\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t qu\u00e1n r\u01b0\u1ee3u v\u00e0 u\u1ed1ng bia su\u1ed1t bu\u1ed5i chi\u1ec1u, Jack k\u1ec3 cho Ennis nghe chuy\u1ec7n c\u01a1n b\u00e3o ch\u1edbp tr\u00ean n\u00fai n\u0103m ngo\u00e1i \u0111\u00e3 gi\u1ebft b\u1ed1n m\u01b0\u01a1i hai con c\u1eebu, m\u00f9i h\u00f4i l\u1ea1 l\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang v\u00e0 ch\u00fang tr\u01b0\u01a1ng l\u00ean nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o, s\u1ef1 c\u1ea7n thi\u1ebft c\u00f3 nhi\u1ec1u whiskey tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3. Anh b\u1eafn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ed9t con \u01b0ng, anh n\u00f3i, quay \u0111\u1ea7u khoe chi\u1ebfc l\u00f4ng \u0111u\u00f4i trong d\u1ea3i m\u0169. Tho\u1ea1t nh\u00ecn Jack kh\u00e1 b\u1ea3nh bao v\u1edbi m\u00e1i t\u00f3c xo\u0103n v\u00e0 c\u00e1i mi\u1ec7ng hay c\u01b0\u1eddi, nh\u01b0ng so v\u1edbi d\u00e1ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1ecf con, anh n\u1eb7ng ph\u1ea7n h\u00f4ng, v\u00e0 n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi c\u1ee7a anh l\u1ed9 ra h\u00e0m r\u0103ng th\u1ecf, kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ee9c anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0103n b\u1eafp rang trong b\u00ecnh cao c\u1ed5, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00e1 r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng. Anh m\u00ea cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng rodeo v\u00e0 th\u1eaft d\u00e2y l\u01b0ng b\u1eb1ng kho\u00e1 c\u01b0\u1ee1i b\u00f2 h\u1ea1ng nh\u1ecf, nh\u01b0ng \u1ee7ng anh m\u00f2n v\u1eb9t, th\u1ee7ng h\u1ebft m\u1ee9c v\u00e1, v\u00e0 anh mong \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u1edf n\u01a1i n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3, b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 n\u01a1i n\u00e0o ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb Lightning Flat.<\/p>\n

Ennis, m\u0169i kho\u1eb1m v\u00e0 khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t h\u1eb9p, v\u1ebb b\u00ea b\u1ed1i v\u00e0 ng\u1ef1c h\u01a1i l\u00f5m v\u00e0o, th\u00e2n m\u00ecnh nh\u1ecf c\u00e2n b\u1eb1ng tr\u00ean hai ch\u00e2n d\u00e0i kh\u1eb3ng khiu, ng\u01b0\u1eddi nhi\u1ec1u b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt v\u00e0 m\u1ec1m d\u1ebbo th\u00edch h\u1ee3p cho c\u01b0\u1ee1i ng\u1ef1a v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e1nh l\u1ed9n. Ph\u1ea3n x\u1ea1 c\u1ee7a anh r\u1ea5t nhanh nh\u1ea1y v\u00e0 anh kh\u00e1 vi\u1ec5n th\u1ecb n\u00ean kh\u00f4ng th\u00edch \u0111\u1ecdc b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 c\u00e1i g\u00ec ngo\u00e0i s\u00e1ch qu\u1ea3ng c\u00e1o y\u00ean c\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee7a c\u00f4ng ty Hamley.<\/p>\n

Xe truck ch\u1edf c\u1eebu v\u00e0 xe m\u00f3c k\u00e9o ch\u1edf ng\u1ef1a xu\u1ed1ng h\u00e0ng \u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t g\u00e3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi Basque ch\u00e2n v\u00f2ng ki\u1ec1ng ch\u1ec9 Ennis c\u00e1ch ch\u1ea5t h\u00e0ng l\u00ean con la, m\u1ed7i con hai g\u00f3i v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t g\u00f3i h\u00e0ng tr\u00ean l\u01b0ng bu\u1ed9c quanh b\u1eb1ng hai n\u00fat thoi \u0111\u00f4i v\u00e0 th\u1eaft ch\u1eb7t b\u1eb1ng n\u00fat c\u1eb3ng ng\u1ed7ng, b\u1ea3o anh,”\u0110\u1eebng bao gi\u1edd \u0111\u00f2i x\u00fap. Th\u00f9ng x\u00fap kh\u00f3 x\u1ebfp l\u1eafm.” Ba con ch\u00f3 con c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t trong m\u1ea5y con ch\u00f3 ch\u0103n c\u1eebu \u00dac v\u00e0o trong m\u1ed9t gi\u1ecf \u0111\u1ef1ng h\u00e0ng, con nh\u1ecf nh\u1ea5t trong \u00e1o kho\u00e1c c\u1ee7a Jack, v\u00ec anh th\u00edch ch\u00f3 con. Ennis l\u1ef1a con ng\u1ef1a m\u00e0u h\u1ea1t d\u1ebb t\u00ean Cigar Butt \u0111\u1ec3 c\u01b0\u1ee1i, Jack th\u00ec m\u1ed9t con ng\u1ef1a c\u00e1i h\u1ed3ng sau n\u00e0y anh m\u1edbi bi\u1ebft d\u1ec5 b\u1ecb gi\u1eadt m\u00ecnh. Chu\u1ed7i ng\u1ef1a d\u01b0 c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t con grullo m\u00e0u n\u00e2u nh\u1ea1t v\u1edbi d\u00e1ng v\u1ebb Ennis th\u00edch. Ennis v\u00e0 Jack, l\u0169 ch\u00f3, ng\u1ef1a v\u00e0 la, m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0n c\u1eebu c\u00e1i v\u00e0 c\u1eebu con tu\u00f4n l\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n nh\u01b0 n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ee5c ch\u1ea3y qua r\u1eebng, l\u00ean qu\u00e1 h\u00e0ng c\u00e2y v\u00e0o nh\u1eefng \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf l\u1edbn \u0111\u1ea7y hoa v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng ng\u1edbt gi\u00f3.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd d\u1ef1ng l\u1ec1u l\u1edbn tr\u00ean n\u1ec1n c\u1ee7a S\u1edf L\u00e2m Nghi\u1ec7p, c\u1ed9t ch\u1eb7t b\u1ebfp v\u00e0 th\u00f9ng th\u1ee9c \u0103n. C\u1ea3 hai ng\u1ee7 \u1edf tr\u1ea1i \u0111\u00eam \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean, Jack \u0111\u00e3 c\u1eb1n nh\u1eb1n v\u1ec1 l\u1ec7nh ng\u1ee7-v\u1edbi-c\u1eebu-v\u00e0-kh\u00f4ng-l\u1eeda c\u1ee7a Joe Aguirre, d\u00f9 anh kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i g\u00ec nhi\u1ec1u khi \u0111\u00f3ng y\u00ean con ng\u1ef1a c\u00e1i h\u1ed3ng trong bu\u1ed5i s\u00e1ng u \u00e1m. B\u00ecnh minh \u0111\u1ebfn v\u1edbi m\u00e0u cam trong v\u1eaft, b\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi vi\u1ec1n m\u1ed9t d\u1ea3i xanh l\u00e1 c\u00e2y nh\u1ea1t. Kh\u1ed1i n\u00fai \u0111en m\u00e0u mu\u1ed9i than nh\u1ea1t d\u1ea7n cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi c\u00f9ng m\u00e0u v\u1edbi kh\u00f3i trong l\u1eeda n\u1ea5u \u0103n s\u00e1ng c\u1ee7a Ennis. Kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed l\u1ea1nh \u1ea5m l\u1ea1i, s\u1ecfi \u0111\u00f9m v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea5t v\u1ee5n t\u1ea1o n\u00ean nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfc b\u00f3ng thu\u00f4n d\u00e0i b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng c\u00e2y th\u00f4ng th\u1eb3ng \u0111\u1ee9ng b\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi h\u1ecd ch\u1ee5m l\u1ea1i trong nh\u1eefng m\u1ea3ng \u0111\u00e1 malachite \u1ea3m \u0111\u1ea1m.<\/p>\n

Trong ng\u00e0y, nh\u00ecn qua v\u1ef1c r\u1ed9ng, Ennis \u0111\u00f4i khi th\u1ea5y Jack, m\u1ed9t ch\u1ea5m nh\u1ecf \u0111i qua cao nguy\u00ean nh\u01b0 con b\u1ecd \u0111i qua kh\u0103n tr\u1ea3i b\u00e0n; Jack, trong tr\u1ea1i t\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a anh, th\u1ea5y Ennis nh\u01b0 l\u1eeda \u0111\u00eam, m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed1m \u0111\u1ecf s\u00e1ng tr\u00ean kh\u1ed1i \u0111en kh\u1ed5ng l\u1ed3 c\u1ee7a n\u00fai.<\/p>\n

M\u1ed9t bu\u1ed5i chi\u1ec1u t\u1ed1i Jack l\u00ea b\u01b0\u1edbc v\u1ec1, u\u1ed1ng hai chai bia \u01b0\u1edbp l\u1ea1nh trong m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i t\u00fai \u01b0\u1edbt b\u00ean ph\u00eda l\u1ec1u c\u00f3 b\u00f3ng m\u00e1t, \u0103n hai t\u00f4 th\u1ecbt h\u1ea7m, b\u1ed1n b\u00e1nh n\u01b0\u1edbng c\u1ee9ng nh\u01b0 \u0111\u00e1 c\u1ee7a Ennis, m\u1ed9t h\u1ed9p \u0111\u00e0o, cu\u1ed1n \u0111i\u1ebfu thu\u1ed1c, nh\u00ecn m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi xu\u1ed1ng.<\/p>\n

“Tao \u0111i \u0111i v\u1ec1 v\u1ec1 b\u1ed1n ti\u1ebfng m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y,” anh r\u1ea7u r\u0129 n\u00f3i. “V\u1ec1 \u0103n s\u00e1ng, tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi c\u1eebu, t\u1ed1i cho n\u00f3 \u0111i ng\u1ee7, v\u1ec1 \u0103n t\u1ed1i, tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi c\u1eebu, m\u1ea5t h\u1ebft n\u1eeda \u0111\u00eam d\u1ef1ng d\u1eady coi ch\u1eebng s\u00f3i \u0111\u1ed3ng. \u0110\u00fang ra tao ph\u1ea3i ng\u1ee7 \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y. Aguirre kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 quy\u1ec1n b\u1eaft tao l\u00e0m v\u1ea7y.”<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u1ed5i kh\u00f4ng?” Ennis n\u00f3i. “Tao kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ea1i ch\u0103n. Tao kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ea1i ng\u1ee7 ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u00f3.”<\/p>\n

“\u0110\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1. V\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 l\u00e0, \u0111\u00e1ng l\u1ebd c\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u1ee9a m\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i \u1edf tr\u1ea1i n\u00e0y. C\u00e1i l\u1ec1u nh\u1ecf tr\u1eddi \u0111\u00e1nh \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 c\u00f3 m\u00f9i nh\u01b0 n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00e1i m\u00e8o hay c\u00e1i g\u00ec gh\u00ea h\u01a1n n\u1eefa.”<\/p>\n

“Tao kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ea1i \u1edf ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u00f3.”<\/p>\n

“N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u00f3 ban \u0111\u00eam m\u00e0y ph\u1ea3i d\u1eady ch\u1ee5c l\u1ea7n v\u00ec s\u00f3i \u0111\u1ed3ng. \u0110\u1ed5i th\u00ec tao m\u1eebng nh\u01b0ng b\u00e1o tr\u01b0\u1edbc v\u1edbi m\u00e0y tao n\u1ea5u \u0103n kh\u00f4ng ra g\u00ec. M\u1edf \u0111\u1ed3 h\u1ed9p.th\u00ec kh\u00e1”<\/p>\n

“V\u1eady kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 t\u1ec7 h\u01a1n tao. R\u1ed3i, tao kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ea1i l\u00e0m \u0111\u00e2u.”<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd \u0111\u1ea9y l\u00f9i \u0111\u00eam m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 v\u1edbi ng\u1ecdn \u0111\u00e8n d\u1ea7u v\u00e0ng v\u00e0 kho\u1ea3ng m\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u1edd Ennis c\u01b0\u1ee1i Cigar Butt, m\u1ed9t con ng\u1ef1a gi\u1ecfi \u0111i \u0111\u00eam, qua l\u00e0n s\u01b0\u01a1ng gi\u00e1 l\u1ea5p l\u00e1nh tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi l\u0169 c\u1eebu, mang theo b\u00e1nh n\u01b0\u1edbng c\u00f2n d\u01b0, m\u1ed9t h\u0169 m\u1ee9t v\u00e0 h\u0169 c\u00e0 ph\u00ea cho ng\u00e0y h\u00f4m sau, n\u00f3i anh \u1edf ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u1ebfn b\u1eefa t\u1ed1i \u0111\u1ec3 b\u1edbt \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ed9t chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i.<\/p>\n

“Tao b\u1eafn m\u1ed9t con s\u00f3i \u0111\u1ed3ng l\u00fac h\u1eebng s\u00e1ng,” anh b\u1ea3o Jack t\u1ed1i h\u00f4m sau, v\u1eeba n\u00f3i v\u1eeba v\u1ea3 n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00f3ng v\u00e0o m\u1eb7t, xoa x\u00e0 b\u00f4ng v\u00e0 hy v\u1ecdng dao c\u1ea1o r\u00e2u c\u00f2n c\u1eaft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, trong khi Jack g\u1ecdt v\u1ecf khoai t\u00e2y. “Con s\u00f3i b\u1ef1 th\u1ea5y gh\u00ea. D\u00e1i c\u1ee1 tr\u00e1i t\u00e1o. Tao d\u00e1m c\u00e1 n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 l\u1ea5y \u0111i v\u00e0i con c\u1eebu non. Coi b\u1ed9 n\u00f3 \u0103n n\u1ed5i m\u1ed9t con l\u1ea1c \u0111\u00e0. M\u00e0y mu\u1ed1n ch\u00fat n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00f3ng kh\u00f4ng? Nhi\u1ec1u l\u1eafm.”<\/p>\n

“C\u1ee7a m\u00e0y h\u1ebft.”<\/p>\n

“Tao s\u1ebd r\u1eeda m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 tao v\u1edbi t\u1edbi \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c,” anh n\u00f3i, c\u1edfi \u1ee7ng v\u00e0 qu\u1ea7n jean (kh\u00f4ng qu\u1ea7n l\u00f3t, kh\u00f4ng v\u1edb, Jack \u0111\u1ec3 \u00fd), vung chi\u1ebfc kh\u0103n m\u00e0u xanh quanh ng\u01b0\u1eddi cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi l\u1eeda b\u1eafn x\u00e8o x\u00e8o.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd d\u00f9ng b\u1eefa t\u1ed1i vui v\u1ebb b\u00ean \u0111\u1ed1ng l\u1eeda, m\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t h\u1ed9p \u0111\u1eadu, khoai t\u00e2y chi\u00ean v\u00e0 u\u1ed1ng chung m\u1ed9t l\u00edt whiskey, ng\u1ed3i d\u1ef1a l\u01b0ng v\u00e0o kh\u00fac c\u00e2y, \u0111\u1ebf \u1ee7ng v\u00e0 n\u00fat \u0111\u1ed3ng qu\u1ea7n jean h\u1ef1c n\u00f3ng, chuy\u1ec1n nhau chai r\u01b0\u1ee3u trong khi b\u1ea7u tr\u1eddi t\u00edm nh\u1ea1t phai d\u1ea7n v\u00e0 h\u01a1i l\u1ea1nh \u0111\u1ed5 xu\u1ed1ng, u\u1ed1ng, h\u00fat thu\u1ed1c, th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady \u0111i ti\u1ec3u, \u00e1nh l\u1eeda n\u00e9m nh\u1eefng tia l\u1ea5p l\u00e1nh v\u00e0o v\u00f2ng cung n\u01b0\u1edbc ti\u1ec3u, qu\u0103ng nh\u1eefng c\u00e0nh c\u00e2y v\u00e0o l\u1eeda \u0111\u1ec3 ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c c\u00e2u chuy\u1ec7n, n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 ng\u1ef1a v\u00e0 rodeo, ng\u00e0y h\u1ed9i gia s\u00fac, nh\u1eefng l\u1ea7n ch\u00ed t\u1eed v\u00e0 th\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u00edch \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb, t\u00e0u ng\u1ea7m Thresher<\/em> th\u1ea5t l\u1ea1c hai th\u00e1ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc v\u1edbi t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 th\u1ee7y th\u1ee7 v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng ph\u00fat \u0111\u1ecbnh m\u1ec7nh cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng ph\u1ea3i nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o, nh\u1eefng con ch\u00f3 m\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f3 v\u00e0 bi\u1ebft, qu\u00e2n d\u1ecbch, tr\u1ea1i nh\u00e0 Jack ba m\u00e1 anh c\u1ed1 gi\u1eef, ch\u1ed7 c\u1ee7a gia \u0111\u00ecnh Ennis b\u1ecb d\u1eb9p nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi ba m\u00e1 anh ch\u1ebft, anh Ennis \u1edf Signal v\u00e0 ch\u1ecb c\u00f3 ch\u1ed3ng \u1edf Casper. Jack n\u00f3i ba anh \u0111\u00e3 t\u1eebng l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u01b0\u1ee1i b\u00f2 kh\u00e1 n\u1ed5i ti\u1ebfng h\u1ed3i x\u01b0a nh\u01b0ng gi\u1eef b\u00ed quy\u1ebft m\u1ed9t m\u00ecnh, kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd cho Jack m\u1ed9t l\u1eddi khuy\u00ean, kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn xem Jack c\u01b0\u1ee1i b\u00f2 l\u1ea7n n\u00e0o, d\u00f9 \u00f4ng \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1eb7t anh tr\u00ean l\u01b0ng c\u1eebu khi anh c\u00f2n b\u00e9. Ennis n\u00f3i anh th\u00edch lo\u1ea1i c\u01b0\u1ee1i l\u00e2u h\u01a1n t\u00e1m gi\u00e2y v\u00e0 c\u00f3 m\u1ee5c \u0111\u00edch. Ti\u1ec1n l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t m\u1ee5c \u0111\u00edch hay, Jack n\u00f3i, v\u00e0 Ennis ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u1ed3ng \u00fd. H\u1ecd t\u00f4n tr\u1ecdng \u00fd ki\u1ebfn c\u1ee7a nhau, c\u00f9ng vui v\u00ec c\u00f3 b\u1ea1n b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd. C\u01b0\u1ee1i ng\u1ef1a ng\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u00f3 v\u1ec1 v\u1edbi b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu trong \u00e1nh s\u00e1ng ch\u1eadp ch\u1eddn \u1ea9n hi\u1ec7n, Ennis ngh\u0129 anh ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd vui nh\u01b0 v\u1eady, th\u1ea5y nh\u01b0 m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 c\u00e0o m\u00e0u tr\u1eafng kh\u1ecfi m\u1eb7t tr\u0103ng.<\/p>\n

