http:\/\/www.authorama.com\/jack-london-2.html<\/a>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
V\u00ec c\u1ecf \u01b0\u1edbt s\u01b0\u01a1ng, ch\u1ecb mang gi\u00e0y bao ngo\u00e0i n\u00ean b\u1ecb ch\u1eadm, v\u00e0 khi ra kh\u1ecfi nh\u00e0, ch\u1ecb th\u1ea5y ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ed3ng ch\u1edd \u0111\u1ee3i \u0111ang m\u1ea3i m\u00ea v\u1edbi s\u1ef1 k\u1ef3 di\u1ec7u c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t n\u1ee5 h\u1ea1nh nh\u00e2n \u0111ang h\u00e9 n\u1edf. Ch\u1ecb n\u00e9m c\u00e1i nh\u00ecn t\u00ecm ki\u1ebfm qua m\u1eb7t c\u1ecf cao v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng l\u1ed1i ra v\u00e0o gi\u1eefa v\u01b0\u1eddn c\u00e2y \u0103n tr\u00e1i.<\/p>\n
“S\u00f3i \u0111\u00e2u?” ch\u1ecb h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
“M\u1edbi n\u00e3y n\u00f3 \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y\u201d. Gi\u1eadt m\u00ecnh ra kh\u1ecfi c\u1ea3m gi\u00e1c n\u00ean th\u01a1 v\u00e0 l\u00fd thuy\u1ebft c\u1ee7a s\u1ef1 m\u00e0u nhi\u1ec7m h\u1eefu c\u01a1 l\u00e0 n\u1ee5 hoa, Walt Irvine nh\u00ecn quanh. “Anh th\u1ea5y n\u00f3 l\u1ea7n cu\u1ed1i l\u00fac n\u00f3 r\u01b0\u1ee3t con th\u1ecf\u201d.<\/p>\n
“S\u00f3i! S\u00f3i! \u00d0\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2y S\u00f3i!” ch\u1ecb g\u1ecdi khi h\u1ecd r\u1eddi kho\u1ea3ng \u0111\u1ea5t tr\u1ed1ng, \u0111i v\u00e0o con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n d\u1eabn xu\u1ed1ng con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng qu\u1eadn qua \u0111\u00e1m c\u00e2y hoa chu\u00f4ng.<\/p>\n
Irvine \u0111\u1eb7t hai ng\u00f3n \u00fat v\u00e0o mi\u1ec7ng v\u00e0 gi\u00fap ch\u1ecb v\u1edbi ti\u1ebfng hu\u00fdt ch\u00f3i tai.<\/p>\n
Ch\u1ecb v\u1ed9i v\u00e3 b\u1ecbt tai v\u00e0 nh\u0103n m\u1eb7t.<\/p>\n
“Chao \u01a1i! l\u00e0 nh\u00e0 th\u01a1, nh\u1ea1y c\u1ea3m v\u00e0 chi chi n\u1eefa, nh\u01b0ng anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 g\u00e2y ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng ch\u1eb3ng \u0111\u00e1ng y\u00eau ch\u00fat n\u00e0o. M\u00e0ng nh\u0129 em th\u1ee7ng m\u1ea5t r\u1ed3i. Anh hu\u00fdt gi\u00f3 c\u00f2n h\u01a1n c\u1ea3…”<\/p>\n
“Orpheus\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Em \u0111\u1ecbnh n\u00f3i t\u00ean \u1ea2 R\u1eadp ngo\u00e0i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng\u201d, ch\u1ecb s\u1eb5ng gi\u1ecdng.<\/p>\n
“Th\u01a1 kh\u00f4ng ng\u0103n ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta th\u1ef1c t\u1ebf – \u00edt nh\u1ea5t n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea3n ANH. S\u1ef1 th\u1ef1c t\u1ebf c\u1ee7a anh kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 n\u1ed7i b\u1ea5t l\u1ef1c c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t thi\u00ean t\u00e0i kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 b\u00e1n ch\u00e2u ng\u1ecdc cho t\u1ea1p ch\u00ed\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anh l\u00e0m \u0111i\u1ec7u b\u1ed9 ph\u00f3ng \u0111\u1ea1i, r\u1ed3i ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c:<\/p>\n