M\u00f9a h\u00e8 ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c v\u00e0 h\u1ecd d\u1eddi b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf m\u1edbi, chuy\u1ec3n tr\u1ea1i; kho\u1ea3ng c\u00e1ch gi\u1eefa b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu v\u00e0 tr\u1ea1i m\u1edbi xa h\u01a1n v\u00e0 chuy\u1ebfn c\u01b0\u1ee1i \u0111\u00eam d\u00e0i h\u01a1n. Ennis c\u01b0\u1ee1i d\u1ec5 d\u00e0ng, ng\u1ee7 m\u1edf m\u1eaft, nh\u01b0ng th\u1eddi gian anh c\u00e1ch b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu c\u00e0ng l\u00fac c\u00e0ng k\u00e9o d\u00e0i. Ti\u1ebfng k\u00e8n harmonica c\u1ee7a Jack oang oang r\u00e8, h\u01a1i l\u1ea1c v\u00ec c\u00e1i ng\u00e3 t\u1eeb con ng\u1ef1a c\u00e1i h\u1ed3ng hay s\u1ee3, v\u00e0 Ennis c\u00f3 gi\u1ecdng kh\u00e0n hay; v\u00e0i t\u1ed1i h\u1ecd h\u00e1t sai l\u1eddi sai \u0111i\u1ec7u \u0111\u00f4i ba b\u00e0i h\u00e1t. Ennis bi\u1ebft l\u1eddi t\u1ee5c c\u1ee7a b\u00e0i “Ng\u1ef1a M\u00e0u D\u00e2u.” Jack th\u1eed m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i nh\u1ea1c Carl Perkins, r\u1ed1ng l\u00ean “t\u00f4i noioi\u00f3i,” nh\u01b0ng anh th\u00edch m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i th\u00e1nh ca bu\u1ed3n, “Jesus \u0110i Tr\u00ean N\u01b0\u1edbc,” h\u1ecdc c\u1ee7a m\u1eb9 anh, ng\u01b0\u1eddi tin L\u1ec5 Qu\u00e1 H\u1ea3i, anh h\u00e1t ch\u1eadm th\u1edf than, l\u00e0m m\u1ea5y con s\u00f3i \u0111\u1ed3ng xa xa k\u00eau \u0103ng \u1eb3ng.<\/p>\n

“Ra v\u1edbi b\u1ecdn c\u1eebu m\u1eafc toi th\u00ec tr\u1ec5 r\u1ed3i,” Ennis n\u00f3i, cho\u00e1ng v\u00e1ng say b\u00f2 c\u00e0ng l\u00fac tr\u1eddi l\u1ea1nh gi\u00e1 v\u00e0 m\u1eb7t tr\u0103ng \u0111\u00e3 qu\u00e1 m\u1ee9c hai. Nh\u1eefng t\u1ea3ng \u0111\u00e1 tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf t\u1ecfa m\u00e0u tr\u1eafng xanh v\u00e0 ng\u1ecdn gi\u00f3 r\u00e9t th\u1ed5i ngang, t\u1ea1t l\u1eeda th\u1ea5p xu\u1ed1ng, r\u1ed3i x\u00e1o n\u00f3 l\u00ean th\u00e0nh nh\u1eefng d\u1ea3i l\u1ee5a v\u00e0ng. “M\u00e0y c\u00f3 ch\u0103n d\u01b0 th\u00ec tao cu\u1ed1n ch\u0103n ngo\u00e0i n\u00e0y ch\u1ee3p m\u1eaft m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat, r\u1ed3i c\u01b0\u1ee1i ng\u1ef1a ra l\u00fac h\u1eebng s\u00e1ng.”<\/p>\n

“Khi l\u1eeda t\u00e0n m\u00e0y s\u1ebd l\u1ea1nh c\u00f3ng \u0111\u00edt. Ng\u1ee7 trong l\u1ec1u t\u1ed1t h\u01a1n.”<\/p>\n

“Kh\u00f4ng ch\u1eafc tao c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y g\u00ec.” Nh\u01b0ng anh l\u1ea3o \u0111\u1ea3o \u0111\u1ebfn d\u01b0\u1edbi t\u1ea5m v\u1ea3i che l\u1ec1u, c\u1edfi \u1ee7ng, ng\u00e1y tr\u00ean t\u1ea5m tr\u1ea3i m\u1ed9t l\u00fac, h\u00e0m r\u0103ng \u0111\u00e1nh l\u1eadp c\u1eadp l\u00e0m Jack th\u1ee9c gi\u1ea5c.<\/p>\n

“Ch\u00faa \u01a1i, \u0111\u1eebng n\u1ec7n b\u00faa n\u1eefa, qua \u0111\u00e2y. Ch\u0103n \u0111\u1ee7 l\u1edbn m\u00e0.” Jack n\u00f3i b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng ng\u00e1i ng\u1ee7 qu\u1ea1u qu\u1ecd. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee7 l\u1edbn, \u0111\u1ee7 \u1ea5m, v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng bao l\u00e2u sau th\u00e2n m\u1eadt c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd s\u00e2u \u0111\u1eadm h\u01a1n kh\u00e1 nhi\u1ec1u. Ch\u01a1i hay l\u00e0m Ennis \u0111\u1ec1u h\u1ebft ga, v\u00e0 anh kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu khi Jack ch\u1ee5p tay tr\u00e1i c\u1ee7a anh v\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0a n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn d\u01b0\u01a1ng v\u1eadt c\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee9ng c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. Ennis gi\u1eadt tay ra nh\u01b0 ch\u1ea1m ph\u1ea3i l\u1eeda, qu\u1ef3 d\u1eady, c\u1edfi kho\u00e1 l\u01b0ng, k\u00e9o qu\u1ea7n xu\u1ed1ng, l\u1eadt \u00fap Jack v\u00e0, v\u1edbi ch\u1ea5t nh\u1eddn v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat n\u01b0\u1edbc b\u1ecdt, d\u1ea5n v\u00e0o ng\u01b0\u1eddi Jack, chuy\u1ec7n anh ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd l\u00e0m nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n ch\u1ec9 d\u1eabn. H\u1ecd ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c trong im l\u1eb7ng ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb v\u00e0i ti\u1ebfng th\u1edf d\u1ed1c v\u00e0 gi\u1ecdng ngh\u1eb9t h\u01a1i c\u1ee7a Jack “s\u00fang n\u1ed5<\/em>,” r\u1ed3i ra, xu\u1ed1ng, v\u00e0 ng\u1ee7.<\/p>\n

Ennis th\u1ee9c d\u1eady trong b\u00ecnh minh \u0111\u1ecf, qu\u1ea7n quanh g\u1ed1i, nh\u1ee9c \u0111\u1ea7u kinh khi\u1ebfp, v\u00e0 Jack d\u1ef1a b\u00ean m\u00ecnh; kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i g\u00ec, h\u1ecd c\u00f9ng bi\u1ebft th\u1eddi gian c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a m\u00f9a h\u00e8 s\u1ebd nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o, m\u1eb7c x\u00e1c l\u0169 c\u1eebu.<\/p>\n

V\u00e0 th\u1eadt nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. H\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n l\u00e0m t\u00ecnh, \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 x\u1ea3y ra, tho\u1ea1t ti\u00ean ch\u1ec9 trong l\u1ec1u ban \u0111\u00eam, r\u1ed3i gi\u1eefa ban ng\u00e0y v\u1edbi m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi n\u00f3ng chi\u1ebfu xu\u1ed1ng, v\u00e0 bu\u1ed5i t\u1ed1i trong \u00e1nh l\u1eeda s\u00e1ng, nhanh, b\u1ea1o, ti\u1ebfng c\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 kh\u1ecbt m\u0169i, kh\u00f4ng thi\u1ebfu ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t ch\u1eef tr\u1eddi \u0111\u00e1nh n\u00e0o ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n Ennis n\u00f3i, “Tao kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u1ea1i c\u00e1i,” v\u00e0 Jack nh\u1ea3y v\u00e0o “Tao c\u0169ng v\u1eady. L\u1ea7n n\u00e0y th\u00f4i. Chuy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a t\u1ee5i m\u00ecnh, kh\u00f4ng d\u00ednh t\u1edbi ai.” Ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi tr\u00ean n\u00fai bay trong kh\u00f4ng gian h\u00e2n hoan bu\u1ed1t c\u00f3ng, nh\u00ecn xu\u1ed1ng l\u01b0ng con \u01b0ng v\u00e0 \u00e1nh \u0111\u00e8n xe c\u1ed9 b\u00f2 tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1eb1ng ph\u00eda d\u01b0\u1edbi, l\u01a1 l\u1eedng tr\u00ean nh\u1eefng chuy\u1ec7n b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng v\u00e0 xa kh\u1ecfi l\u0169 ch\u00f3 tr\u1ea1i thu\u1ea7n h\u00f3a s\u1ee7a trong \u0111\u00eam t\u1ed1i. H\u1ecd t\u01b0\u1edfng h\u1ecd v\u00f4 h\u00ecnh, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y kia Joe Aguirre theo d\u00f5i h\u1ecd m\u01b0\u1eddi ph\u00fat b\u1eb1ng \u1ed1ng nh\u00f2m 10×42, \u0111\u1ee3i cho \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac h\u1ecd c\u00e0i n\u00fat qu\u1ea7n jean, \u0111\u1ee3i cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi Ennis c\u01b0\u1ee1i ng\u1ef1a tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu, tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi mang tin l\u00ean r\u1eb1ng gia \u0111\u00ecnh Jack nh\u1eafn l\u00e0 c\u1eadu Harold c\u1ee7a anh \u0111\u00e3 v\u00e0o b\u1ec7nh vi\u1ec7n v\u00ec s\u01b0ng ph\u1ed5i v\u00e0 ch\u1eafc s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng qua kh\u1ecfi. D\u00f9 v\u1eady \u00f4ng c\u1eadu r\u1ed3i qua kh\u1ecfi, v\u00e0 Aguirre l\u1ea1i l\u00ean \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3i v\u1eady, nh\u00ecn Jack ch\u0103m ch\u0103m v\u1edbi c\u00e1i nh\u00ecn tr\u01a1 tr\u00e1o, kh\u00f4ng bu\u1ed3n xu\u1ed1ng ng\u1ef1a.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e1ng T\u00e1m Ennis \u1edf tr\u1ea1i ch\u00ednh su\u1ed1t \u0111\u00eam v\u1edbi Jack v\u00e0 trong m\u1ed9t tr\u1eadn b\u00e3o m\u01b0a \u0111\u00e1 gi\u00f3 d\u1eef, b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda t\u00e2y v\u00e0 l\u1eabn v\u00e0o m\u1ed9t b\u1ea7y trong khu \u0111\u1ea5t kh\u00e1c. Trong n\u0103m ng\u00e0y kh\u1ed1n kh\u1ed5, Ennis v\u00e0 g\u00e3 ch\u0103n ng\u01b0\u1eddi Chile kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft ti\u1ebfng Anh t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch l\u1ef1a ch\u00fang ra, c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 v\u00f4 v\u1ecdng v\u00ec l\u1edbp s\u01a1n l\u00e0m d\u1ea5u \u0111\u00e3 tr\u00f3c v\u00e0 phai \u0111i l\u00fac cu\u1ed1i m\u00f9a n\u00e0y. Ngay c\u1ea3 khi s\u1ed1 c\u1eebu \u0111\u00fang, Ennis bi\u1ebft b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb l\u1eabn l\u1ed9n. T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 l\u1eabn l\u1ed9n m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch b\u1ea5t an.<\/p>\n

Tuy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ea7u m\u00f9a \u0111\u1ebfn s\u1edbm, ng\u00e0y m\u01b0\u1eddi ba th\u00e1ng T\u00e1m, ch\u1ea5t l\u00ean ba t\u1ea5c, nh\u01b0ng tan nhanh. Tu\u1ea7n sau Joe Aguirre nh\u1eafn h\u1ecd mang c\u1eebu xu\u1ed1ng–m\u1ed9t tr\u1eadn b\u00e3o kh\u00e1c, l\u1edbn h\u01a1n \u0111ang \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Th\u00e1i B\u00ecnh D\u01b0\u01a1ng–v\u00e0 h\u1ecd thu d\u1ecdn tr\u00f2 ch\u01a1i v\u00e0 xu\u1ed1ng n\u00fai v\u1edbi b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu, \u0111\u00e1 l\u0103n d\u01b0\u1edbi g\u00f3t ch\u00e2n, m\u00e2y t\u00edm \u0111\u00f9n ph\u00eda t\u00e2y v\u00e0 m\u00f9i kim lo\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a tuy\u1ebft \u0111ang \u0111\u1ebfn d\u1ee5c h\u1ecd \u0111i nhanh. Ng\u1ecdn n\u00fai s\u00f4i s\u1ee5c n\u0103ng l\u1ef1c ma qu\u1ef7, ph\u1ee7 \u00e1nh s\u00e1ng ch\u1eadp ch\u1eddn qua k\u1ebd m\u00e2y, gi\u00f3 lu\u1ed3n trong c\u1ecf, d\u1ed9i ti\u1ebfng \u1ea7m \u1eeb hoang d\u00e3 khi qua khu r\u1eebng c\u00f2i c\u1ecdc v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e1 n\u1ee9t. Trong khi h\u1ecd xu\u1ed1ng tri\u1ec1n d\u1ed1c, Ennis c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y anh \u0111ang t\u1eeb t\u1eeb ng\u00e3 ch\u00fai xu\u1ed1ng, kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 n\u00e0o g\u01b0\u1ee3ng l\u1ea1i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n

Joe Aguirre tr\u1ea3 ti\u1ec1n h\u1ecd, kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i nhi\u1ec1u. H\u1eafn nh\u00ecn b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu l\u1ed9n x\u1ed9n v\u1edbi v\u1ebb kh\u00f4ng vui, n\u00f3i, “C\u00f3 m\u1ea5y con ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd l\u00ean \u0111\u00f3 v\u1edbi t\u1ee5i bay.” S\u1ed1 \u0111\u1ebfm c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng nh\u01b0 h\u1eafn hy v\u1ecdng. M\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng b\u1ee3m \u1edf tr\u1ea1i kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd l\u00e0m kh\u00e1.<\/p>\n

“H\u00e8 t\u1edbi m\u00e0y l\u00e0m n\u1eefa kh\u00f4ng?” Jack n\u00f3i v\u1edbi Ennis tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, m\u1ed9t ch\u00e2n \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1eb7t tr\u00ean chi\u1ebfc pickup m\u00e0u xanh c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. Gi\u00f3 gi\u1eadt m\u1ea1nh v\u00e0 l\u1ea1nh.<\/p>\n

“C\u00f3 l\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng.” M\u1ed9t \u0111\u00e1m b\u1ee5i m\u1ecfng d\u00e2ng l\u00ean che m\u1edd kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed v\u00e0 anh nheo m\u1eaft. “Tao c\u00f3 n\u00f3i, Alma v\u00e0 tao s\u1ebd c\u01b0\u1edbi th\u00e1ng m\u01b0\u1eddi hai. S\u1ebd r\u00e1ng ki\u1ebfm vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i. C\u00f2n m\u00e0y?” Anh l\u1ea3ng m\u1eaft ra kh\u1ecfi c\u1eb1m Jack, b\u1ea7m xanh v\u00ec c\u00fa \u0111\u1ea5m m\u1ea1nh c\u1ee7a Ennis trong ng\u00e0y cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng.<\/p>\n

“N\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec kh\u00e1 h\u01a1n. \u0110\u1ecbnh l\u00ean ch\u1ed7 ba tao, gi\u00fap \u1ed5ng qua m\u00f9a \u0111\u00f4ng, r\u1ed3i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111i Texas m\u00f9a xu\u00e2n. N\u1ebfu tao kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecb b\u1eaft l\u00ednh.”<\/p>\n

“V\u1eady, g\u1eb7p m\u00e0y \u0111\u00e2u \u0111\u00f3, ha.” Gi\u00f3 l\u0103n m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i t\u00fai th\u1ee9c \u0103n gia s\u00fac r\u1ed7ng tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi n\u00f3 ng\u1eebng d\u01b0\u1edbi xe truck c\u1ee7a anh.<\/p>\n

“\u1edc,” Jack n\u00f3i, v\u00e0 h\u1ecd b\u1eaft tay, v\u1ed7 vai nhau, r\u1ed3i \u1edf gi\u1eefa h\u1ecd l\u00e0 kho\u1ea3ng c\u00e1ch m\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ea5y th\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n chuy\u1ec7n g\u00ec kh\u00e1c ngo\u00e0i chuy\u1ec7n l\u00e1i xe \u0111i v\u1ec1 hai h\u01b0\u1edbng ng\u01b0\u1ee3c nhau. Ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t d\u1eb7m, Ennis c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y nh\u01b0 c\u00f3 ai l\u00f4i ru\u1ed9t anh ra t\u1eebng kh\u00fac m\u1ed9t. Anh ng\u1eebng b\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng v\u00e0, trong tuy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ea7u m\u00f9a quay cu\u1ed3ng, g\u1eafng n\u00f4n nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng n\u00f4n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u00ec. Anh c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y kh\u1ed5 s\u1edf qu\u00e1 \u0111\u1ed7i v\u00e0 l\u00e2u l\u1eafm c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c \u0111\u00f3 m\u1edbi phai \u0111i.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e1ng ch\u1ea1p Ennis l\u1ea5y Alma Beers v\u00e0 l\u00e0m ch\u1ecb c\u00f3 b\u1ea7u gi\u1eefa th\u00e1ng gi\u00eang. Anh c\u00f3 v\u00e0i vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i kh\u00f4ng b\u1ec1n, r\u1ed3i \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh v\u1edbi vi\u1ec7c cao b\u1ed3i \u1edf ch\u1ed7 Elwood Hi-Top ph\u00eda b\u1eafc Lost Cabin \u1edf H\u1ea1t Washakie. Anh v\u1eabn l\u00e0m \u1edf \u0111\u00f3 th\u00e1ng ch\u00edn khi Alma, Jr., t\u00ean anh \u0111\u1eb7t cho con g\u00e1i, ra \u0111\u1eddi v\u00e0 ph\u00f2ng ng\u1ee7 c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd n\u1ed3ng m\u00f9i m\u00e1u kh\u00f4 v\u00e0 s\u1eefa v\u00e0 ph\u00e2n con n\u00edt, ti\u1ebfng la kh\u00f3c v\u00e0 n\u00fat v\u00e0 r\u00ean ng\u00e1i ng\u1ee7 c\u1ee7a Alma, t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c v\u1edbi gia s\u00fac l\u00e0 n\u1ed7i an l\u00f2ng v\u1ec1 s\u1ef1 m\u00e0u m\u1ee1 v\u00e0 ti\u1ebfp di\u1ec5n c\u1ee7a cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng.<\/p>\n

Khi Hi-Top th\u1ea5t b\u1ea1i h\u1ecd d\u1ecdn v\u1ec1 m\u1ed9t c\u0103n chung c\u01b0 nh\u1ecf \u1edf Riverton b\u00ean tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t ti\u1ec7m gi\u1eb7t. Ennis v\u00e0o \u0111\u1ed9i l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c tr\u00ean xa l\u1ed9, ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u1ef1ng c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c nh\u01b0ng cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n l\u00e0m \u1edf Rafter B \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u1ed5i l\u1ea5y ch\u1ed7 nu\u00f4i ng\u1ef1a c\u1ee7a anh. Con g\u00e1i th\u1ee9 nh\u00ec ra \u0111\u1eddi v\u00e0 Alma mu\u1ed1n \u1edf trong th\u1ecb tr\u1ea5n g\u1ea7n b\u1ec7nh x\u00e1 v\u00ec \u0111\u1ee9a nh\u1ecf b\u1ecb suy\u1ec5n.<\/p>\n

“Ennis, xin anh, \u0111\u1eebng c\u00f3 c\u00e1i tr\u1ea1i \u0111\u01a1n \u0111\u1ed9c m\u1eafc toi n\u00e0o n\u1eefa,” ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i, ng\u1ed3i tr\u00ean g\u1ed1i anh, qu\u00e0ng hai c\u00e1nh tay g\u1ea7y c\u00f3 t\u00e0n nhang quanh ng\u01b0\u1eddi anh. “M\u00ecnh t\u00ecm ch\u1ed7 trong th\u1ecb tr\u1ea5n nghe?”<\/p>\n

“C\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c,” Ennis n\u00f3i, lu\u1ed3n tay l\u00ean tay \u00e1o ch\u1ecb v\u00e0 l\u00f9a l\u00f4ng n\u00e1ch m\u1ecbn, r\u1ed3i \u0111\u1eb7t nh\u1eb9 ch\u1ecb xu\u1ed1ng, ng\u00f3n tay d\u1eddi l\u00ean s\u01b0\u1eddn \u0111\u1ebfn b\u1ed9 ng\u1ef1c m\u1ec1m, qua b\u1ee5ng tr\u00f2n v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea7u g\u1ed1i v\u00e0 v\u00e0o k\u1ebd \u01b0\u1edbt t\u1eadn \u0111\u1ebfn b\u1eafc c\u1ef1c ho\u1eb7c x\u00edch \u0111\u1ea1o t\u00f9y theo b\u1ea1n ngh\u0129 b\u1ea1n \u0111ang l\u01b0\u1edbt s\u00f3ng h\u01b0\u1edbng n\u00e0o, ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi ch\u1ecb r\u00f9ng m\u00ecnh v\u00e0 cong ng\u01b0\u1eddi trong tay anh v\u00e0 anh l\u1eadt ch\u1ecb \u00fap xu\u1ed1ng, l\u00e0m nhanh chuy\u1ec7n ch\u1ecb gh\u00e9t. H\u1ecd \u1edf trong c\u0103n chung c\u01b0 b\u00e9 x\u00edu anh th\u00edch v\u00ec c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 b\u1ecf \u0111i l\u00fac n\u00e0o c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n

M\u00f9a h\u00e8 th\u1ee9 t\u01b0 sau m\u00f9a h\u00e8 \u1edf n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ebfn v\u00e0 th\u00e1ng S\u00e1u Ennis nh\u1eadn l\u00e1 th\u01b0 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u1eef l\u1ea1i cho anh \u1edf b\u01b0u \u0111i\u1ec7n t\u1eeb Jack Twist, d\u1ea5u hi\u1ec7u anh c\u00f2n s\u1ed1ng sau t\u1eebng \u0111\u00f3 th\u1eddi gian.<\/p>\n

B\u1ea1n, th\u01b0 n\u00e0y tr\u1ec5 nhi\u1ec1u r\u1ed3i. Mong m\u00e0y nh\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Nghe n\u00f3i m\u00e0y \u1edf Riverton. S\u1ebd \u0111i ngang ng\u00e0y 24, tao \u0111\u1ecbnh d\u1eebng v\u00e0 mua cho m\u00e0y lon bia. N\u1ebfu \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u00ec g\u1eedi tao v\u00e0i h\u00e0ng, n\u00f3i m\u00e0y c\u00f3 \u1edf \u0111\u00f3 hay kh\u00f4ng.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u0110\u1ecba ch\u1ec9 tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi l\u00e0 Childress, Texas. Ennis vi\u1ebft l\u1ea1i, Ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn r\u1ed3i<\/em>, cho \u0111\u1ecba ch\u1ec9 Riverton.<\/p>\n

H\u00f4m \u0111\u00f3 bu\u1ed5i s\u00e1ng n\u00f3ng, tr\u1eddi trong, nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ebfn tr\u01b0a m\u00e2y \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u00f9n l\u00ean t\u1eeb ph\u00eda t\u00e2y, \u0111\u1ea9y \u0111\u1eb1ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u00fat kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed oi b\u1ee9c. Ennis m\u1eb7c chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o s\u01a1-mi \u0111\u1eb9p nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, m\u00e0u tr\u1eafng v\u1edbi s\u1ecdc \u0111en l\u1edbn, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft l\u00fac n\u00e0o Jack s\u1ebd \u0111\u1ebfn v\u00e0 v\u00ec th\u1ebf \u0111\u00e3 ngh\u1ec9 l\u00e0m c\u1ea3 ng\u00e0y, \u0111i qua \u0111i l\u1ea1i, nh\u00ecn xu\u1ed1ng con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ea1c m\u00e0u b\u1ee5i. Alma n\u00f3i g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3 v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n d\u1eabn b\u1ea1n \u0111\u1ebfn Knife&Fork \u0103n t\u1ed1i thay v\u00ec n\u1ea5u \u0103n n\u1ebfu h\u1ecd ki\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ng\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u1eef tr\u1ebb v\u00ec tr\u1eddi n\u00f3ng qu\u00e1, nh\u01b0ng Ennis n\u00f3i ch\u1eafc anh s\u1ebd \u0111i v\u1edbi Jack v\u00e0 u\u1ed1ng say. Jack kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi th\u00edch \u0103n ti\u1ec7m, anh n\u00f3i, ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn hai c\u00e1i th\u00eca d\u01a1 th\u00f2 ra ngo\u00e0i hai h\u1ed9p \u0111\u1eadu l\u1ea1nh ch\u00f4ng ch\u00eanh tr\u00ean kh\u00fac g\u1ed7.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ec1u t\u1ed1i, s\u1ea5m g\u1ea7m g\u1eeb, chi\u1ebfc pickup m\u00e0u xanh ng\u00e0y x\u01b0a l\u0103n b\u00e1nh \u0111\u1ebfn v\u00e0 anh th\u1ea5y Jack ra kh\u1ecfi xe truck, m\u0169 Resistol c\u0169 m\u00e8m h\u1ea5t ra sau. Ennis b\u1eadt l\u00ean nh\u01b0 b\u1ecb b\u1ecfng v\u00e0 anh ra \u0111\u1ea7u c\u1ea7u thang, k\u00e9o c\u1eeda \u0111\u00f3ng l\u1ea1i sau l\u01b0ng. Jack nh\u1ea3y hai b\u1eadc m\u1ed9t l\u00ean thang. H\u1ecd ch\u1ee5p vai nhau, \u00f4m c\u1ee9ng, si\u1ebft nhau \u0111\u1ebfn ngh\u1eb9t th\u1edf, n\u00f3i, th\u1eb1ng m\u1eafc toi, th\u1eb1ng c\u00e0 ch\u1edbn, r\u1ed3i, d\u1ec5 d\u00e0ng nh\u01b0 chi\u1ebfc ch\u00eca xoay \u0111\u00fang \u1ed5 kho\u00e1, mi\u1ec7ng h\u1ecd nh\u1eadp l\u1ea1i, m\u1ea1nh, r\u0103ng th\u1ecf c\u1ee7a Jack l\u00e0m ch\u1ea3y m\u00e1u, m\u0169 c\u1ee7a anh r\u01a1i xu\u1ed1ng s\u00e0n, h\u00e0ng r\u00e2u l\u1edfm ch\u1edfm ch\u00e0 s\u01b0\u1edbc da, n\u01b0\u1edbc mi\u1ebfng v\u00e3 \u01b0\u1edbt, v\u00e0 c\u00e1nh c\u1eeda m\u1edf ra v\u00e0 Alma nh\u00ecn b\u1edd vai c\u0103ng l\u00ean c\u1ee7a Ennis v\u00e0i gi\u00e2y r\u1ed3i \u0111\u00f3ng c\u1eeda l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 h\u1ecd v\u1eabn c\u00f2n \u00f4m ch\u1eb7t, \u00e1p ng\u1ef1c v\u00e0 h\u00e1ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f9i v\u00e0 ch\u00e2n v\u00e0o nhau, d\u1eabm l\u00ean ng\u00f3n ch\u00e2n nhau cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi h\u1ecd r\u1eddi ra \u0111\u1ec3 th\u1edf v\u00e0 Ennis, kh\u00f4ng th\u00edch nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi \u00e2u y\u1ebfm, n\u00f3i nh\u01b0 anh n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ng\u1ef1a v\u00e0 con g\u00e1i c\u1ee7a anh, c\u01b0ng nh\u1ecf.<\/p>\n

C\u00e1nh c\u1eeda l\u1ea1i m\u1edf ra v\u00e0i ph\u00e2n v\u00e0 Alma \u0111\u1ee9ng trong lu\u1ed3ng s\u00e1ng h\u1eb9p.<\/p>\n

Anh n\u00f3i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u00ec \u0111\u00e2y? “Alma, \u0111\u00e2y l\u00e0 Jack Twist, Jack, v\u1ee3 tao, Alma.” Ng\u1ef1c anh ph\u1eadp ph\u1ed3ng. Anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ng\u1eedi th\u1ea5y Jack–m\u00f9i qu\u00e1 \u0111\u1ed7i quen thu\u1ed9c c\u1ee7a thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1, m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i n\u1ed3ng v\u00e0 ch\u00fat v\u1ecb ng\u1ecdt thoang tho\u1ea3ng nh\u01b0 c\u1ecf, v\u00e0 c\u00e1i l\u1ea1nh c\u1ee7a ng\u1ecdn n\u00fai \u00e0o t\u1edbi c\u00f9ng v\u1edbi n\u00f3. “Alma,” anh n\u00f3i, “Jack v\u00e0 anh kh\u00f4ng g\u1eb7p nhau b\u1ed1n n\u0103m r\u1ed3i.” Nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 l\u00fd do. Anh m\u1eebng v\u00ec \u00e1nh s\u00e1ng \u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u c\u1ea7u thang m\u1edd nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng quay m\u1eb7t \u0111i.<\/p>\n

“Ch\u1eafc r\u1ed3i,” Alma nh\u1ecf gi\u1ecdng. Ch\u1ecb \u0111\u00e3 th\u1ea5y \u0111i\u1ec1u ch\u1ecb th\u1ea5y. Sau l\u01b0ng ch\u1ecb, trong c\u0103n ph\u00f2ng, l\u1eb1n ch\u1edbp chi\u1ebfu s\u00e1ng c\u1eeda s\u1ed5 nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m kh\u0103n tr\u1eafng ph\u1ea5t ph\u01a1 v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ee9a nh\u1ecf kh\u00f3c.<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y c\u00f3 con?” Jack n\u00f3i. B\u00e0n tay run r\u1ea9y c\u1ee7a anh ch\u1ea1m ph\u1edbt qua tay Ennis, lu\u1ed3ng \u0111i\u1ec7n lo\u00e9 l\u00ean gi\u1eefa h\u1ecd.<\/p>\n

“Hai con g\u00e1i,” Ennis n\u00f3i. “Alma Jr. v\u00e0 Francince. Th\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u1ee5i n\u00f3 ch\u1ebft lu\u00f4n.” Mi\u1ec7ng Alma gi\u1eadt gi\u1eadt.<\/p>\n

“Tao c\u00f3 con trai,” Jack n\u00f3i. “T\u00e1m th\u00e1ng. N\u00f3i m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft, tao l\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t c\u00f4 Texas xinh x\u1eafn d\u01b0\u1edbi Childress–Lureen.” T\u1eeb nh\u1ecbp rung c\u1ee7a s\u00e0n g\u1ed7 ch\u1ed7 h\u1ecd \u0111ang \u0111\u1ee9ng, Ennis c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y Jack run \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ed9 n\u00e0o.<\/p>\n

“Alma,” anh n\u00f3i. “Jack v\u00e0 anh ra ngo\u00e0i u\u1ed1ng r\u01b0\u1ee3u. Nh\u1eadu v\u00e0 n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n, kh\u00f4ng ch\u1eebng kh\u00f4ng v\u1ec1 t\u1ed1i nay.”<\/p>\n

“\u0110\u01b0\u1ee3c r\u1ed3i,” Alma n\u00f3i, l\u1ea5y t\u1edd m\u1ed9t \u0111\u00f4 la t\u1eeb t\u00fai \u00e1o. Ennis \u0111o\u00e1n ch\u1ecb s\u1ebd nh\u1edd anh mua bao thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1, t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch mang anh v\u1ec1 s\u1edbm h\u01a1n.<\/p>\n

“M\u1eebng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u1eb7p ch\u1ecb,” Jack n\u00f3i, run nh\u01b0 con ng\u1ef1a ch\u1ea1y h\u1ebft h\u01a1i.<\/p>\n

“Ennis–” Alma n\u00f3i b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng kh\u1ed5 s\u1edf, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m anh xu\u1ed1ng thang ch\u1eadm h\u01a1n v\u00e0 anh n\u00f3i v\u00f3i l\u1ea1i, “Alma, em mu\u1ed1n thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1 th\u00ec c\u00f3 v\u00e0i \u0111i\u1ebfu trong t\u00fai \u00e1o xanh c\u1ee7a anh trong ph\u00f2ng ng\u1ee7.”<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd \u0111i b\u1eb1ng xe truck c\u1ee7a Jack, mua chai whiskey v\u00e0 hai m\u01b0\u01a1i ph\u00fat sau \u1edf trong Motel Siesta nh\u00fan c\u00e1i gi\u01b0\u1eddng. V\u00e0i n\u1eafm m\u01b0a \u0111\u00e1 lanh canh tr\u00ean c\u1eeda k\u00ednh, theo sau l\u00e0 m\u01b0a v\u00e0 gi\u00f3 tr\u1ee3t \u0111\u1eadp c\u00e1nh c\u1eeda kh\u00f4ng c\u00e0i \u1edf ph\u00f2ng b\u00ean c\u1ea1nh t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn su\u1ed1t \u0111\u00eam.<\/p>\n

C\u0103n ph\u00f2ng n\u1ed3ng m\u00f9i tinh d\u1ecbch v\u00e0 thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1 v\u00e0 m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i v\u00e0 whiskey, th\u1ea3m c\u0169 v\u00e0 r\u01a1m chua, da y\u00ean ng\u1ef1a, c\u1ee9t v\u00e0 x\u00e0 b\u00f4ng r\u1ebb ti\u1ec1n. Ennis n\u1eb1m d\u1ea1ng hai ch\u00e2n, c\u1ea1n s\u1ee9c v\u00e0 \u01b0\u1edbt \u0111\u1eabm, th\u1edf s\u00e2u, v\u1eabn n\u1eeda c\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee9ng, Jack th\u1ed5i m\u1ea1nh nh\u1eefng \u0111\u00e1m m\u00e2y thu\u1ed1c l\u00e1 nh\u01b0 c\u00e1 voi x\u1ecbt n\u01b0\u1edbc, v\u00e0 Jack n\u00f3i, “Ch\u00faa \u01a1i, n\u00f3 s\u01b0\u1edbng nh\u01b0 v\u1eady ch\u1eafc v\u00ec m\u00e0y c\u01b0\u1ee1i ng\u1ef1a nhi\u1ec1u. M\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y. Tao th\u1ec1 c\u00f3 ch\u00faa tao kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft m\u00ecnh s\u1ebd nh\u1ea3y v\u00f4 l\u1ea1i chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y–\u1edd, tao bi\u1ebft. L\u00e0 l\u00fd do tao \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y. Tao bi\u1ebft m\u00e0. V\u01b0\u1ee3t \u0111\u00e8n \u0111\u1ecf h\u1ebft qu\u00e3ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee7 nhanh.”<\/p>\n

“Tao kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft m\u00e0y \u1edf ch\u1ed7 qu\u1ef7<\/em> n\u00e0o,” Ennis n\u00f3i. “B\u1ed1n n\u0103m, tao g\u1ea7n b\u1ecf cu\u1ed9c lu\u00f4n. Tao \u0111o\u00e1n m\u00e0y b\u1ef1c v\u00ec c\u00fa \u0111\u1ea5m.”<\/p>\n

“B\u1ea1n,” Jack n\u00f3i, “Tao \u1edf Texas l\u00e0m rodeo. Tao g\u1eb7p Lureen v\u00ec v\u1eady. Nh\u00ecn sang c\u00e1i gh\u1ebf coi.”<\/p>\n

Tr\u00ean l\u01b0ng chi\u1ebfc gh\u1ebf b\u1ea9n m\u00e0u cam anh th\u1ea5y chi\u1ebfc kho\u00e1 l\u01b0ng l\u1ea5p l\u00f3e. “C\u01b0\u1ee1i b\u00f2?”<\/p>\n

“\u1edc. Tao ki\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ba ng\u00e0n \u0111\u00f4 m\u1eafc toi n\u0103m \u0111\u00f3. \u0110\u00f3i th\u1ea5y ti\u00e1. Tr\u1eeb b\u00e0n ch\u1ea3i \u0111\u00e1nh r\u0103ng c\u00f2n c\u00e1i g\u00ec c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i m\u01b0\u1ee3n m\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng kh\u00e1c. L\u00e1i m\u00f2n \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng ngang d\u1ecdc Texas. N\u1eeda th\u1eddi gian l\u00e0 d\u01b0\u1edbi c\u00e1i xe truck qu\u1ef7 \u0111\u1ec3 s\u1eeda n\u00f3. D\u00f9 sao, tao ch\u01b0a t\u1eebng ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn chuy\u1ec7n thua cu\u1ed9c. Lureen h\u1ea3? C\u00f3 nhi\u1ec1u ti\u1ec1n. \u00d4ng gi\u00e0 c\u1ee7a c\u1ed5 c\u00f3. C\u01a1 s\u1edf l\u00e0m \u0103n m\u00e1y m\u00f3c n\u00f4ng nghi\u1ec7p. D\u0129 nhi\u00ean \u1ed5ng kh\u00f4ng cho c\u1ed5 c\u1ea7m ti\u1ec1n, v\u00e0 \u1ed5ng gh\u00e9t tao th\u1ea5u x\u01b0\u01a1ng, b\u1edfi v\u1eady b\u00e2y gi\u1edd kh\u00f3 kh\u0103n nh\u01b0ng m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y g\u1ea7n \u0111\u00e2y–”<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y nh\u1eafm \u0111\u00e2u th\u00ec \u0111i \u0111\u00f3. Qu\u00e2n \u0111\u1ed9i kh\u00f4ng b\u1eaft m\u00e0y h\u1ea3?\u201d Ti\u1ebfng s\u1ea5m v\u1ecdng xa xa ph\u00eda \u0111\u00f4ng, d\u1ea7n xa h\u01a1n theo nh\u1eefng v\u00f2ng s\u00e1ng \u0111\u1ecf.<\/p>\n