“Anh kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 ca s\u0129 g\u00e1c x\u00e9p, kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i ng\u01b0\u1eddi h\u00e1t trong v\u0169 h\u1ed9i. V\u00ec sao? V\u00ec anh th\u1ef1c t\u1ebf. B\u00e0i h\u00e1t c\u1ee7a anh kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i lo\u1ea1i ngh\u00e8o n\u00e0n kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 t\u1ef1 bi\u1ebfn h\u00f3a, v\u1edbi s\u1ef1 trao \u0111\u1ed5i th\u1ecfa \u0111\u00e1ng, th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t ng\u00f4i nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf ph\u1ee7 hoa, m\u1ed9t c\u00e1nh \u0111\u1ed3ng d\u1ec5 th\u01b0\u01a1ng trong n\u00fai, m\u1ed9t m\u1ea3ng r\u1eebng th\u00f4ng, m\u1ed9t v\u01b0\u1eddn c\u00e2y tr\u00e1i 37 g\u1ed1c, m\u1ed9t lu\u1ed1ng d\u00e2u \u0111en d\u00e0i v\u00e0 hai lu\u1ed1ng d\u00e2u \u0111\u1ecf ng\u1eafn, ch\u01b0a k\u1ec3 ph\u1ea7n t\u01b0 d\u1eb7m su\u1ed1i r\u00f3c r\u00e1ch. Anh l\u00e0 nh\u00e0 bu\u00f4n c\u00e1i \u0111\u1eb9p, bu\u00f4n b\u00e0i ca, anh theo \u0111u\u1ed5i th\u1ef1c d\u1ee5ng Madge \u1ea1. Anh h\u00e1t b\u00e0i ca, v\u00e0 nh\u1edd \u01a1n c\u00e1c ch\u1ee7 b\u00fat t\u1ea1p ch\u00ed, anh bi\u1ebfn b\u00e0i ca c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh th\u00e0nh ng\u1ecdn gi\u00f3 t\u00e2y ca h\u00e1t qua r\u1eebng th\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang ta, th\u00e0nh l\u1eddi th\u00ec th\u1ea7m c\u1ee7a n\u01b0\u1edbc qua nh\u1eefng h\u00f2n \u0111\u00e1 ph\u1ee7 r\u00eau, nh\u1eefng h\u00f2n \u0111\u00e1 h\u00e1t l\u1ea1i cho anh m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i ca kh\u00e1c nh\u01b0ng v\u1eabn ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i ca – \u01a1 \u2013 \u0111\u00e3 bi\u1ebfn h\u00f3a m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch th\u1ea7n di\u1ec7u\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Ph\u1ea3i chi bi\u1ebfn h\u00f3a b\u00e0i ca n\u00e0o c\u1ee7a anh c\u0169ng th\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng nh\u01b0 v\u1eady!” ch\u1ecb c\u01b0\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“Em n\u00f3i xem b\u00e0i n\u00e0o kh\u00f4ng th\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Hai b\u00e0i sonnet \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd anh bi\u1ebfn th\u00e0nh con b\u00f2 \u00edt s\u1eefa nh\u1ea5t th\u1ecb tr\u1ea5n\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Con b\u00f2 \u0111\u1eb9p – ” anh b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u,<\/p>\n
Madge c\u1eaft ngang,”Nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 s\u1eefa\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 \u00d0\u1eb8P, ph\u1ea3i kh\u00f4ng?” anh nh\u1ea5t quy\u1ebft.<\/p>\n
“\u0110\u00e2y l\u00e0 ch\u1ed7 c\u00e1i \u0111\u1eb9p v\u00e0 th\u1ef1c d\u1ee5ng b\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ed3ng\u201d, ch\u1ecb tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. “V\u00e0 kia l\u00e0 S\u00f3i!”<\/p>\n