“H\u1ecd x\u00e0i tao kh\u00f4ng n\u1ed5i. M\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ed1t x\u01b0\u01a1ng s\u1ed1ng b\u1ecb b\u1eb9p n\u00e1t. V\u00e0 n\u1ee9t ch\u1ea5n th\u01b0\u01a1ng, x\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u00e1nh tay ch\u1ed7 n\u00e0y, m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft khi c\u01b0\u1ee1i b\u00f2 m\u00ecnh lu\u00f4n lu\u00f4n gi\u01a1 ngang \u0111\u00f9i?–n\u00f3 r\u1ea1n m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n m\u00e0y c\u01b0\u1ee1i. D\u00f9 m\u00e0y b\u00f3 v\u1ea3i k\u1ef9 m\u00e0y v\u1eabn l\u00e0m n\u00f3 n\u1ee9t ra m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat. N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, sau \u0111\u00f3 nh\u1ee9c nh\u01b0 qu\u1ef7. C\u00f3 l\u1ea7n ch\u00e2n g\u00e3y. Ba ch\u1ed7. T\u1eeb con b\u00f2 v\u0103ng xu\u1ed1ng, n\u00f3 b\u1ef1 v\u00e0 nh\u1ea3y cao, n\u00f3 h\u1ea5t tao v\u0103ng sau ba gi\u00e2y \u0111\u00fang v\u00e0 n\u00f3 r\u01b0\u1ee3t tao v\u00e0 n\u00f3 ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn nhanh h\u01a1n. C\u0169ng c\u00f2n h\u00ean. B\u1ea1n tao b\u1ecb th\u1eed d\u1ea7u v\u1edbi c\u00e2y nh\u00fang l\u00e0 c\u00e1i s\u1eebng v\u00e0 th\u1ebf l\u00e0 xong \u0111\u1eddi. M\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed1ng nh\u1eefng th\u1ee9 kh\u00e1c, x\u01b0\u01a1ng s\u01b0\u1eddn g\u00e3y, tr\u1eb7c g\u00e2n v\u00e0 \u0111au, g\u00e2n r\u00e1ch. Coi, \u0111\u00e2u ph\u1ea3i nh\u01b0 th\u1eddi ba tao. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd l\u00e0 m\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng c\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n h\u1ecdc \u0111\u1ea1i h\u1ecdc, d\u00e2n th\u1ec3 th\u00e1o gia c\u00f3 hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd m\u00e0y ph\u1ea3i c\u00f3 ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m rodeo. \u00d4ng gi\u00e0 Lureen s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng cho tao m\u1ed9t xu n\u1ebfu tao b\u1ecf cu\u1ed9c, tr\u1eeb phi tao b\u1ecf cu\u1ed9c chuy\u1ec7n kh\u00e1c. V\u00e0 b\u00e2y gi\u1edd tao bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ee7 v\u1ec1 tr\u00f2 ch\u01a1i n\u00ean tao th\u1ea5y tao s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd kh\u00e1. M\u1ea5y l\u00fd do kh\u00e1c n\u1eefa. Tao chu\u1ed3n l\u00fac tao c\u00f2n \u0111i n\u1ed5i.”<\/p>\n

Ennis k\u00e9o tay Jack \u0111\u1ebfn mi\u1ec7ng, r\u00edt m\u1ed9t h\u01a1i thu\u1ed1c, th\u1edf ra. “Tao th\u1ea5y m\u00e0y c\u00f2n nguy\u00ean v\u1eb9n ch\u1edb c\u00f3 sao \u0111\u00e2u. M\u00e0y bi\u1ebft kh\u00f4ng, tao ng\u1ed3i \u0111\u00e2y n\u00e3y gi\u1edd r\u00e1ng ngh\u0129 coi tao c\u00f3 ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0–? Tao bi\u1ebft tao kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i. \u00dd tao l\u00e0, c\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u1ee9a m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 v\u1ee3 con, \u0111\u00fang kh\u00f4ng? Tao th\u00edch l\u00e0m v\u1edbi ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef, th\u1eadt \u0111\u00f3, nh\u01b0ng ch\u00faa \u01a1i, kh\u00f4ng gi\u1ed1ng v\u1ea7y ch\u00fat n\u00e0o. Tao ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn chuy\u1ec7n l\u00e0m v\u1edbi th\u1eb1ng n\u00e0o kh\u00e1c nh\u01b0ng tao ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn \u0111\u00e3 v\u1eaft n\u00f3 tr\u0103m l\u1ea7n trong khi ngh\u0129 t\u1edbi m\u00e0y. M\u00e0y c\u00f3 l\u00e0m v\u1edbi m\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng kh\u00e1c kh\u00f4ng, Jack?”<\/p>\n

“Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u00e2u,” Jack n\u00f3i, d\u00f9 anh \u0111\u00e3 c\u01b0\u1ee1i th\u1ee9 kh\u00e1c ngo\u00e0i b\u00f2 \u0111\u1ef1c, kh\u00f4ng ch\u01a1i m\u1ed9t m\u00ecnh. “M\u00e0y bi\u1ebft m\u00e0. O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng n\u1eafm t\u1ee5i m\u00ecnh trong tay v\u00e0 r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng chuy\u1ec7n ch\u01b0a xong. M\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i t\u00ednh coi gi\u1edd m\u00ecnh l\u00e0m qu\u1ef7 g\u00ec \u0111\u00e2y.”<\/p>\n

“M\u00f9a h\u00e8 \u0111\u00f3,” Ennis n\u00f3i. “L\u00fac m\u00ecnh chia tay sau khi m\u00ecnh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ea3 ti\u1ec1n tao b\u1ecb th\u1eaft ru\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1ed7i tao ph\u1ea3i t\u1ea5p v\u00e0o r\u00e1ng m\u1eeda ra, tao ngh\u0129 tao \u0103n c\u00e1i g\u00ec h\u01b0 \u1edf c\u00e1i ch\u1ed7 \u1edf Dubois. M\u1ea5t g\u1ea7n m\u1ed9t n\u0103m tao m\u1edbi \u0111o\u00e1n ra tao kh\u00f4ng n\u00ean \u0111\u1ec3 m\u00e0y bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t. L\u00fac \u0111\u00f3 tr\u1ec5 qu\u00e1 c\u1ee1 r\u1ed3i.”<\/p>\n

“B\u1ea1n,” Jack n\u00f3i. “M\u00ecnh c\u00f3 t\u00ecnh hu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u00e2y. Ph\u1ea3i t\u00ednh coi m\u00ecnh l\u00e0m g\u00ec.”<\/p>\n

“Tao nghi m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u00ec,” Ennis n\u00f3i. “\u00dd tao l\u00e0, Jack, m\u1ea5y n\u0103m qua tao \u0111\u00e3 vun qu\u00e9n cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng. Th\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee9a con tao. Alma h\u1ea3? Kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u1ed7i c\u1ee7a c\u1ed5. M\u00e0y c\u00f3 con v\u00e0 v\u1ee3, ch\u1ed7 b\u00ean Texas. Tao v\u1edbi m\u00e0y, v\u1edbi nhau, kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00e0ng ho\u00e0ng n\u1ebfu chuy\u1ec7n x\u1ea3y ra h\u1ed3i n\u00e3y”–anh h\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ea7u v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda c\u0103n chung c\u01b0–“t\u00fam l\u1ea5y m\u00ecnh nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. M\u00ecnh l\u00e0m v\u1eady kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u00fang ch\u1ed7 l\u00e0 m\u00ecnh ch\u1ebft. C\u00e1i n\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 gi\u00e2y c\u01b0\u01a1ng. L\u00e0m tao s\u1ee3 mu\u1ed1n ti\u1ec3u ra qu\u1ea7n.”<\/p>\n

“Tao ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i cho m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft, b\u1ed3 t\u00e8o, m\u00f9a h\u00e8 \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y m\u00ecnh. Tao tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i th\u00e1ng S\u00e1u n\u0103m sau, ngh\u0129 t\u1edbi chuy\u1ec7n l\u00e0m l\u1ea1i–tao kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m l\u1ea1i, m\u00e0 v\u00f9 \u0111i Texas–Joe Aguirre \u1edf trong v\u0103n ph\u00f2ng v\u00e0 h\u1eafn n\u00f3i v\u1edbi tao, h\u1eafn n\u00f3i, ‘T\u1ee5i bay ki\u1ebfm ra c\u00e1ch qua th\u1eddi gi\u1edd tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3, ha?’ v\u00e0 tao g\u1eddm g\u1eddm nh\u01b0ng l\u00fac tao \u0111i ra tao th\u1ea5y h\u1eafn c\u00f3 \u1ed1ng nh\u00f2m b\u1ef1 t\u1ed5 ch\u1ea3ng treo l\u1ee7ng l\u1eb3ng \u1edf k\u00ednh chi\u1ebfu h\u1eadu.” Anh b\u1ecf b\u1edbt kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i r\u1eb1ng t\u00ean cai \u0111\u00e3 ng\u1ea3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u1ef1a v\u00e0o chi\u1ebfc gh\u1ebf d\u1ef1a g\u1ed7 c\u00f3t k\u00e9t, n\u00f3i, Twist, t\u1ee5i bay kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ea3 ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ec3 t\u1ee5i bay h\u00e1i hoa v\u00e0 m\u1eb7c l\u0169 ch\u00f3 canh ch\u1eebng b\u1ea7y c\u1eebu, v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu m\u01b0\u1edbn anh l\u1ea1i. Anh ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c, “\u1edc, tao kh\u00f4ng ng\u1edd t\u1edbi c\u00fa \u0111\u1ea5m c\u1ee7a m\u00e0y. Tao ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd ngh\u0129 m\u00e0y s\u1ebd \u0111\u00e1nh l\u00e9n.”<\/p>\n

“Tao l\u1edbn l\u00ean v\u1edbi anh tao K.E., h\u01a1n tao ba tu\u1ed5i, ng\u00e0y n\u00e0o c\u0169ng \u0111\u1eadp tao kh\u00f9ng lu\u00f4n. Ba tao ch\u00e1n c\u1ea3nh tao la kh\u00f3c trong nh\u00e0 v\u00e0 khi tao kho\u1ea3ng s\u00e1u tu\u1ed5i \u1ed5ng \u0111\u1eb7t tao ng\u1ed3i xu\u1ed1ng v\u00e0 n\u00f3i, Ennis, m\u00e0y c\u00f3 v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 v\u00e0 m\u00e0y ph\u1ea3i gi\u1ea3i quy\u1ebft, n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3 s\u1ebd c\u00f2n \u0111\u00f3 cho \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac m\u00e0y ch\u00edn m\u01b0\u01a1i v\u00e0 K.E. ch\u00edn m\u01b0\u01a1i ba. Tao n\u00f3i, \u1ea3nh b\u1ef1 con h\u01a1n. Ba tao b\u1ea3o, m\u00e0y ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0m n\u00f3 b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd, \u0111\u1eebng n\u00f3i g\u00ec v\u1edbi n\u00f3, l\u00e0m cho n\u00f3 \u0111au, r\u00fat l\u1eb9 v\u00e0 l\u00e0m v\u1eady ho\u00e0i cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi n\u00f3 hi\u1ec3u. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec l\u00e0m ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta nghe r\u00f5 h\u01a1n l\u00e0 l\u00e0m cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta \u0111au. Th\u1ebf l\u00e0 tao l\u00e0m v\u1eady. Tao u\u00fdnh \u1ea3nh trong c\u1ea7u ti\u00eau, nh\u00e0o v\u00f4 \u1ea3nh tr\u00ean c\u1ea7u thang, qua b\u00ean g\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a \u1ea3nh l\u00fac \u1ea3nh \u0111ang ng\u1ee7 ban \u0111\u00eam v\u00e0 \u0111\u1eadp \u1ea3nh thi\u1ec7t d\u1eef. M\u1ea5t hai ng\u00e0y. T\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd c\u00f3 l\u1ed9n x\u1ed9n v\u1edbi K.E. n\u1eefa. B\u00e0i h\u1ecdc l\u00e0, \u0111\u1eebng n\u00f3i g\u00ec v\u00e0 l\u00e0m cho l\u1eb9.” \u0110i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i reo trong ph\u00f2ng b\u00ean c\u1ea1nh, reo v\u00e0 reo, ng\u1eebng \u0111\u1ed9t ng\u1ed9t gi\u1eefa h\u1ed3i chu\u00f4ng.<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng b\u1eaft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tao l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa \u0111\u00e2u,” Jack n\u00f3i. “Nghe n\u00e8. Tao \u0111ang ngh\u0129, n\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, n\u1ebfu tao v\u00e0 m\u00e0y c\u00f3 c\u00e1i tr\u1ea1i nh\u1ecf, ch\u0103n nu\u00f4i b\u00f2 b\u00ea, ng\u1ef1a c\u1ee7a m\u00e0y, s\u1ed1ng v\u1eady s\u01b0\u1edbng. Tao c\u00f3 n\u00f3i, tao s\u1ebd b\u1ecf rodeo. Tao kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i th\u1eb1ng c\u01b0\u1ee1i ch\u00e1y t\u00fai nh\u01b0ng tao kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee7 ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ee3i cho qua l\u1ea7n tu\u1ed9t d\u1ed1c n\u00e0y v\u00e0 tao kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee7 x\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ec3 b\u1ecb g\u00e3y ho\u00e0i. Tao t\u00ednh xong xu\u00f4i r\u1ed3i, c\u00f3 k\u1ebf ho\u1ea1ch, Ennis, m\u00ecnh s\u1ebd l\u00e0m th\u1ebf n\u00e0o th\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, tao v\u1edbi m\u00e0y. \u00d4ng gi\u00e0 c\u1ee7a Lureen, d\u00e1m c\u00e1 \u1ed5ng s\u1ebd cho tao m\u1ed9t m\u1edb n\u1ebfu tao bi\u1ebfn. \u0110\u00e3 n\u00f3i g\u1ea7n g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 v\u1eady–”<\/p>\n

“\u00ca, \u00ea, \u00ea. Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00e2u. Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Tao b\u1ecb k\u1eb9t chuy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a tao, k\u1eb9t trong v\u00f2ng th\u1eaft c\u1ee7a ch\u00ednh m\u00ecnh. Kh\u00f4ng ra \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Jack, tao kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 m\u1ea5y ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng m\u00ecnh \u0111\u00f4i khi g\u1eb7p. V\u00e0 tao kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n ch\u1ebft. D\u01b0\u1edbi ch\u1ed7 g\u1ea7n nh\u00e0 tao tr\u01b0\u1edbc c\u00f3 hai \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 l\u00e0m tr\u1ea1i chung, Earl v\u00e0 Rich–ba tao hay n\u00f3i n\u00e0y kia khi g\u1eb7p h\u1ecd. H\u1ecd l\u00e0 tr\u00f2 c\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00f9 h\u1ecd l\u00e0 m\u1ea5y tay kh\u00e1 d\u1eef d\u1ed9i. Tao \u0111\u00e2u \u0111\u00f3 ch\u00edn tu\u1ed5i l\u00fac ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta t\u00ecm th\u1ea5y Earl ch\u1ebft trong r\u00e3nh n\u01b0\u1edbc. T\u1ee5i n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e1nh \u1ed5ng b\u1eb1ng g\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe, \u0111\u00e1 \u1ed5ng b\u1eb1ng \u0111inh th\u00fac ng\u1ef1a, k\u00e9o l\u00ea \u1ed5ng v\u00f2ng quanh b\u1eb1ng con cu cho t\u1edbi khi n\u00f3 r\u1edbt ra, m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed1ng b\u1ea7y nh\u1ea7y m\u00e1u me. G\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe l\u00e0m ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1ed5ng nh\u01b0 d\u00ednh c\u00e0 chua ch\u00e1y c\u00f9ng kh\u1eafp, m\u0169i g\u00e3y v\u00ec l\u1ebft tr\u00ean s\u1ecfi.”<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y th\u1ea5y h\u1ea3?”<\/p>\n

“Ba tao mu\u1ed1n ch\u1eafc \u0103n l\u00e0 tao s\u1ebd th\u1ea5y. Mang tao t\u1edbi coi. Tao v\u00e0 K.E.. Ba tao c\u01b0\u1eddi. Qu\u1ef7 s\u1ee9, kh\u00f4ng ch\u1eebng d\u00e1m l\u00e0 \u1ed5ng l\u00e0m ch\u1edb ai. N\u1ebfu \u1ed5ng c\u00f2n s\u1ed1ng v\u00e0 th\u00f2 \u0111\u1ea7u v\u00e0o c\u1eeda ngay b\u00e2y gi\u1edd m\u00e0y c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ch\u1eafc \u0103n \u1ed5ng s\u1ebd \u0111i l\u1ea5y g\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe. Hai th\u1eb1ng s\u1ed1ng chung? Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. C\u00f9ng l\u1eafm l\u00e0 th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng m\u00ecnh g\u1eb7p nhau xa xa \u0111\u00e2u ch\u1ed7 kh\u1ec9 ho c\u00f2 g\u00e1y–”<\/p>\n

“Bao l\u00e2u l\u00e0 th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng?” Jack n\u00f3i. “Th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng m\u1ed7i b\u1ed1n n\u0103m m\u1eafc toi?”<\/p>\n

“Kh\u00f4ng,” Ennis n\u00f3i, nh\u1ecbn kh\u00f4ng h\u1ecfi \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 l\u1ed7i c\u1ee7a ai. “Tao ch\u00faa gh\u00e9t th\u1ea5y m\u00e0y l\u00e1i \u0111i s\u00e1ng mai v\u00e0 tao tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c. Nh\u01b0ng n\u1ebfu m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u00ec m\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ecbu,” anh n\u00f3i. “Kh\u1ec9. Tao t\u1eebng nh\u00ecn ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng. C\u00e1i n\u00e0y c\u00f3 x\u1ea3y ra cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00e1c kh\u00f4ng? R\u1ed3i h\u1ecd s\u1ebd l\u00e0m g\u00ec?”<\/p>\n

“Chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng x\u1ea3y ra \u1edf Wyoming v\u00e0 n\u1ebfu c\u00f3 th\u00ec tao kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft h\u1ecd l\u00e0m g\u00ec, c\u00f3 l\u1ebd \u0111i Denver,” Jack n\u00f3i, ng\u1ed3i d\u1eady, quay m\u1eb7t \u0111i, “v\u00e0 tao c\u00f3c c\u1ea7n bi\u1ebft. Ennis, th\u1eb1ng m\u1eafc d\u1ecbch, ngh\u1ec9 m\u1ed9t hai ng\u00e0y \u0111i. Ngay b\u00e2y gi\u1edd. M\u00ecnh \u0111i kh\u1ecfi \u0111\u00e2y. Qu\u0103ng \u0111\u1ed3 c\u1ee7a m\u00e0y l\u00ean sau xe truck c\u1ee7a tao r\u1ed3i m\u00ecnh l\u00ean n\u00fai. M\u1ed9t hai ng\u00e0y. G\u1ecdi Alma v\u00e0 n\u00f3i v\u1edbi c\u1ed5 m\u00e0y \u0111i. Nghe, Ennis, m\u00e0y m\u1edbi b\u1eafn r\u1edbt chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y bay \u01b0\u1edbc v\u1ecdng c\u1ee7a tao–cho tao c\u00e1i g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3 coi. Chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i chuy\u1ec7n nh\u1ecf.”<\/p>\n

Ti\u1ebfng chu\u00f4ng \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i ngh\u00e8n ngh\u1eb9t l\u1ea1i b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u trong ph\u00f2ng b\u00ean c\u1ea1nh, v\u00e0 nh\u01b0 \u0111\u1ec3 tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi, Ennis nh\u1ea5c \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i tr\u00ean b\u00e0n c\u1ea1nh gi\u01b0\u1eddng, quay s\u1ed1 c\u1ee7a ch\u00ednh m\u00ecnh.<\/p>\n

S\u1ef1 m\u00f2n ru\u1ed7ng d\u1ea7n d\u00e0 lan ra gi\u1eefa Ennis v\u00e0 Alma, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 g\u00ec r\u00f5 r\u1ec7t, ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 d\u00f2ng n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111ang l\u1edbn d\u1ea7n. Ch\u1ecb l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c thu ti\u1ec1n \u1edf ch\u1ee3, th\u1ea5y r\u1eb1ng v\u1edbi s\u1ed1 ti\u1ec1n Ennis ki\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ecb s\u1ebd ph\u1ea3i lu\u00f4n lu\u00f4n l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u1ee7 ti\u1ec1n ti\u00eau. Alma y\u00eau c\u1ea7u Ennis d\u00f9ng t\u00fai ng\u1eeba thai v\u00ec ch\u1ecb s\u1ee3 c\u00f3 thai l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa. Anh kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu, n\u00f3i anh s\u1eb5n s\u00e0ng \u0111\u1ec3 ch\u1ecb y\u00ean n\u1ebfu ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n c\u00f3 con v\u1edbi anh n\u1eefa. Ch\u1ecb l\u1ea7m b\u1ea7m, “Em s\u1ebd c\u00f3 n\u1ebfu anh lo \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cho ch\u00fang.” V\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i ra, ngh\u0129, d\u00f9 sao \u0111i n\u1eefa, c\u00e1i anh th\u00edch l\u00e0m \u0111\u00e2u c\u00f3 t\u1ea1o ra nhi\u1ec1u tr\u1ebb con.<\/p>\n

N\u1ed7i t\u1ee9c t\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb m\u1ed7i n\u0103m m\u1ed7i to\u00e1c ra m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat: v\u00f2ng tay \u00f4m ch\u1ecb \u0111\u00e3 tho\u00e1ng nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y, Ennis \u0111i c\u00e2u c\u00e1 m\u1ed9t hai l\u1ea7n m\u1ed7i n\u0103m v\u1edbi Jack Twist v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd \u0111i ngh\u1ec9 v\u1edbi ch\u1ecb v\u00e0 hai con g\u00e1i, anh kh\u00f4ng th\u00edch \u0111i ra ngo\u00e0i ch\u01a1i, khao kh\u00e1t l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i l\u01b0\u01a1ng th\u1ea5p, nhi\u1ec1u gi\u1edd, th\u01b0\u1eddng l\u0103n v\u00e0o c\u1ea1nh t\u01b0\u1eddng v\u00e0 ng\u1ee7 ngay sau khi n\u1eb1m xu\u1ed1ng, kh\u00f4ng ki\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vi\u1ec7c l\u00e0m l\u00e2u d\u00e0i l\u01b0\u01a1ng kh\u00e1 v\u1edbi ch\u00ednh quy\u1ec1n h\u1ea1t hay c\u00f4ng ty \u0111i\u1ec7n, \u0111\u1ea9y ch\u1ecb v\u00e0o c\u00e1i ng\u00e3 ch\u1eadm xu\u1ed1ng kho\u1ea3ng s\u00e2u, v\u00e0 khi Alma Jr. ch\u00edn tu\u1ed5i v\u00e0 Francine b\u1ea3y tu\u1ed5i ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i, m\u00ecnh l\u1ea9n qu\u1ea9n b\u00ean anh ta l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u00e2y, ly d\u1ecb Ennis v\u00e0 l\u1ea5y ch\u1ee7 ch\u1ee3 Riverton.<\/p>\n

Ennis tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i, l\u00e0m thu\u00ea \u0111\u00e2y \u0111\u00f3, kh\u00f4ng kh\u00e1 h\u01a1n nh\u01b0ng vui v\u1ebb v\u00ec l\u1ea1i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c quanh qu\u1ea9n gia s\u00fac, t\u1ef1 do b\u1ecf vi\u1ec7c, ngh\u1ec9 lu\u00f4n n\u1ebfu c\u1ea7n, v\u00e0 \u0111i v\u00e0o n\u00fai kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n b\u00e1o tr\u01b0\u1edbc. Anh kh\u00f4ng c\u0103m gi\u1eadn, ch\u1ec9 m\u01a1 h\u1ed3 c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y thi\u1ec7t th\u00f2i, v\u00e0 mu\u1ed1n t\u1ecf ra m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n kh\u00f4ng sao, \u0103n b\u1eefa t\u1ed1i l\u1ec5 T\u1ea1 \u01a0n v\u1edbi Alma v\u00e0 ch\u1ee7 ch\u1ee3 v\u00e0 b\u1ecdn tr\u1ebb, ng\u1ed3i gi\u1eefa hai c\u00f4 con g\u00e1i v\u00e0 n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n ng\u1ef1a v\u1edbi ch\u00fang, k\u1ec3 chuy\u1ec7n c\u01b0\u1eddi, g\u1eafng kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi cha \u1ee7 \u00ea. Sau ph\u1ea7n b\u00e1nh n\u01b0\u1edbng tr\u00e1ng mi\u1ec7ng Alma g\u1ecdi anh v\u00e0o b\u1ebfp, v\u1eeba g\u1ea1t th\u1ee9c \u0103n v\u1ee5n ra kh\u1ecfi \u0111\u0129a v\u1eeba n\u00f3i ch\u1ecb lo l\u1eafng cho anh v\u00e0 anh n\u00ean th\u00e0nh h\u00f4n l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa. Anh th\u1ea5y ch\u1ecb c\u00f3 thai, anh \u0111o\u00e1n kho\u1ea3ng b\u1ed1n, n\u0103m th\u00e1ng.<\/p>\n

“\u0110\u00e3 b\u1ecb b\u1ecfng m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n,” anh n\u00f3i, d\u1ef1a ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0o qu\u1ea7y b\u1ebfp, c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y th\u00e2n th\u1ec3 m\u00ecnh qu\u00e1 l\u1edbn so v\u1edbi c\u0103n ph\u00f2ng.<\/p>\n

“Anh v\u1eabn \u0111i c\u00e2u c\u00e1 v\u1edbi Jack Twist?”<\/p>\n

“Ch\u00fat ch\u00fat.” Anh ngh\u0129 ch\u1ecb s\u1ebd c\u00e0o m\u1ea5t hoa v\u1ebd tr\u00ean \u0111\u0129a.<\/p>\n

“Anh bi\u1ebft kh\u00f4ng,” ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i, v\u00e0 nghe gi\u1ecdng ch\u1ecb anh bi\u1ebft s\u1eafp c\u00f3 chuy\u1ec7n, “em v\u1eabn th\u1eafc m\u1eafc t\u1ea1i sao anh kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd mang con c\u00e1 n\u00e0o v\u1ec1 nh\u00e0. Anh lu\u00f4n n\u00f3i anh b\u1eaft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nhi\u1ec1u l\u1eafm. B\u1edfi v\u1eady \u0111\u00eam tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ed9t trong m\u1ea5y chuy\u1ebfn \u0111i c\u1ee7a anh em m\u1edf th\u00f9ng c\u00e2u c\u1ee7a anh\u2014n\u0103m n\u0103m r\u1ed3i m\u00e0 gi\u00e1 ti\u1ec1n v\u1eabn c\u00f2n tr\u00ean th\u00f9ng–v\u00e0 em c\u1ed9t m\u1ed9t m\u1ea3nh gi\u1ea5y v\u00e0o \u0111\u1ea7u s\u1ee3i d\u00e2y c\u00e2u. N\u00f3 ghi, ch\u00e0o Ennis, mang v\u00e0i con c\u00e1 v\u1ec1, th\u01b0\u01a1ng, Alma. V\u00e0 r\u1ed3i anh tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 n\u00f3i anh b\u1eaft m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed1ng c\u00e1 n\u00e2u v\u00e0 \u0103n h\u1ebft. Anh nh\u1edb kh\u00f4ng? Khi c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp em nh\u00ecn v\u00e0o th\u00f9ng v\u00e0 m\u1ea9u gi\u1ea5y c\u1ee7a em v\u1eabn c\u00f2n c\u1ed9t \u1edf ch\u1ed7 c\u0169 v\u00e0 s\u1ee3i d\u00e2y \u0111\u00f3 ch\u01b0a \u0111\u1ee5ng n\u01b0\u1edbc bao gi\u1edd.” Nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 ch\u1eef “n\u01b0\u1edbc” \u0111\u00e3 g\u1ecdi t\u00ean b\u00e0 con trong nh\u00e0 c\u1ee7a n\u00f3, ch\u1ecb v\u1eb7n v\u00f2i n\u01b0\u1edbc, tr\u00e1ng \u0111\u0129a.<\/p>\n

“C\u00e1i \u0111\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a g\u00ec.”<\/p>\n

“\u0110\u1eebng x\u1ea1o, \u0111\u1eebng t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch l\u1eeba em, Ennis. Em bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a g\u00ec. Jack Twist h\u1ea3? Jack T\u1edfm. Anh v\u00e0 h\u1eafn–”<\/p>\n

Ch\u1ecb \u0111\u00e3 v\u01b0\u1ee3t qu\u00e1 gi\u1edbi h\u1ea1n c\u1ee7a anh. Anh ch\u1ee5p c\u1ed5 tay ch\u1ecb; l\u1ec7 \u1ee9a ra v\u00e0 l\u0103n xu\u1ed1ng, m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i \u0111\u0129a lo\u1ea3ng cho\u1ea3ng.<\/p>\n

“Im \u0111i,” anh n\u00f3i. “Lo chuy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a em \u0111i. Em kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft g\u00ec h\u1ebft.”<\/p>\n

“Em s\u1ebd h\u00e9t g\u1ecdi Bill.”<\/p>\n

“Em l\u00e0m \u0111i. La h\u00e9t n\u1eefa \u0111i. Anh s\u1ebd cho n\u00f3 \u0111o v\u00e1n, em c\u0169ng v\u1eady.” Anh v\u1eb7n tay ch\u1ecb th\u00eam l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa, \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i l\u1eb1n r\u00e1t b\u1ecfng quanh c\u1ed5 tay, ch\u1ee5p ng\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u0169 l\u00ean \u0111\u1ea7u, \u0111i ra v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f3ng s\u1eadp c\u1eeda. Anh \u0111\u1ebfn qu\u00e1n r\u01b0\u1ee3u Black And Blue Eagle t\u1ed1i \u0111\u00f3, u\u1ed1ng say, \u1ea9u \u0111\u1ea3 r\u1ed3i b\u1ecf \u0111i. Anh kh\u00f4ng t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch g\u1eb7p hai con g\u00e1i m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian d\u00e0i, \u0111o\u00e1n r\u1eb1ng ch\u00fang s\u1ebd t\u00ecm anh khi ch\u00fang n\u00f3 bi\u1ebft chuy\u1ec7n v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ee7 tu\u1ed5i \u0111\u1ec3 r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi nh\u00e0 Alma.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n l\u00e0 nh\u1eefng ch\u00e0ng tr\u1ebb tu\u1ed5i v\u1edbi t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eb7t. Jack m\u1eadp ra \u1edf vai v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f9i, Ennis v\u1eabn g\u1ea7y nh\u01b0 c\u00e2y c\u1ed9t treo qu\u1ea7n \u00e1o, h\u00e8 c\u0169ng nh\u01b0 \u0111\u00f4ng \u0111i \u0111\u00f4i \u1ee7ng m\u00f2n, m\u1eb7c qu\u1ea7n jean v\u00e0 \u00e1o s\u01a1 mi, th\u00eam \u00e1o kho\u00e1c v\u1ea3i b\u1ed1 khi tr\u1eddi l\u1ea1nh. M\u1ed9t c\u1ee5c th\u1ecbt l\u00e0nh m\u1ecdc tr\u00ean m\u00ed m\u1eaft anh l\u00e0m n\u00f3 tr\u00f4ng s\u1ee5p su\u1ed1ng, c\u00e1i m\u0169i b\u1ecb g\u1eaby khi l\u00e0nh l\u1ec7ch qua m\u1ed9t b\u00ean.<\/p>\n

N\u0103m n\u00e0y qua n\u0103m kh\u00e1c, h\u1ecd l\u1ea7n \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng qua nh\u1eefng \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf cao v\u00e0 khe n\u00fai, \u0111i ng\u1ef1a v\u00e0o Big Horns, Medicine Bows, c\u1ef1c nam c\u1ee7a Gallatins, Absarokas, Granites, Owl Creeks, r\u1eb7ng Bridger-Teton, Freezeouts v\u00e0 Shirleys, Ferrises v\u00e0 Rattlesnakes, r\u1eb7ng S\u00f4ng Salt, v\u00e0o S\u00f4ng Wind nhi\u1ec1u l\u1ea7n, Sierra Madres, Gros Ventres, Washakies, Laramies, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng.<\/p>\n

D\u01b0\u1edbi Texas ba v\u1ee3 c\u1ee7a Jack ch\u1ebft v\u00e0 Lureen th\u1eeba h\u01b0\u1edfng c\u01a1 s\u1edf n\u00f4ng c\u1ee5, t\u1ecf ra c\u00f3 t\u00e0i qu\u1ea3n l\u00fd v\u00e0 th\u01b0\u01a1ng l\u01b0\u1ee3ng. Jack th\u1ea5y m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t ch\u1ee9c danh qu\u1ea3n l\u00fd m\u01a1 h\u1ed3, \u0111i d\u1ef1 nh\u1eefng bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0ng b\u00e0y m\u00e1y m\u00f3c n\u00f4ng nghi\u1ec7p v\u00e0 gia s\u00fac. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd anh c\u00f3 ch\u00fat ti\u1ec1n v\u00e0 t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch ti\u00eau trong nh\u1eefng chuy\u1ebfn mua h\u00e0ng. Ch\u00fat gi\u1ecdng Texas l\u1eabn v\u00e0o c\u00e2u n\u00f3i c\u1ee7a anh, “b\u00f2” v\u1eb7n th\u00e0nh “bo\u00f2” v\u00e0 “v\u1ee3” n\u00f3i th\u00e0nh “dz\u1ee3.” Anh \u0111i m\u00e0i v\u00e0 b\u1ecbt m\u1ea5y r\u0103ng c\u1eeda, n\u00f3i anh kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y \u0111au, v\u00e0 ho\u00e0n t\u1ea5t b\u1eb1ng c\u00e1ch \u0111\u1ec3 b\u1ed9 r\u00e2u m\u00e9p r\u1eadm.<\/p>\n

Th\u00e1ng n\u0103m 1983 h\u1ecd tr\u1ea3i qua v\u00e0i ng\u00e0y l\u1ea1nh l\u1ebdo tr\u00ean v\u00f9ng cao \u1edf m\u1ed9t chu\u1ed7i h\u1ed3 nh\u1ecf v\u00f4 danh tuy\u1ebft ph\u1ee7, r\u1ed3i v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua khe s\u00f4ng Hail Strew.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u01b0\u1eddng l\u00ean, ng\u00e0y t\u1ed1t tr\u1eddi nh\u01b0ng con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng ng\u1eadp tuy\u1ebft v\u00e0 \u01b0\u1edbt nh\u1eb9p b\u00ean l\u1ec1. H\u1ecd b\u1ecf n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 v\u00f2ng v\u00e8o qua m\u1ed9t v\u00f9ng c\u00e2y m\u1edbi \u0111\u1ed1n, d\u1eabn m\u1ea5y con ng\u1ef1a qua nh\u1eefng c\u00e0nh c\u00e2y gi\u00f2n. Jack, v\u1eabn chi\u1ebfc l\u00f4ng chim \u01b0ng tr\u00ean chi\u1ebfc m\u0169 x\u01b0a, ng\u1ea9ng \u0111\u1ea7u trong bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0a n\u00f3ng \u0111\u1ec3 h\u00edt kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed th\u01a1m m\u00f9i nh\u1ef1a th\u00f4ng, l\u00e1 th\u00f4ng kh\u00f4 m\u1ee5c v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e1 n\u00f3ng, d\u00e2u th\u00f4ng \u0111\u1eafng v\u1ee1 n\u00e1t d\u01b0\u1edbi v\u00f3 ng\u1ef1a. Ennis, quen nh\u00ecn th\u1eddi ti\u1ebft, nh\u00ecn v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda t\u00e2y t\u00ecm \u0111\u00e1m m\u00e2y \u0111\u00f9n c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 t\u1ee5 l\u1ea1i trong m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y nh\u01b0 v\u1eady, nh\u01b0ng Jack n\u00f3i, m\u00e0u xanh kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u00e1y, nh\u00ecn l\u00ean anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ch\u1ebft \u0111u\u1ed1i.<\/p>\n

Kho\u1ea3ng ba gi\u1edd h\u1ecd v\u00f2ng qua \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u00e8o h\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebfn tri\u1ec1n n\u00fai \u0111\u00f4ng nam c\u00f3 n\u1eafng m\u00f9a xu\u00e2n \u1ea5m, xu\u1ed1ng tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 tuy\u1ebft \u1edf b\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi. T\u1eeb xa h\u1ecd \u0111\u00e3 nghe th\u1ea5y ti\u1ebfng d\u00f2ng s\u00f4ng th\u1ea7m th\u00ec v\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng c\u00f2i xe l\u1eeda xa xa. Hai m\u01b0\u01a1i ph\u00fat sau h\u1ecd b\u1eaft g\u1eb7p m\u1ed9t con g\u1ea5u \u0111en \u1edf b\u1edd ph\u00eda tr\u00ean h\u1ecd \u0111ang l\u0103n kh\u00fac c\u00e2y \u0111\u1ec3 t\u00ecm s\u00e2u, v\u00e0 ng\u1ef1a c\u1ee7a Jack gi\u1eadt m\u00ecnh v\u00e0 ch\u1ed3m hai ch\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc, Jack n\u00f3i “N\u00e8! N\u00e8!” v\u00e0 con ng\u1ef1a h\u1ed3ng c\u1ee7a Ennis nh\u1ea3y quanh v\u00e0 kh\u1ecbt m\u0169i nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecf ch\u1ea1y. Jack v\u1edbi l\u1ea5y kh\u1ea9u .30-.06 nh\u01b0ng \u0111i\u1ec1u \u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n thi\u1ebft; con g\u1ea5u gi\u1eadt m\u00ecnh ch\u1ea1y v\u00e0o r\u1eebng v\u1edbi d\u00e1ng c\u1ee5c m\u1ecbch, tr\u00f4ng nh\u01b0 s\u1eafp r\u1eddi ra t\u1eebng m\u1ea3nh.<\/p>\n

D\u00f2ng s\u00f4ng l\u1eabn tuy\u1ebft tan m\u00e0u n\u01b0\u1edbc tr\u00e0 ch\u1ea3y xi\u1ebft, s\u1ee7i \u0111\u1ea7y b\u1ecdt \u1edf m\u1ed7i phi\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e1 cao, nh\u1eefng ch\u1ed7 tr\u0169ng v\u00e0 b\u1edd l\u00f5m ng\u1eadp n\u01b0\u1edbc. Li\u1ec5u c\u00e0nh m\u00e0u \u0111\u1ea5t son kh\u1ebd l\u1eafc l\u01b0, hoa \u0111u\u00f4i s\u00f3c \u0111\u00e3 th\u1ee5 ph\u1ea5n nh\u01b0 d\u1ea5u tay m\u00e0u v\u00e0ng. Hai con ng\u1ef1a u\u1ed1ng n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 Jack xu\u1ed1ng ng\u1ef1a, v\u1ed1c n\u01b0\u1edbc l\u1ea1nh gi\u00e1 trong tay, nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt n\u01b0\u1edbc trong v\u1eaft r\u01a1i xu\u1ed1ng t\u1eeb ng\u00f3n tay anh, mi\u1ec7ng v\u00e0 c\u1eb1m anh b\u00f3ng \u01b0\u1edbt.<\/p>\n