T\u1eeb s\u01b0\u1eddn \u0111\u1ed3i nhi\u1ec1u b\u1ee5i r\u1eadm vang l\u00ean ti\u1ebfng xao \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u1ecf c\u00e2y, r\u1ed3i 40 b\u1ed9 Anh ph\u00eda tr\u00ean h\u1ecd, b\u00ean b\u1edd v\u00e1ch \u0111\u00e1 d\u1ef1ng \u0111\u1ee9ng, hi\u1ec7n ra m\u1ed9t c\u00e1i \u0111\u1ea7u v\u00e0 hai vai s\u00f3i. Hai ch\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc b\u00e1m xu\u1ed1ng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 l\u00e0m v\u0103ng m\u1ed9t vi\u00ean s\u1ecfi, v\u00e0 v\u1edbi \u0111\u00f4i tai v\u1ec3nh c\u00f9ng c\u1eb7p m\u1eaft s\u1eafc, n\u00f3 nh\u00ecn vi\u00ean s\u1ecfi r\u01a1i xu\u1ed1ng cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi vi\u00ean s\u1ecfi ch\u1ea1m \u0111\u1ea5t c\u1ea1nh ch\u00e2n h\u1ecd. R\u1ed3i n\u00f3 nh\u00ecn h\u1ecd v\u1edbi c\u00e1i m\u00f5m h\u00e1 ra c\u01b0\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“S\u00f3i!” v\u00e0 “S\u00f3i c\u00f3 ph\u00fac!” ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 g\u1ecdi n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Nghe gi\u1ecdng c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd, \u0111\u00f4i tai n\u00f3 n\u1eb1m r\u1ea1p xu\u1ed1ng, v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea7u n\u00f3 d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 r\u00fac v\u00e0o m\u1ed9t b\u00e0n tay ve vu\u1ed1t v\u00f4 h\u00ecnh.<\/p>\n
H\u1ecd nh\u00ecn n\u00f3 len l\u00e1ch tr\u1edf v\u00e0o b\u1ee5i r\u1eadm, r\u1ed3i ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c \u0111i. M\u1ed9t l\u00fac sau, quanh m\u1ed9t ng\u00e3 r\u1ebd \u00edt d\u1ed1c h\u01a1n tr\u00ean l\u1ed1i m\u00f2n, n\u00f3 nh\u1eadp b\u1ecdn v\u1edbi h\u1ecd gi\u1eefa \u0111\u00e1m s\u1ecfi \u0111\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ed5 r\u00e0o r\u00e0o. N\u00f3 \u00edt bi\u1ec3u l\u1ed9. M\u1ed9t c\u00e1i v\u1ed7 nh\u1eb9 v\u00e0 vu\u1ed1t tai c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng, c\u00e1i vu\u1ed1t ve l\u00e2u h\u01a1n c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0, r\u1ed3i n\u00f3 ch\u1ea1y \u0111i l\u00ean tr\u01b0\u1edbc h\u1ecd, l\u01b0\u1edbt d\u1ec5 d\u00e0ng tr\u00ean m\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea5t theo \u0111\u00fang ki\u1ec3u lo\u00e0i s\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
Nh\u00ecn b\u1ed9 d\u1ea1ng, l\u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111u\u00f4i, n\u00f3 l\u00e0 con s\u00f3i r\u1eebng l\u1edbn; nh\u01b0ng m\u00e0u l\u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec3m \u0111\u1ed1m c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 cho th\u1ea5y n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i s\u00f3i. Qua m\u00e0u l\u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec3m \u0111\u1ed1m, con ch\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 t\u1ef1 ph\u00f4 b\u00e0y kh\u00f4ng nh\u1ea7m l\u1eabn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Kh\u00f4ng con s\u00f3i n\u00e0o c\u00f3 m\u00e0u nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf. N\u00f3 m\u00e0u n\u00e2u, n\u00e2u \u0111\u1eadm, n\u00e2u \u0111\u1ecf, m\u1ed9t m\u1edb n\u00e2u h\u1ed7n \u0111\u1ed9n. L\u01b0ng v\u00e0 vai l\u00e0 m\u00e0u n\u00e2u \u1ea5m nh\u1ea1t d\u1ea7n hai b\u00ean s\u01b0\u1eddn v\u00e0 d\u01b0\u1edbi b\u1ee5ng th\u00e0nh m\u00e0u v\u00e0ng b\u1ea9n v\u00ec s\u1eafc n\u00e2u c\u00f2n v\u01b0\u1edbng v\u1ea5t trong \u1ea5y. M\u1ea3ng tr\u1eafng \u1edf c\u1ed5, ch\u00e2n, v\u00e0 m\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ed1m tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft nh\u00f4m nh\u00eam v\u00ec s\u1eafc n\u00e2u kh\u00f4ng x\u00f3a \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, trong khi \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft l\u00e0 hai vi\u00ean ho\u00e0ng ng\u1ecdc n\u00e2u v\u00e0ng.<\/p>\n
Ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 y\u00eau con ch\u00f3 l\u1eafm; c\u00f3 l\u1ebd b\u1edfi v\u00ec chi\u1ebfm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 th\u1eadt l\u00e0 l\u1eafm c\u00f4ng. Kh\u00f4ng d\u1ec5 ch\u00fat n\u00e0o khi l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ch\u1eb3ng bi\u1ebft t\u1eeb \u0111\u00e2u v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u v\u00ec sao n\u00f3 tr\u00f4i gi\u1ea1t \u0111\u1ebfn c\u0103n nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf trong n\u00fai c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd. \u0110au ch\u00e2n v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f3i \u0103n, n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 gi\u1ebft m\u1ed9t con th\u1ecf ngay d\u01b0\u1edbi c\u1eeda s\u1ed5 c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd m\u00e0 h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft, r\u1ed3i l\u00ea \u0111i ng\u1ee7 b\u00ean gi\u00f2ng su\u1ed1i d\u01b0\u1edbi ch\u00e2n m\u1ea5y b\u1ee5i d\u00e2u \u0111en. Khi Walt Irvine \u0111\u1ebfn xem x\u00e9t k\u1ebb x\u00e2m nh\u1eadp, c\u00f4ng kh\u00f3 c\u1ee7a anh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u1ec1n \u0111\u00e1p b\u1eb1ng ti\u1ebfng n\u1ea1t g\u1eeb, v\u00e0 Madge c\u0169ng b\u1ecb n\u1ea1t g\u1eeb nh\u01b0 v\u1eady khi ch\u1ecb \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u1ec3 ch\u00eca ra m\u1ed9t ch\u1ea3o l\u1edbn s\u1eefa v\u00e0 b\u00e1nh m\u00ec nh\u01b0 l\u1ec5 v\u1eadt c\u1ea7u ho\u00e0.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 r\u00f5 l\u00e0 con ch\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng th\u00e2n thi\u1ec7n t\u00ed n\u00e0o, gh\u00e9t t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng l\u00e2n la c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd, kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u1ec3 h\u1ecd \u0111\u1ee5ng \u0111\u1ebfn, nhe nanh v\u00e0 x\u00f9 l\u00f4ng do\u1ea1 h\u1ecd. Th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 v\u1eabn \u1edf l\u1ea1i, ng\u1ee7 ngh\u1ec9 b\u00ean gi\u00f2ng su\u1ed1i, v\u00e0 \u0103n th\u1ee9c \u0103n sau khi h\u1ecd \u0111\u1ec3 xu\u1ed1ng xa xa r\u1ed3i r\u00fat \u0111i. T\u00ecnh tr\u1ea1ng th\u1ec3 ch\u1ea5t t\u1ed3i t\u1ec7 gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch t\u1ea1i sao n\u00f3 l\u1ea7n l\u1eefa; v\u00e0 khi n\u00f3 h\u1ed3i s\u1ee9c, sau nhi\u1ec1u ng\u00e0y ngh\u1ec9 ng\u01a1i, n\u00f3 bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t.<\/p>\n