“L\u00e0m v\u1eady s\u1ebd b\u1ecb s\u1ed1t h\u1ea3i ly,” Ennis n\u00f3i, r\u1ed3i th\u00eam, “Ch\u1ed7 n\u00e0y c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c,” nh\u00ecn m\u1eb7t b\u1eb1ng b\u00ean tr\u00ean d\u00f2ng s\u00f4ng, hai ba v\u00f2ng l\u1eeda c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng tr\u1ea1i s\u0103n c\u0169. Ph\u00eda sau m\u1eb7t b\u1eb1ng l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf thoai tho\u1ea3i d\u1ed1c, c\u00f3 h\u00e0ng th\u00f4ng che. Nhi\u1ec1u c\u1ee7i kh\u00f4. H\u1ecd l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd d\u1ef1ng tr\u1ea1i, c\u1ed9t ng\u1ef1a trong \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf. Jack x\u00e9 d\u1ea5u ni\u00eam m\u1ed9t chai whiskey, u\u1ed1ng m\u1ed9t ng\u1ee5m cay d\u00e0i, th\u1edf h\u1eaft ra, n\u00f3i, “\u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t trong hai th\u1ee9 tao c\u1ea7n l\u00fac n\u00e0y,” \u0111\u1eady n\u1eafp v\u00e0 qu\u0103ng cho Ennis.<\/p>\n

S\u00e1ng ng\u00e0y th\u1ee9 ba c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng \u0111\u00e1m m\u00e2y Ennis d\u1ef1 \u0111o\u00e1n, m\u1ed9t c\u1ee5m m\u00e2y x\u00e1m t\u1eeb ph\u00eda t\u00e2y l\u01b0\u1edbt nhanh \u0111\u1ebfn, ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t l\u1eb1n t\u1ed1i mang theo gi\u00f3 v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng b\u00f4ng tuy\u1ebft nh\u1ecf. Sau m\u1ed9t gi\u1edd, tuy\u1ebft d\u1ecbu \u0111i th\u00e0nh l\u00e0n tuy\u1ebft nh\u1eb9 m\u00f9a xu\u00e2n ch\u1ea5t cao \u01b0\u1edbt v\u00e0 n\u1eb7ng. \u0110\u1ebfn t\u1ed1i tr\u1eddi l\u1ea1nh h\u01a1n. Jack v\u00e0 Ennis chuy\u1ec1n \u0111i\u1ebfu thu\u1ed1c qua l\u1ea1i, \u0111\u1ed1ng l\u1eeda ch\u00e1y \u0111\u1ebfn khuya, Jack kh\u00f4ng y\u00ean v\u00e0 c\u1eb1n nh\u1eb1n tr\u1eddi l\u1ea1nh, d\u00f9ng c\u00e0nh c\u00e2y kh\u01a1i l\u1eeda, xoay n\u00fat chi\u1ebfc m\u00e1y radio b\u00e1n d\u1eabn cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi h\u1ebft pin.<\/p>\n

Ennis n\u00f3i anh \u0111ang l\u0103ng nh\u0103ng v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t c\u00f4 l\u00e0m b\u00e1n th\u1eddi gian \u1edf qu\u00e1n r\u01b0\u1ee3u Wolf Ears \u1edf Signal n\u01a1i anh \u0111ang l\u00e0m cho \u0111\u1ed9i b\u00f2 b\u00ea c\u1ee7a Stoutamire, nh\u01b0ng chuy\u1ec7n kh\u00f4ng \u0111i \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2u v\u00e0 c\u00f4 ta c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 anh kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n. Jack n\u00f3i anh \u0111ang l\u1eb9o t\u1eb9o v\u1edbi v\u1ee3 c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 tr\u1ea1i g\u1ea7n nh\u00e0 \u1edf Childress v\u00e0 m\u1ea5y th\u00e1ng g\u1ea7n \u0111\u00e2y anh l\u00e9n l\u00e9n l\u00fat l\u00fat, \u0111inh ninh s\u1ebd b\u1ecb Lureen hay th\u1eb1ng ch\u1ed3ng b\u1eafn. Ennis b\u1eadt c\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 n\u00f3i anh c\u00f3 l\u1ebd \u0111\u00e1ng \u0111\u1eddi. Jack n\u00f3i anh s\u1ed1ng t\u1ea1m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00f4i khi anh nh\u1edb Ennis nhi\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1ed7i mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u00e1nh \u0111\u00f2n tr\u1ebb con.<\/p>\n

M\u1ea5y con ng\u1ef1a h\u00ed trong b\u00f3ng t\u1ed1i b\u00ean ngo\u00e0i v\u00f2ng l\u1eeda s\u00e1ng. Ennis qu\u00e0ng tay qua ng\u01b0\u1eddi Jack, k\u00e9o anh l\u1ea1i g\u1ea7n, n\u00f3i anh g\u1eb7p con g\u00e1i m\u1ed7i th\u00e1ng m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n, Alma Jr. m\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea3y tu\u1ed5i, nh\u00fat nh\u00e1t v\u00e0 c\u00f3 chi\u1ec1u cao c\u00e2y \u0111\u1eadu c\u1ee7a anh, Francine s\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ed9ng. Jack lu\u1ed3n b\u00e0n tay l\u1ea1nh c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh v\u00e0o gi\u1eefa hai ch\u00e2n Ennis, n\u00f3i anh lo cho \u0111\u1ee9a con trai, ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn b\u1ecb b\u1ec7nh kh\u00f3 \u0111\u1ecdc v\u00e0 vi\u1ebft hay g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3, kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u00ec ra h\u1ed3n, m\u01b0\u1eddi l\u0103m tu\u1ed5i v\u00e0 g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecdc, anh<\/em> c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y m\u1eb7c d\u00f9 Lureen m\u1eafc toi kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu nh\u1eadn v\u00e0 gi\u1ea3 v\u1edd nh\u01b0 th\u1eb1ng nh\u1ecf kh\u00f4ng sao, kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch ch\u1eefa tr\u1ecb. Anh kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft c\u00e2u tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi l\u00e0 qu\u1ef7 g\u00ec. Lureen c\u1ea7m ti\u1ec1n v\u00e0 quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh m\u1ecdi vi\u1ec7c.<\/p>\n

“Tao hay mu\u1ed1n c\u00f3 con trai,” Ennis n\u00f3i, c\u1edfi n\u00fat, “nh\u01b0ng ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 con g\u00e1i.”<\/p>\n

“Tao ch\u1eb3ng mu\u1ed1n trai hay g\u00e1i,” Jack n\u00f3i. “Nh\u01b0ng ch\u1eb3ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec theo \u00fd tao. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec \u0111\u1ebfn tay tao cho ra h\u1ed3n.” Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady, anh qu\u0103ng g\u1ed7 ch\u1ebft v\u00e0o l\u1eeda, t\u00e0n l\u1eeda bay l\u00ean v\u1edbi s\u1ef1 th\u1eadt v\u00e0 d\u1ed1i tr\u00e1 c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd, v\u00e0i \u0111\u1ed1m l\u1eeda n\u00f3ng r\u1edbt l\u00ean m\u1eb7t l\u00ean tay h\u1ecd, kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u, v\u00e0 h\u1ecd l\u0103n xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t. M\u1ed9t \u0111i\u1ec1u kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd thay \u0111\u1ed5i: rung c\u1ea3m r\u1ef1c r\u1ee1 c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng l\u1ea7n hi\u1ebfm hoi h\u1ecd \u0111\u1ebfn v\u1edbi nhau, v\u1ea9n g\u1ee3n b\u00f3ng t\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a nh\u1eadn th\u1ee9c r\u1eb1ng th\u1eddi gian \u0111ang v\u00fat qua, kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd \u0111\u1ee7 th\u1eddi gian, kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd \u0111\u1ee7.<\/p>\n

M\u1ed9t hai ng\u00e0y sau, trong b\u00e3i \u0111\u1eadu xe \u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n, ng\u1ef1a \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ea5t v\u00e0o xe m\u00f3c k\u00e9o, Ennis \u0111\u00e3 s\u1eb5n s\u00e0ng tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 Signal, Jack l\u00ean Lightning Flat th\u0103m \u00f4ng gi\u00e0. Ennis nghi\u00eang ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0o c\u1eeda k\u00ednh xe c\u1ee7a Jack, n\u00f3i \u0111i\u1ec1u anh l\u1ea7n l\u1eefa c\u1ea3 tu\u1ea7n kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i, r\u1eb1ng ch\u1eafc anh kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u0111i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u01b0\u1edbc th\u00e1ng m\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t, sau khi h\u1ecd g\u1eedi gia s\u00fac \u0111i v\u00e0 tr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00fac k\u1ef3 cho \u0103n m\u00f9a \u0111\u00f4ng b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u.<\/p>\n

“Th\u00e1ng m\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t. Chuy\u1ec7n qu\u1ef7 g\u00ec x\u1ea3y ra v\u1edbi th\u00e1ng t\u00e1m? N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, m\u00ecnh n\u00f3i th\u00e1ng t\u00e1m, kho\u1ea3ng ch\u00edn, m\u01b0\u1eddi ng\u00e0y. Ch\u00faa \u01a1i, Ennis! Sao m\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i tr\u01b0\u1edbc? M\u00e0y c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t tu\u1ea7n m\u1eafc toi \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3i v\u00e0i c\u00e2u. V\u00e0 t\u1ea1i sao m\u00ecnh lu\u00f4n lu\u00f4n \u1edf trong th\u1eddi ti\u1ebft l\u1ea1nh nh\u01b0 qu\u1ef7? M\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0m c\u00e1i chi \u0111\u00f3. M\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i \u0111i v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng Nam. M\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 m\u00ecnh ph\u1ea3i \u0111i Mexico.”<\/p>\n

“Mexico? Jack, m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft tao m\u00e0. X\u01b0a gi\u1edd tao ch\u1ec9 \u0111i v\u00f2ng quanh \u1ea5m c\u00e0 ph\u00ea ki\u1ebfm c\u00e1i tay c\u1ea7m. V\u00e0 tao s\u1ebd ch\u1ea1y m\u00e1y \u0111\u00f3ng ki\u1ec7n r\u01a1m su\u1ed1t th\u00e1ng t\u00e1m,v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 v\u1edbi th\u00e1ng t\u00e1m l\u00e0 th\u1ebf. B\u1edbt nh\u0103n nh\u00f3 \u0111i, Jack. Th\u00e1ng m\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 s\u0103n, gi\u1ebft m\u1ed9t con nai ngon l\u00e0nh. \u0110\u1ec3 tao th\u1eed m\u01b0\u1ee3n c\u0103n cabin c\u1ee7a Don Wroe l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa. N\u0103m \u0111\u00f3 m\u00ecnh vui gh\u00ea.”<\/p>\n

“B\u1ea1n, m\u00e0y c\u0169ng bi\u1ebft \u0111\u00e2y l\u00e0 t\u00ecnh hu\u1ed1ng kh\u00f4ng v\u1eeba \u00fd ch\u00fat n\u00e0o. Th\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00e0y \u0111i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c d\u1ec5 d\u00e0ng. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd g\u1eb7p m\u00e0y gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 g\u1eb7p Gi\u00e1o Ho\u00e0ng v\u1eady.”<\/p>\n

“Jack, tao ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c. L\u00fac tr\u01b0\u1edbc tao th\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ecf vi\u1ec7c lu\u00f4n. M\u00e0y c\u00f3 v\u1ee3 gi\u00e0u, vi\u1ec7c t\u1ed1t. M\u00e0y qu\u00ean l\u00fac n\u00e0o c\u0169ng t\u00fang ti\u1ec1n l\u00e0 nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o. M\u00e0y c\u00f3 bao gi\u1edd nghe t\u1edbi ti\u1ec1n c\u1ea5p d\u01b0\u1ee1ng nu\u00f4i con ch\u01b0a? Tao tr\u1ea3 bao nhi\u00eau n\u0103m r\u1ed3i v\u00e0 s\u1ebd c\u00f2n tr\u1ea3 d\u00e0i d\u00e0i. Tao n\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, tao kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecf \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vi\u1ec7c n\u00e0y. V\u00e0 tao kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 l\u1ea5y ng\u00e0y ngh\u1ec9. L\u1ea7n n\u00e0y ngh\u1ec9 \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f3–c\u00f3 m\u1ea5y con b\u00f2 c\u00e1i sanh tr\u1ec5. M\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecf t\u1ee5i n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. M\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecf \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Stoutamire hay la l\u1ed1i v\u00e0 h\u1eafn l\u00e0m tr\u1eddi l\u00e0m \u0111\u1ea5t v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n tao ngh\u1ec9 m\u1ed9t tu\u1ea7n. Tao kh\u00f4ng tr\u00e1ch h\u1eafn. T\u1eeb l\u00fac tao \u0111i ch\u1eafc h\u1eafn kh\u00f4ng ng\u1ee7 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00eam n\u00e0o. Th\u00e1ng t\u00e1m l\u00e0 trao \u0111\u1ed5i cho l\u1ea7n n\u00e0y. M\u00e0y c\u00f3 \u00fd ki\u1ebfn n\u00e0o hay h\u01a1n kh\u00f4ng?”<\/p>\n

“C\u00f3 l\u1ea7n tao c\u00f3.” Gi\u1ecdng n\u00f3i cay \u0111\u1eafng v\u00e0 c\u00e1o bu\u1ed9c.<\/p>\n

Ennis kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i g\u00ec, ch\u1eadm r\u00e3i \u0111\u1ee9ng th\u1eb3ng d\u1eady, xoa tr\u00e1n; m\u1ed9t con ng\u1ef1a d\u1eadm ch\u00e2n trong xe m\u00f3c k\u00e9o. Anh b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ebfn xe truck c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, \u0111\u1eb7t tay l\u00ean xe m\u00f3c k\u00e9o, n\u00f3i \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 m\u1ea5y con ng\u1ef1a nghe, quay tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 v\u1edbi v\u1ebb ch\u1ee7 \u0111\u00edch.<\/p>\n

“M\u00e0y c\u00f3 \u0111i Mexico h\u1ea3, Jack?” Ch\u00ednh l\u00e0 Mexico. Anh c\u00f3 nghe. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd anh \u0111ang c\u1eaft r\u00e0o, l\u1ea5n v\u00e0o v\u00f9ng b\u1eafn b\u1ecf.<\/p>\n

“\u1edc, tao \u0111i r\u1ed3i. C\u00f3 sao kh\u00f4ng?” G\u1ed3ng m\u00ecnh ch\u1edd \u0111i\u1ec1u \u1ea5y su\u1ed1t bao nhi\u00eau n\u0103m v\u00e0 b\u00e2y gi\u1edd n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn, tr\u1ec5 v\u00e0 b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd.<\/p>\n

“Tao ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i c\u00e1i n\u00e0y v\u1edbi m\u00e0y m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n, Jack, tao kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 gi\u1ee1n ch\u01a1i. Chuy\u1ec7n tao kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft,” Ennis n\u00f3i, “m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n tao kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 gi\u1ebft m\u00e0y n\u1ebfu tao bi\u1ebft ra.”<\/p>\n

“Th\u1eed c\u00e1i n\u00e0y coi,” Jack n\u00f3i, “v\u00e0 tao<\/em> ch\u1ec9 n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n th\u00f4i. N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 s\u1ed1ng chung cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng vui v\u1ebb, thi\u1ec7t l\u00e0 vui v\u1ebb. M\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n, Ennis, b\u1edfi v\u1eady b\u00e2y gi\u1edd m\u00ecnh ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng. M\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 x\u00e2y tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3. M\u00ecnh ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 v\u1eady th\u00f4i, bao nhi\u00eau \u0111\u00f3 th\u00f4i, b\u1edfi v\u1eady tao mong m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3 n\u1ebfu m\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd bi\u1ebft h\u1ebft m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n. \u0110\u1ebfm th\u1eed coi trong hai m\u01b0\u01a1i n\u0103m m\u00ecnh g\u1eb7p nhau \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c bao nhi\u00eau l\u1ea7n. Nh\u1eafm th\u1eed coi m\u00e0y k\u1ec1m ch\u1ebf tao nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o, r\u1ed3i h\u1ecfi tao v\u1ec1 Mexico v\u00e0 r\u1ed3i n\u00f3i m\u00e0y gi\u1ebft tao v\u00ec tao c\u1ea7n chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00f3 v\u00e0 h\u1ea7u nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd c\u00f3 n\u00f3. M\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u1ed5 ra sao. Tao kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 m\u00e0y. Tao kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 s\u1ed1ng n\u1ed5i ch\u1ec9 v\u1edbi v\u00e0i ba l\u1ea7n l\u00e0m t\u00ecnh \u1edf \u0111\u1ed9 cao m\u1ed9t hai l\u1ea7n m\u1ed7i n\u0103m. M\u00e0y qu\u00e1 \u0111\u00e1ng, Ennis, th\u1eb1ng m\u1eafc d\u1ecbch. Tao \u01b0\u1edbc chi tao bi\u1ebft c\u00e1ch b\u1ecf m\u00e0y.”<\/p>\n

Nh\u01b0 nh\u1eefng v\u1ea7ng h\u01a1i n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u00eanh m\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a su\u1ed1i n\u01b0\u1edbc n\u00f3ng trong m\u00f9a \u0111\u00f4ng, nh\u1eefng n\u0103m d\u00e0i c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i v\u00e0 b\u00e2y gi\u1edd kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c–th\u00fa nh\u1eadn, tuy\u00ean ng\u00f4n, h\u1ed5 th\u1eb9n, t\u1ed9i l\u1ed7i, s\u1ee3 h\u00e3i–d\u00e2ng l\u00ean chung quanh h\u1ecd. Ennis \u0111\u1ee9ng nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 b\u1ecb b\u1eafn v\u00e0o tim, m\u1eb7t x\u00e1m l\u1ea1i, nh\u0103n nh\u00fam nh\u1eefng v\u1ebft h\u1eb1n s\u00e2u, m\u1eaft nh\u1eafm nghi\u1ec1n, n\u1eafm tay si\u1ebft ch\u1eb7t, hai ch\u00e2n kh\u1ee5yu g\u1ed1i qu\u1ef3 xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ea5t.<\/p>\n

“Jesus,” Jack n\u00f3i. “Ennis?” Nh\u01b0ng tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi anh ra kh\u1ecfi xe truck, \u0111ang t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch \u0111o\u00e1n xem l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed9t bi\u1ebfn tim hay c\u0103m gi\u1eadn s\u00f4i tr\u00e0o, Ennis \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady v\u00e0 b\u1eb1ng c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3, nh\u01b0 c\u00e1i m\u1eafc \u00e1o \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c k\u00e9o th\u1eb3ng ra \u0111\u1ec3 m\u1edf c\u1eeda xe b\u1ecb kh\u00f3a v\u00e0 r\u1ed3i b\u1ebb cong l\u1ea1i nh\u01b0 h\u00ecnh d\u00e1ng c\u0169, h\u1ecd xoay m\u1ecdi chuy\u1ec7n tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 tr\u01b0\u1edbc, v\u00ec \u0111i\u1ec1u h\u1ecd n\u00f3i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec m\u1edbi m\u1ebb. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec ch\u1ea5m d\u1ee9t, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u1ea3i quy\u1ebft.<\/p>\n

\u0110i\u1ec1u Jack nh\u1edb v\u00e0 khao kh\u00e1t, n\u1ed7i khao kh\u00e1t anh kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1eebng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n trong m\u00f9a h\u00e8 xa x\u00f4i \u1edf n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng khi Ennis \u0111\u1ebfn sau l\u01b0ng anh v\u00e0 k\u00e9o anh l\u1ea1i g\u1ea7n, v\u00f2ng tay y\u00ean l\u1eb7ng tho\u1ea3 m\u00e3n n\u1ed7i kh\u00e1t khao h\u1ecd c\u00f9ng chia s\u1ebb, kh\u00f4ng v\u1ea9n g\u1ee3n d\u1ee5c t\u00ednh.<\/p>\n

H\u1ecd \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ee9ng nh\u01b0 v\u1eady r\u1ea5t l\u00e2u tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ed1ng l\u1eeda ch\u00e1y tung l\u00ean nh\u1eefng v\u1ec7t s\u00e1ng \u0111\u1ecf h\u1ed3ng, b\u00f3ng h\u1ecd nh\u1eadp th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t tr\u00ean phi\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e1. Nh\u1eefng ph\u00fat tr\u00f4i qua v\u1edbi ti\u1ebfng t\u00edc t\u1eafc c\u1ee7a chi\u1ebfc \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 tr\u00f2n trong t\u00fai Ennis, v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng c\u00e0nh c\u00e2y trong l\u1eeda d\u1ea7n l\u1ee5i th\u00e0nh than. Nh\u1eefng v\u00ec sao m\u1edd \u0111i qua h\u01a1i n\u00f3ng g\u1ee3n tr\u00ean l\u1eeda. H\u01a1i th\u1edf c\u1ee7a Ennis ch\u1eadm v\u00e0 y\u00ean \u1ea3, anh h\u00e1t \u00e2m \u01b0, \u0111u \u0111\u01b0a ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u00e8 nh\u1eb9 trong \u00e1nh s\u00e1ng l\u1eadp l\u00f2e, v\u00e0 Jack d\u1ef1a s\u00e1t v\u00e0o nh\u1ecbp tim \u0111\u1ec1u ho\u00e0, \u0111\u1ed9 rung c\u1ee7a ti\u1ebfng \u00e2m \u01b0 nh\u01b0 d\u00f2ng \u0111i\u1ec7n nh\u1eb9 v\u00e0, \u0111\u1ee9ng \u0111\u00f3, anh r\u01a1i v\u00e0o gi\u1ea5c ng\u1ee7 kh\u00f4ng h\u1eb3n l\u00e0 gi\u1ea5c ng\u1ee7 m\u00e0 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t tr\u1ea1ng th\u00e1i m\u01a1 m\u00e0ng v\u00e0 m\u00ea ho\u1eb7c cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi Ennis moi l\u1ea1i m\u1ed9t c\u00e2u c\u0169 k\u1ef9 nh\u01b0ng v\u1eabn c\u00f2n d\u00f9ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u1eeb \u1ea5u th\u01a1 tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi m\u1eb9 anh ch\u1ebft, “Cao b\u1ed3i, \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac \u0111i ng\u1ee7 r\u1ed3i, tao ph\u1ea3i \u0111i. Coi k\u00eca, m\u00e0y ng\u1ee7 \u0111\u1ee9ng nh\u01b0 con ng\u1ef1a,” v\u00e0 l\u1eafc ng\u01b0\u1eddi Jack, \u0111\u1ea9y anh ra, \u0111i v\u00e0o b\u00f3ng t\u1ed1i. Jack nghe \u0111inh th\u00fac ng\u1ef1a c\u1ee7a anh rung nh\u1eb9 khi anh l\u00ean ng\u1ef1a, m\u1ea5y ch\u1eef “ng\u00e0y mai g\u1eb7p,” v\u00e0 c\u00e1i kh\u1ecbt m\u0169i rung m\u00ecnh c\u1ee7a con ng\u1ef1a, ti\u1ebfng m\u00f3ng g\u00f5 tr\u00ean \u0111\u00e1.<\/p>\n

Sau n\u00e0y, v\u00f2ng tay m\u01a1 ng\u1ee7 \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u00f4ng l\u1ea1i trong k\u00fd \u1ee9c anh nh\u01b0 kho\u1ea3nh kh\u1eafc duy nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a ni\u1ec1m h\u1ea1nh ph\u00fac \u0111\u01a1n s\u01a1, k\u1ef3 di\u1ec7u trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng xa c\u00e1ch v\u00e0 kh\u00f3 kh\u0103n c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 g\u00ec l\u00e0m v\u1ea9n \u0111\u1ee5c n\u00f3, ngay c\u1ea3 nh\u1eadn th\u1ee9c r\u1eb1ng l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3 Ennis kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n \u00f4m anh m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ed1i m\u1eb7t v\u00ec kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n th\u1ea5y hay c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y r\u1eb1ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi anh \u00f4m l\u00e0 Jack. V\u00e0 c\u00f3 l\u1ebd, anh ngh\u0129, h\u1ecd s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd \u0111i xa h\u01a1n th\u1ebf bao nhi\u00eau. Th\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh, th\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n

Ennis kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft tai n\u1ea1n x\u1ea3y ra cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi, nhi\u1ec1u th\u00e1ng sau, t\u1ea5m b\u01b0u thi\u1ebfp anh g\u1eedi cho Jack n\u00f3i r\u1eb1ng c\u00f3 v\u1ebb nh\u01b0 th\u00e1ng m\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1ed9t v\u1eabn l\u00e0 c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean tr\u1edf v\u1ec1, \u0111\u00f3ng d\u1ea5u QUA \u0110\u1edcI. Anh g\u1ecdi s\u1ed1 \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a Jack \u1edf Childress, \u0111i\u1ec1u anh ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0m m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00f3 khi Alma ly d\u1ecb anh v\u00e0 Jack \u0111\u00e3 hi\u1ec3u l\u1ea7m l\u00fd do anh g\u1ecdi, \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e1i l\u00ean mi\u1ec1n b\u1eafc m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0n hai tr\u0103m d\u1eb7m v\u00f4 \u00edch. S\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng sao, Jack s\u1ebd tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi, ph\u1ea3i tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. Nh\u01b0ng Jack kh\u00f4ng tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. Lureen tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi v\u00e0 n\u00f3i, ai? ai \u0111\u00f3? v\u00e0 khi anh n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ch\u1ecb l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa, ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng b\u00ecnh t\u0129nh ph\u1ea3i, b\u00e1nh xe n\u1ed5 khi Jack \u0111ang b\u01a1m b\u00e1nh xe b\u1ecb x\u1eb9p tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u1ecf. Kh\u00f4ng r\u00f5 t\u1ea1i sao v\u00f2ng b\u00e1nh b\u1ecb h\u01b0 v\u00e0 s\u1ee9c n\u1ed5 \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1eadp ni\u1ec1n b\u00e1nh xe v\u00e0o m\u1eb7t anh, l\u00e0m g\u00e3y m\u0169i v\u00e0 c\u1eb1m anh v\u00e0 khi\u1ebfn anh ng\u00e3 ng\u1eeda ra sau b\u1ea5t t\u1ec9nh. \u0110\u1ebfn khi c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111i ngang qua, anh \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ebft ngh\u1eb9n trong m\u00e1u c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh.<\/p>\n

Kh\u00f4ng, anh ngh\u0129, ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta \u0111\u00e3 d\u00f9ng g\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe gi\u1ebft n\u00f3.<\/p>\n

“Tr\u01b0\u1edbc kia Jack hay nh\u1eafc t\u1edbi anh,” ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i. “Anh l\u00e0 b\u1ea1n c\u00e2u c\u00e1 hay b\u1ea1n s\u0103n, tui bi\u1ebft. Mu\u1ed1n b\u00e1o cho anh,” ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i, “nh\u01b0ng tui kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft ch\u1eafc t\u00ean v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ecba ch\u1ec9 c\u1ee7a anh. Jack gi\u1eef \u0111\u1ecba ch\u1ec9 c\u1ee7a ph\u1ea7n l\u1edbn b\u1ea1n trong \u0111\u1ea7u \u1ea3nh. Kinh kh\u1ee7ng qu\u00e1. \u1ea2nh m\u1edbi ba m\u01b0\u01a1i ch\u00edn tu\u1ed5i.<\/p>\n

N\u1ed7i bu\u1ed3n m\u00eanh mang c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1eb1ng ph\u01b0\u01a1ng B\u1eafc ph\u1ee7 xu\u1ed1ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi anh. Anh kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft th\u1eadt ra l\u00e0 g\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe hay tai n\u1ea1n, m\u00e1u s\u1eb7c xu\u1ed1ng c\u1ed5 h\u1ecdng Jack v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng ai l\u1eadt anh l\u1ea1i. D\u01b0\u1edbi ti\u1ebfng gi\u00f3 vi vu anh nghe ti\u1ebfng th\u00e9p d\u1ed9i v\u00e0o x\u01b0\u01a1ng, ti\u1ebfng vang ngh\u00e8n ngh\u1eb9t c\u1ee7a ni\u1ec1n b\u00e1nh xe xoay ch\u1eadm l\u1ea1i r\u1ed3i ng\u01b0ng h\u1eb3n.<\/p>\n

“N\u00f3 ch\u00f4n d\u01b0\u1edbi \u0111\u00f3 h\u1ea3?” Anh mu\u1ed1n nguy\u1ec1n r\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb v\u00ec \u0111\u1ec3 Jack ch\u1ebft tr\u00ean con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u1ea5t.<\/p>\n

Gi\u1ecdng Texas k\u00e9o d\u00e0i qua \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng d\u00e2y. “T\u1ee5i tui c\u00f3 d\u1ef1ng bia. \u1ea2nh hay n\u00f3i \u1ea3nh mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c thi\u00eau, tro r\u1ea3i l\u00ean n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng. Tui kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u. B\u1edfi v\u1eady \u1ea3nh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c thi\u00eau, nh\u01b0 \u1ea3nh mu\u1ed1n, v\u00e0 nh\u01b0 tui n\u00f3i, n\u1eeda ph\u1ea7n tro ch\u00f4n \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y, ph\u1ea7n c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i tui g\u1eedi cho ba m\u00e1 \u1ea3nh. Tui ngh\u0129 n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng \u1edf g\u1ea7n ch\u1ed7 \u1ea3nh l\u1edbn l\u00ean. Nh\u01b0ng theo nh\u01b0 tui bi\u1ebft Jack, th\u00ec n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 l\u00e0 ch\u1ed7 t\u01b0\u1edfng t\u01b0\u1ee3ng c\u00f3 chim xanh h\u00f3t v\u00e0 su\u1ed1i whiskey.”<\/p>\n

“T\u1ee5i tui ch\u0103n c\u1eebu tr\u00ean n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng m\u1ed9t m\u00f9a h\u00e8,” Ennis n\u00f3i. Anh g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i n\u00ean l\u1eddi.<\/p>\n

“Ui cha, \u1ea3nh n\u00f3i \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u1ed7 c\u1ee7a \u1ea3nh. Tui t\u01b0\u1edfng \u1ea3nh mu\u1ed1n n\u00f3i ch\u1ed7 \u0111\u1ec3 say s\u01b0a. U\u1ed1ng whiskey tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3. \u1ea2nh u\u1ed1ng nhi\u1ec1u l\u1eafm.”<\/p>\n

“Ba m\u00e1 n\u00f3 v\u1eabn \u1edf Lightning Flat h\u1ea3?”<\/p>\n

“Ch\u1edb sao. H\u1ecd s\u1ebd \u1edf \u0111\u00f3 t\u1edbi ch\u1ebft. Tui ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd g\u1eb7p h\u1ecd. H\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng xu\u1ed1ng d\u1ef1 \u0111\u00e1m tang. Anh li\u00ean l\u1ea1c v\u1edbi h\u1ecd. T\u00f4i \u0111o\u00e1n h\u1ecd s\u1ebd mu\u1ed1n th\u1ea5y \u01b0\u1edbc nguy\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a \u1ea3nh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ho\u00e0n th\u00e0nh.”<\/p>\n

Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n nghi ng\u1edd g\u00ec, c\u00f4 nh\u00e3 nh\u1eb7n nh\u01b0ng gi\u1ecdng n\u00f3i nh\u1ecf l\u1ea1nh nh\u01b0 tuy\u1ebft.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

Con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u1ebfn Lightning Flat b\u0103ng ngang v\u00f9ng \u0111\u1ea5t \u0111\u00ecu hiu qu\u00e1 m\u1ed9t ch\u1ee5c tr\u1ea1i b\u1ecf hoang c\u00e1ch nhau kho\u1ea3ng t\u00e1m, m\u01b0\u1eddi d\u1eb7m tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1eb1ng, nh\u1eefng c\u0103n nh\u00e0 m\u1eaft r\u1ed7ng \u0111\u1ee9ng trong c\u1ecf d\u1ea1i, v\u00f2ng r\u00e0o th\u00fa xi\u00eau \u0111\u1ed5. H\u1ed9p th\u01b0 \u0111\u1ec1 John C. Twist. Tr\u1ea1i nh\u1ecf ngh\u00e8o n\u00e0n, c\u00e2y \u0111\u1ea1i k\u00edch l\u00e1 to m\u1ecdc l\u1ea5n kh\u1eafp n\u01a1i. Gia s\u00fac \u1edf xa qu\u00e1 n\u00ean anh kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y ch\u00fang ra sao, ch\u1ec9 bi\u1ebft ch\u00fang l\u00e0 l\u1ecdai b\u00f2 baldy \u0111en. H\u00e0ng hi\u00ean tr\u1ea3i tr\u01b0\u1edbc c\u0103n nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf tr\u00e1t v\u1eefa m\u00e0u n\u00e2u, b\u1ed1n ph\u00f2ng, hai d\u01b0\u1edbi, hai tr\u00ean.<\/p>\n

Ennis ng\u1ed3i \u1edf b\u00e0n b\u1ebfp v\u1edbi ba c\u1ee7a Jack. M\u1eb9 c\u1ee7a Jack, \u0111\u1eadm ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 c\u1eed ch\u1ec9 c\u1ea9n th\u1eadn nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 \u0111ang ph\u1ee5c h\u1ed3i sau m\u1ed9t ca m\u1ed5, n\u00f3i, “Ch\u1eafc ch\u00e1u mu\u1ed1n u\u1ed1ng c\u00e0 ph\u00ea? Mi\u1ebfng b\u00e1nh anh \u0111\u00e0o?”<\/p>\n

“C\u00e1m \u01a1n d\u00ec. Ch\u00e1u u\u1ed1ng c\u00e0 ph\u00ea, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng \u0103n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u00e1nh b\u00e2y gi\u1edd.”<\/p>\n

\u00d4ng gi\u00e0 ng\u1ed3i im l\u1eb7ng, hai tay x\u1ebfp tr\u00ean kh\u0103n b\u00e0n ny l\u00f4ng, nh\u00ecn Ennis ch\u1eb1m ch\u1eb1m v\u1edbi v\u1ebb gi\u1eadn d\u1eef v\u00e0 hi\u1ec3u bi\u1ebft. Ennis nh\u1eadn ra \u00f4ng l\u00e0 lo\u1ea1i kh\u00e1 th\u00f4ng th\u01b0\u1eddng th\u00edch \u0111\u1ed9c t\u00e0i. Anh th\u1ea5y Jack kh\u00f4ng gi\u1ed1ng hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi bao nhi\u00eau, h\u00edt v\u00e0o.<\/p>\n

“Ch\u00e1u r\u1ea5t bu\u1ed3n v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n Jack. Kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i n\u00ean l\u1eddi. Ch\u00e1u bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i. Ch\u00e1u \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3i v\u1edbi d\u00ec d\u01b0\u1ee3ng l\u00e0 n\u1ebfu d\u00ec d\u01b0\u1ee3ng mu\u1ed1n ch\u00e1u mang tro c\u1ed1t c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 l\u00ean n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng nh\u01b0 v\u1ee3 n\u00f3 n\u00f3i l\u00e0 n\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n th\u00ec ch\u00e1u s\u1ebd s\u1eb5n s\u00e0ng.”<\/p>\n

Im l\u1eb7ng. Ennis h\u1eafng gi\u1ecdng nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i g\u00ec th\u00eam.<\/p>\n

\u00d4ng gi\u00e0 n\u00f3i, “N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe. Tao bi\u1ebft n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u. N\u00f3 t\u01b0\u1edfng n\u00f3 hay ho \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1ed7i kh\u00f4ng ch\u00f4n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u1edf \u0111\u1ea5t m\u1ed9 gia \u0111\u00ecnh.”<\/p>\n

M\u1eb9 Jack l\u00e0m ng\u01a1, n\u00f3i, “N\u00f3 th\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1 nh\u00e0 m\u1ed7i n\u0103m, ngay c\u1ea3 sau khi n\u00f3 l\u1ea5y v\u1ee3 v\u00e0 \u1edf d\u01b0\u1edbi Texas, v\u00e0 gi\u00fap ba n\u00f3 vi\u1ec7c tr\u1ea1i m\u1ed9t tu\u1ea7n, s\u1eeda c\u1ed5ng v\u00e0 c\u1eaft c\u1ecf v\u00e0 m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9. Tui gi\u1eef ph\u00f2ng n\u00f3 nh\u01b0 l\u00fac n\u00f3 c\u00f2n nh\u1ecf v\u00e0 tui ngh\u0129 n\u00f3 th\u00edch nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. Ch\u00e1u mu\u1ed1n l\u00ean ph\u00f2ng n\u00f3 th\u00ec c\u1ee9 \u0111i.”<\/p>\n

\u00d4ng gi\u00e0 b\u1ef1c t\u1ee9c n\u00f3i. “Tui kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ai ph\u1ee5 gi\u00fap ngo\u00e0i n\u00e0y. Jack hay n\u00f3i, ‘Ennis Del Mar,\u2019 n\u00f3 hay n\u00f3i, \u2018con s\u1ebd mang \u1ea3nh l\u00ean m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y g\u1ea7n \u0111\u00e2y v\u00e0 m\u00ecnh s\u1ebd v\u1ef1c d\u1eady c\u00e1i tr\u1ea1i m\u1eafc toi n\u00e0y.’ N\u00f3 c\u00f3 \u00fd t\u01b0\u1edfng v\u1edb v\u1ea9n l\u00e0 hai \u0111\u1ee9a bay s\u1ebd d\u1ecdn l\u00ean \u0111\u00e2y, x\u00e2y nh\u00e0 cabin g\u1ed7 s\u00fac v\u00e0 ph\u1ee5 tui l\u00e0m tr\u1ea1i n\u00e0y v\u00e0 d\u1ef1ng l\u1ea1i n\u00f3. R\u1ed3i, m\u00f9a xu\u00e2n n\u00e0y n\u00f3 c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00e1c s\u1ebd \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2y x\u00e2y nh\u00e0 v\u00e0 ph\u1ee5 l\u00e0m tr\u1ea1i, m\u1ed9t ch\u1ee7 tr\u1ea1i h\u00e0ng x\u00f3m c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 d\u01b0\u1edbi Texas. N\u00f3 s\u1ebd b\u1ecf v\u1ee3 v\u00e0 v\u1ec1 \u0111\u00e2y. N\u00f3 n\u00f3i v\u1eady \u0111\u00f3. Nh\u01b0ng c\u0169ng nh\u01b0 h\u1ea7u h\u1ebft d\u1ef1 \u0111\u1ecbnh c\u1ee7a Jack, n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd x\u1ea3y ra.”<\/p>\n

Nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf anh \u0111\u00e3 bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 g\u1eady s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe. Anh \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady, n\u00f3i, ch\u00e1u mu\u1ed1n coi ph\u00f2ng Jack l\u00e0 ch\u1eafc r\u1ed3i, nh\u1edb l\u1ea1i m\u1ed9t chuy\u1ec7n Jack k\u1ec3 v\u1ec1 \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 n\u00e0y. Jack c\u1eaft quy \u0111\u1ea7u v\u00e0 \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 th\u00ec kh\u00f4ng; chuy\u1ec7n \u1ea5y l\u00e0m b\u1eadn l\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi con trai \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00e1m ph\u00e1 ra s\u1ef1 kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ed3ng nh\u1ea5t v\u1ec1 th\u1ec3 ch\u1ea5t n\u00e0y trong m\u1ed9t c\u1ea3nh d\u1eef d\u1ed9i. Anh kho\u1ea3ng ba, b\u1ed1n tu\u1ed5i, anh n\u00f3i, lu\u00f4n v\u00e0o c\u1ea7u ti\u00eau mu\u1ed9n, v\u1eadt l\u1ed9n v\u1edbi n\u00fat, gh\u1ebf c\u1ea7u, chi\u1ec1u cao b\u1ed3n c\u1ea7u v\u00e0 th\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111i ti\u1ec3u ra chung quanh. \u00d4ng gi\u00e0 n\u1ed5i qu\u1ea1u v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n gi\u1eadn \u0111i\u00ean l\u00ean. “Ch\u00faa \u01a1i, \u1ed5ng \u0111\u1eadp tao mu\u1ed1n l\u00f2i ru\u1ed9t, \u0111\u00e1nh tao ng\u00e3 xu\u1ed1ng s\u00e0n ph\u00f2ng t\u1eafm, \u0111\u00e1nh tao b\u1eb1ng d\u00e2y l\u01b0ng. Tao t\u01b0\u1edfng \u1ed5ng s\u1ebd gi\u1ebft tao. R\u1ed3i \u1ed5ng n\u00f3i, ‘m\u00e0y mu\u1ed1n bi\u1ebft n\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00e1i c\u00f9ng kh\u1eafp l\u00e0 sao kh\u00f4ng? Tao cho m\u00e0y bi\u1ebft,’ v\u00e0 \u1ed5ng k\u00e9o n\u00f3 ra v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e1i l\u00ean tao, l\u00e0m tao \u01b0\u1edbt \u0111\u1ea7m, r\u1ed3i \u1ed5ng qu\u0103ng tao c\u00e1i kh\u0103n l\u00f4ng v\u00e0 b\u1eaft tao ch\u00f9i s\u00e0n, c\u1edfi qu\u1ea7n \u00e1o ra gi\u1eb7t trong b\u1ed3n t\u1eafm, gi\u1eb7t kh\u0103n l\u00f4ng, trong l\u00fac tao la kh\u00f3c l\u1ea3m nh\u1ea3m. Nh\u01b0ng trong l\u00fac \u1ed5ng x\u1ecbt tao th\u1ea5y \u1ed5ng c\u00f3 th\u1ee9 tao kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3. Tao th\u1ea5y c\u00e1i c\u1ee7a tao c\u1eaft ki\u1ec3u kh\u00e1c, nh\u01b0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta c\u1eaft tai hay \u0111\u00f3ng d\u1ea5u tr\u1ea1i cho gia s\u00fac. Sau h\u00f4m \u0111\u00f3 gi\u1eefa tao v\u1edbi \u1ed5ng c\u1ee9 l\u00e0m sao \u0111\u00f3.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ph\u00f2ng ng\u1ee7, \u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u thang l\u1ea7u d\u1ed1c c\u00f3 nh\u1ecbp \u0111i\u1ec7u leo ri\u00eang, nh\u1ecf v\u00e0 n\u00f3ng, n\u1eafng chi\u1ec1u gay g\u1eaft \u0111\u1ed5 v\u00e0o qua c\u1eeda s\u1ed5 h\u01b0\u1edbng t\u00e2y, h\u1eaft l\u00ean chi\u1ebfc gi\u01b0\u1eddng con n\u00edt h\u1eb9p s\u00e1t t\u01b0\u1eddng, m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i b\u00e0n l\u1ea5m m\u1ef1c v\u00e0 chi\u1ebfc gh\u1ebf g\u1ed7, m\u1ed9t kh\u1ea9u s\u00fang b\u1eafn h\u01a1i tr\u00ean gi\u00e1 treo \u0111\u1ebdo b\u1eb1ng tay ph\u00eda tr\u00ean c\u00e1i gi\u01b0\u1eddng. C\u1eeda s\u1ed5 nh\u00ecn xu\u1ed1ng con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng tr\u1ea3i s\u1ecfi ch\u1ea1y d\u00e0i v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng nam v\u00e0 anh ch\u1ee3t ngh\u0129 trong nh\u1eefng n\u0103m Jack l\u1edbn l\u00ean \u0111\u00e2y l\u00e0 con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng duy nh\u1ea5t Jack \u0111\u00e3 bi\u1ebft. M\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m h\u00ecnh t\u1ea1p ch\u00ed r\u1ea5t c\u0169 c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t t\u00e0i t\u1eed t\u00f3c \u0111en n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 d\u00e1n tr\u00ean t\u01b0\u1eddng c\u1ea1nh gi\u01b0\u1eddng, m\u00e0u da \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ed5i th\u00e0nh \u0111\u1ecf t\u00eda. Anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 nghe ti\u1ebfng m\u1eb9 c\u1ee7a Jack d\u01b0\u1edbi l\u1ea7u, \u0111\u1ed5 \u0111\u1ea7y \u1ea5m n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 l\u1ea1i l\u00ean l\u00f2, h\u1ecfi \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 m\u1ed9t c\u00e2u lo\u00e1ng tho\u00e1ng.<\/p>\n

T\u1ee7 \u00e1o l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t l\u1ed7 h\u1ed5ng c\u1ea1n c\u00f3 thanh g\u1ed7 treo ngang, che b\u1eb1ng t\u1ea5m m\u00e0n v\u1ea3i phai m\u00e0u tr\u00ean m\u1ed9t s\u1ee3i d\u00e2y. Trong t\u1ee7 \u00e1o treo hai qu\u1ea7n jean \u1ee7i n\u1ebfp, treo g\u1eadp \u0111\u00f4i g\u1ecdn gh\u1ebd b\u1eb1ng m\u1eafc \u00e1o d\u00e2y k\u1ebdm, tr\u00ean s\u00e0n l\u00e0 \u0111\u00f4i \u1ee7ng cao c\u1ed5 \u0111\u00e3 m\u00f2n anh ngh\u0129 anh c\u00f3 nh\u1edb. \u1ede ph\u00eda b\u1eafc t\u1ee7 \u00e1o, m\u1ed9t v\u1ebft l\u00f5m c\u1ea1n c\u1ee7a b\u1ee9c t\u01b0\u1eddng t\u1ea1o th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t ch\u1ed7 d\u1ea5u h\u1eb9p v\u00e0 \u1edf \u0111\u00f3, c\u1ee9ng \u0111\u01a1 v\u00ec treo l\u00e2u ng\u00e0y tr\u00ean c\u00e1i \u0111inh, l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o. Anh nh\u1ea5c n\u00f3 ra kh\u1ecfi c\u00e1i \u0111inh. \u00c1o s\u01a1 mi c\u0169 c\u1ee7a Jack t\u1eeb nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng. M\u00e1u kh\u00f4 tr\u00ean tay \u00e1o l\u00e0 m\u00e1u c\u1ee7a anh, m\u00e1u m\u0169i \u00e0o ra trong bu\u1ed5i chi\u1ec1u cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng tr\u00ean n\u00fai, trong l\u00fac h\u1ecd v\u1eb7n v\u1eb9o v\u1eadt l\u1ed9n, \u0111\u1ea7u g\u1ed1i Jack th\u00fac m\u1ea1nh v\u00e0o m\u0169i Ennis. M\u00e1u kh\u1eafp n\u01a1i, \u0111\u1ea7y ng\u01b0\u1eddi h\u1ecd, Jack d\u00f9ng tay \u00e1o ch\u1eb7n m\u00e1u, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng ch\u1eb7n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u00e2u v\u00ec Ennis b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd vung tay v\u00e0 khi\u1ebfn thi\u00ean th\u1ea7n \u0111ang ch\u0103m s\u00f3c c\u1ee5p c\u00e1nh n\u1eb1m d\u00e0i trong \u0111\u00e1m hoa columbine d\u1ea1i.<\/p>\n

Chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o c\u00f3 v\u1ebb n\u1eb7ng cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi anh th\u1ea5y c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o n\u1eefa \u1edf b\u00ean trong, tay \u00e1o c\u1ea9n th\u1eadn lu\u1ed3n trong tay \u00e1o c\u1ee7a Jack. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o s\u01a1 mi ca r\u00f4 c\u1ee7a Ennis, anh c\u1ee9 ngh\u0129 \u0111\u00e3 l\u1ea1c m\u1ea5t l\u00e2u l\u1eafm r\u1ed3i trong m\u1ed9t ti\u1ec7m gi\u1eb7t m\u1eafc toi n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3, chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o d\u01a1 c\u1ee7a anh, t\u00fai ng\u1ef1c r\u00e1ch, n\u00fat thi\u1ebfu, Jack \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1ed9m v\u00e0 d\u1ea5u \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y trong \u00e1o c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, hai chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o nh\u01b0 hai l\u00e0n da, l\u1ed3ng v\u00e0o trong nhau, hai nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t. Anh \u00e1p m\u1eb7t v\u00e0o l\u1edbp v\u1ea3i v\u00e0 ch\u1ea7m ch\u1eadm h\u00edt v\u00e0o qua mi\u1ec7ng v\u00e0 m\u0169i, hy v\u1ecdng ng\u1eedi th\u1ea5y thoang tho\u1ea3ng m\u00f9i kh\u00f3i v\u00e0 l\u00e1 x\u00f4 th\u01a1m n\u00fai v\u00e0 m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i ng\u1ecdt m\u1eb1n m\u1eb7n c\u1ee7a Jack, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 m\u00f9i g\u00ec r\u00f5 r\u1ec7t, ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 k\u00fd \u1ee9c v\u1ec1 m\u00f9i h\u01b0\u01a1ng, quy\u1ec1n n\u0103ng t\u01b0\u1edfng t\u01b0\u1ee3ng c\u1ee7a n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i g\u00ec ngo\u00e0i hai chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o anh n\u1eafm trong tay.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

Cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed9c t\u00e0i kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu bu\u00f4ng tro c\u1ed1t c\u1ee7a Jack. “N\u00f3i m\u00e0y nghe, t\u1ee5i tui c\u00f3 ph\u1ea7n m\u1ed9 gia \u0111\u00ecnh v\u00e0 n\u00f3 s\u1ebd v\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3.” M\u1eb9 c\u1ee7a Jack \u0111\u1ee9ng \u1edf b\u00e0n c\u1eaft ru\u1ed9t t\u00e1o b\u1eb1ng m\u1ed9t d\u1ee5ng c\u1ee5 s\u1eafc, c\u1ea1nh r\u0103ng c\u01b0a. “Ch\u00e1u \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1eefa nghe,” b\u00e0 n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n

Ennis ch\u1ea1y xe tr\u00ean con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng l\u00f3t v\u00e1n g\u1eadp gh\u1ec1nh qua ngh\u0129a trang v\u00f9ng qu\u00ea r\u00e0o b\u1eb1ng d\u00e2y k\u1ebdm c\u1eebu xi\u00eau v\u1eb9o, m\u1ed9t vu\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ea5t nh\u1ecf b\u00e9 c\u00f3 r\u00e0o chung quanh tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ed3ng c\u1ecf bao la, m\u1ed9t v\u00e0i ng\u00f4i m\u1ed9 t\u01b0\u01a1i t\u1eafn v\u1edbi hoa ny l\u00f4ng, v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n bi\u1ebft Jack s\u1ebd v\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3, \u0111\u1ec3 b\u1ecb ch\u00f4n v\u00f9i tr\u00ean c\u00e1nh \u0111\u1ed3ng th\u01b0\u01a1ng ti\u1ebfc.<\/p>\n

Ng\u00e0y th\u1ee9 b\u1ea3y v\u00e0i tu\u1ea7n sau anh qu\u0103ng h\u1ebft ch\u0103n ng\u1ef1a d\u01a1 c\u1ee7a Stoutamire l\u00ean sau xe truck v\u00e0 mang xu\u1ed1ng ch\u1ed7 r\u1eeda xe Quick Stop \u0111\u1ec3 x\u1ecbt ch\u00fang b\u1eb1ng v\u00f2i n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ea1nh. Khi m\u1ea5y t\u1ea5m ch\u0103n s\u1ea1ch c\u00f2n \u01b0\u1edbt \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c x\u1ebfp l\u1ea1i tr\u00ean l\u00f2ng xe truck, anh v\u00e0o ti\u1ec7m b\u00e1n qu\u00e0 c\u1ee7a Higgins v\u00e0 b\u1eadn r\u1ed9n b\u00ean gi\u00e1 b\u01b0u thi\u1ebfp.<\/p>\n

“Ennis, anh ki\u1ebfm g\u00ec m\u00e0 l\u1ee5c b\u01b0u thi\u1ebfp?” Linda Higgins n\u00f3i, qu\u0103ng m\u1ed9t mi\u1ebfng l\u1ecdc c\u00e0 ph\u00ea r\u1ec9 n\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0o th\u00f9ng r\u00e1c.<\/p>\n

“C\u1ea3nh n\u00fai O\u1eb1n L\u01b0ng.”<\/p>\n

“B\u00ean qu\u1eadn Fremont?”<\/p>\n

“Kh\u00f4ng, ph\u00eda b\u1eafc.”<\/p>\n

“Tui kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1eb7t t\u1ea5m n\u00e0o. \u0110\u1ec3 tui l\u1ea5y danh s\u00e1ch \u0111\u1eb7t h\u00e0ng. H\u1ecd c\u00f3 th\u00ec tui \u0111\u1eb7t cho anh m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m t\u1ea5m. D\u00f9 sau tui c\u0169ng c\u1ea7n \u0111\u1eb7t th\u00eam thi\u1ec7p.”<\/p>\n

“M\u1ed9t t\u1ea5m \u0111\u1ee7 r\u1ed3i,” Ennis n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n

Khi n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn–30 xu–anh g\u1eafn n\u00f3 l\u00ean \u1edf nh\u00e0 m\u00f3c k\u00e9o, ghim \u0111inh \u0111\u1ed3ng thau b\u1ed1n g\u00f3c. B\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi anh \u0111\u00f3ng m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i \u0111inh v\u00e0 tr\u00ean c\u00e1i \u0111inh anh treo chi\u1ebfc m\u1eafc \u00e1o d\u00e2y k\u1ebdm v\u00e0 hai c\u00e1i \u00e1o treo tr\u00ean m\u1eafc. Anh l\u00f9i l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 nh\u00ecn t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 qua v\u00e0i gi\u1ecdt l\u1ec7 cay.<\/p>\n

‘Jack, tao th\u1ec1–” anh n\u00f3i, d\u00f9 Jack ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd y\u00eau c\u1ea7u anh th\u1ec1 \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec v\u00e0 ch\u00ednh anh c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng thu\u1ed9c lo\u1ea1i ng\u01b0\u1eddi th\u1ec1 th\u1ed1t.<\/p>\n

Kho\u1ea3ng th\u1eddi gian \u0111\u00f3 Jack b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111\u1ebfn trong gi\u1ea5c m\u01a1 c\u1ee7a anh, Jack nh\u01b0 thu\u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u anh g\u1eb7p, t\u00f3c xo\u0103n v\u00e0 hay c\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 r\u0103ng th\u1ecf, n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 d\u1ef1 \u0111\u1ecbnh l\u00e0m ch\u1ee7 cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi, nh\u01b0ng lon \u0111\u1eadu v\u1edbi c\u00e1n th\u00eca th\u00f2 ra ch\u00f4ng ch\u00eanh tr\u00ean kh\u00fac c\u00e2y c\u0169ng c\u00f3 \u0111\u00f3 v\u1edbi h\u00ecnh d\u1ea1ng h\u00ed ho\u1ea1 v\u00e0 m\u00e0u s\u1eafc nh\u1ee3t nh\u1ea1t, khi\u1ebfn gi\u1ea5c m\u01a1 c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t n\u00e9t th\u00f4 t\u1ee5c bu\u1ed3n c\u01b0\u1eddi. C\u00e1n th\u00eca l\u00e0 lo\u1ea1i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 d\u00f9ng l\u00e0m c\u00e2y s\u1eaft thay b\u00e1nh xe. V\u00e0 anh s\u1ebd th\u1ee9c d\u1eady, \u0111\u00f4i khi trong n\u1ed7i \u0111au bu\u1ed3n, \u0111\u00f4i khi v\u1edbi c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c hoan l\u1ea1c c\u0169; \u0111\u00f4i khi chi\u1ebfc g\u1ed1i \u01b0\u1edbt, \u0111\u00f4i khi l\u00e0 kh\u0103n tr\u1ea3i gi\u01b0\u1eddng.<\/p>\n

C\u00f3 m\u1ed9t kho\u1ea3ng tr\u1ed1ng bao la gi\u1eefa \u0111i\u1ec1u anh bi\u1ebft v\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u anh g\u1eafng tin, nh\u01b0ng ch\u1eb3ng th\u1ec3 l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, v\u00e0 n\u1ebfu ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, th\u00ec ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ecbu.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nguy\u00ean t\u00e1c: \u201cBrokeback Mountain\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

H\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n l\u00e0m t\u00ecnh, \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 x\u1ea3y ra, tho\u1ea1t ti\u00ean ch\u1ec9 trong l\u1ec1u ban \u0111\u00eam, r\u1ed3i gi\u1eefa ban ng\u00e0y v\u1edbi m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi n\u00f3ng chi\u1ebfu xu\u1ed1ng, v\u00e0 bu\u1ed5i t\u1ed1i trong \u00e1nh l\u1eeda s\u00e1ng, nhanh, b\u1ea1o, ti\u1ebfng c\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 kh\u1ecbt m\u0169i, kh\u00f4ng thi\u1ebfu ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng, nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i m\u1ed9t ch\u1eef tr\u1eddi \u0111\u00e1nh n\u00e0o ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1778,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sang-tac","category-truyen-ngan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1778"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22105"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52769,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22105\/revisions\/52769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}