\u0110\u1ea5y c\u00f3 l\u1ebd l\u00e0 k\u1ebft th\u00fac c\u1ee7a n\u00f3, \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi Irvine v\u00e0 v\u1ee3 anh, n\u1ebfu trong l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3 Irvine kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecb g\u1ecdi l\u00ean mi\u1ec1n b\u1eafc ti\u1ec3u bang. Tr\u00ean xe l\u1eeda g\u1ea7n bi\u00ean gi\u1edbi California v\u00e0 Oregon, anh t\u00ecnh c\u1edd nh\u00ecn ra c\u1eeda s\u1ed5 v\u00e0 th\u1ea5y ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00e1ch thi\u1ebfu x\u00e3 giao c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh l\u01b0\u1edbt c\u1ea1nh \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng r\u1ea7y, m\u00e0u n\u00e2u v\u00e0 gi\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 s\u00f3i, m\u1ec7t m\u1ecfi nh\u01b0ng b\u1ec1n b\u00ec, l\u1ea5m b\u1ee5i v\u00e0 d\u01a1 b\u1ea9n sau hai tr\u0103m d\u1eb7m du h\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n
Irvine l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed3ng, m\u1ed9t nh\u00e0 th\u01a1. Anh xu\u1ed1ng xe \u1edf tr\u1ea1m k\u1ebf ti\u1ebfp, mua mi\u1ebfng th\u1ecbt \u1edf h\u00e0ng th\u1ecbt, v\u00e0 t\u00f3m l\u1ea5y t\u00ean lang b\u1ea1t ngo\u00e0i th\u1ecb tr\u1ea5n. Chuy\u1ebfn v\u1ec1 l\u00e0 \u1edf tr\u00ean xe h\u00e0ng, v\u00e0 nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf S\u00f3i \u0111\u1ebfn c\u0103n nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf trong n\u00fai l\u1ea7n th\u1ee9 nh\u00ec. \u1ede \u0111\u00e2y n\u00f3 b\u1ecb c\u1ed9t m\u1ed9t tu\u1ea7n l\u1ec5 trong khi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 \u00e2u y\u1ebfm n\u00f3. Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ea5y l\u00e0 \u00e2u y\u1ebfm c\u1ea9n tr\u1ecdng. Xa v\u1eafng v\u00e0 l\u1ea1 l\u1eabm nh\u01b0 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb h\u00e0nh tinh kh\u00e1c, n\u00f3 g\u1ea7m g\u1eeb \u00e1t nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi y\u00eau th\u01b0\u01a1ng \u00eam d\u1ecbu c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd s\u1ee7a. Trong t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 th\u1eddi gian h\u1ecd nu\u00f4i n\u00f3, ch\u01b0a ai nghe n\u00f3 s\u1ee7a bao gi\u1edd.<\/p>\n
Chinh ph\u1ee5c n\u00f3 tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1. Irvine th\u00edch v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1. Anh \u0111\u1eb7t l\u00e0m m\u1ed9t mi\u1ebfng kim lo\u1ea1i, tr\u00ean \u0111\u00f3 in d\u1ea5u: G\u1eecI CHO WALT IRVINE, GLEN ELLEN, QU\u1eacN SONOMA, CALIFORNIA. Mi\u1ebfng kim lo\u1ea1i n\u00e0y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u1eafn v\u00e0o d\u00e2y c\u1ed5 v\u00e0 bu\u1ed9c quanh c\u1ed5 con ch\u00f3. R\u1ed3i n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u1ea3, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t ngay. Ng\u00e0y h\u00f4m sau \u0111i\u1ec7n t\u00edn \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb qu\u1eadn Mendocino. Trong hai m\u01b0\u01a1i gi\u1edd \u0111\u1ed3ng h\u1ed3 n\u00f3 \u0111i h\u01a1n tr\u0103m d\u1eb7m v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda B\u1eafc, v\u00e0 v\u1eabn \u0111ang \u0111i khi b\u1ecb b\u1eaft.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 b\u1eb1ng d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 Well Fargo Kh\u1ea9n, b\u1ecb c\u1ed9t ba ng\u00e0y, th\u1ea3 ng\u00e0y th\u1ee9 t\u01b0 v\u00e0 m\u1ea5t bi\u1ec7t. L\u1ea7n n\u00e0y n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn mi\u1ec1n nam Oregon tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi b\u1ecb b\u1eaft v\u00e0 tr\u1ea3 v\u1ec1. L\u1ea7n n\u00e0o c\u0169ng th\u1ebf, v\u1eeba \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u1ef1 do l\u00e0 n\u00f3 ch\u1ea1y bi\u1ebfn, v\u00e0 l\u1ea7n n\u00e0o n\u00f3 c\u0169ng ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng B\u1eafc. N\u00f3 b\u1ecb m\u1ed9t n\u1ed7i \u00e1m \u1ea3nh k\u00e9o n\u00f3 v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda B\u1eafc. B\u1ea3n n\u0103ng v\u1ec1 nh\u00e0, Irvine n\u00f3i th\u1ebf, sau khi anh ti\u00eau ti\u1ec1n b\u00e1n m\u1ed9t b\u00e0i sonnet \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea5y con v\u1eadt v\u1ec1 t\u1eeb mi\u1ec1n b\u1eafc Oregon.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n kh\u00e1c, t\u00ean lang b\u1ea1t m\u00e0u n\u00e2u th\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng trong vi\u1ec7c v\u01b0\u1ee3t n\u1eeda chi\u1ec1u d\u00e0i California, su\u1ed1t Oregon, v\u00e0 g\u1ea7n h\u1ebft Washington tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi b\u1ecb t\u00fam v\u00e0 g\u1eedi v\u1ec1 theo l\u1ed1i “ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1eadn tr\u1ea3 l\u1ec7 ph\u00ed\u201d. \u00d0i\u1ec3m \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t l\u00e0 t\u1ed1c \u0111\u1ed9 di chuy\u1ec3n c\u1ee7a n\u00f3. \u0110\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0103n v\u00e0 ngh\u1ec9 \u0111\u1ea7y \u0111\u1ee7, ngay sau khi n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u1ea3, n\u00f3 hi\u1ebfn t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 s\u1ee9c l\u1ef1c \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111i. Ng\u00e0y \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m n\u0103m m\u01b0\u01a1i d\u1eb7m, sau \u0111\u00f3 trung b\u00ecnh n\u00f3 \u0111i m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m d\u1eb7m m\u1ed7i ng\u00e0y cho \u0111\u1ebfn khi b\u1ecb b\u1eaft. L\u1ea7n n\u00e0o n\u00f3 c\u0169ng tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 g\u1ea7y \u1ed1m, \u0111\u00f3i v\u00e0 hung t\u1ee3n, v\u00e0 l\u1ea7n n\u00e0o n\u00f3 c\u0169ng t\u01b0\u01a1i t\u1ec9nh v\u00e0 m\u1ea1nh kh\u1ecfe khi \u0111i, x\u1ebb \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng l\u00ean ph\u00eda b\u1eafc \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u00e1p l\u1eddi m\u1ed9t th\u00fac \u0111\u1ea9y kh\u00f4ng ai hi\u1ec3u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c trong s\u1ef1 s\u1ed1ng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Nh\u01b0ng cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng, sau m\u1ed9t n\u0103m ch\u1ea1y tr\u1ed1n kh\u00f4ng th\u00e0nh, n\u00f3 ch\u1ea5p nh\u1eadn chuy\u1ec7n t\u1ea5t nhi\u00ean v\u00e0 ch\u1ecdn \u1edf l\u1ea1i c\u0103n nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf n\u01a1i n\u00f3 gi\u1ebft con th\u1ecf v\u00e0 ng\u1ee7 b\u00ean gi\u00f2ng su\u1ed1i. Ngay c\u1ea3 sau \u0111\u00f3, ph\u1ea3i m\u1ea5t m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian d\u00e0i ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 m\u1edbi v\u1ed7 v\u1ec1 n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. \u00d0\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfn th\u1eafng l\u1edbn, v\u00ec ch\u1ec9 m\u00ecnh h\u1ecd \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cho ph\u00e9p ch\u1ea1m v\u00e0o n\u00f3. N\u00f3 nh\u1ea5t m\u1ef1c ri\u00eang r\u1ebd, v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00e1ch n\u00e0o c\u1ee7a c\u0103n nh\u00e0 nh\u1ecf l\u00e0m quen \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u1edbi n\u00f3. M\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng g\u1eeb nh\u1ecf \u0111\u00f3n ch\u00e0o s\u1ef1 l\u00e2n la; n\u1ebfu ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00e0o \u0111\u1ee7 gan \u0111\u1ebfn g\u1ea7n h\u01a1n th\u00ec m\u00f4i n\u00f3 cu\u1ed1n l\u00ean, r\u0103ng nanh tr\u1ea7n l\u1ed9 ra, v\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng g\u1eeb to h\u01a1n \u2013 m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng g\u1eeb kinh khi\u1ebfp v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed9c \u0111\u1ecba \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ee9c ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u1ee9ng gan nh\u1ea5t c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i s\u1ee3, nh\u01b0 c\u00e1ch n\u00f3 d\u1ecda l\u0169 ch\u00f3 c\u1ee7a m\u1ea5y ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u00e0 n\u00f4ng ch\u1ec9 bi\u1ebft ti\u1ebfng g\u1eeb c\u1ee7a ch\u00f3, nh\u01b0ng ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd th\u1ea5y s\u00f3i g\u1eeb.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 qu\u00e1 kh\u1ee9. L\u1ecbch s\u1eed c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u v\u1edbi Walt v\u00e0 Madge. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb ph\u00eda nam, n\u00f3 r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng ch\u1ea1y tr\u1ed1n, nh\u01b0ng h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft g\u00ec v\u1ec1 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 c\u0169. B\u00e0 Johnson, ng\u01b0\u1eddi h\u00e0ng x\u00f3m g\u1ea7n nh\u1ea5t v\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi cung c\u1ea5p s\u1eefa cho h\u1ecd, tuy\u00ean b\u1ed1 r\u1eb1ng n\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 Klondike. Anh c\u1ee7a b\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0o t\u00ecm nh\u1eefng l\u1eb1n v\u00e0ng \u0111\u00f4ng c\u1ee9ng \u1edf x\u1ee9 s\u1edf xa x\u00f4i \u0111\u00f3, v\u00e0 nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf b\u00e0 t\u1ef1 cho r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ea9m quy\u1ec1n trong v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 n\u00e0y.<\/p>\n
Nh\u01b0ng h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng c\u00e3i l\u1ea1i. \u00d0u\u00f4i hai tai S\u00f3i r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 l\u1ea7n b\u1ecb c\u00f3ng n\u1eb7ng \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1ee9c ch\u00fang kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 l\u00e0nh l\u1ea1i ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n. H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, tr\u00f4ng n\u00f3 gi\u1ed1ng nh\u1eefng b\u1ee9c h\u00ecnh ch\u00f3 Alaska h\u1ecd th\u1ea5y in trong b\u00e1o v\u00e0 t\u1ea1p ch\u00ed. H\u1ecd th\u01b0\u1eddng suy \u0111o\u00e1n v\u1ec1 qu\u00e1 kh\u1ee9 c\u1ee7a n\u00f3, v\u00e0 g\u1eafng v\u1ebd n\u00ean (t\u1eeb nh\u1eefng g\u00ec h\u1ecd \u0111\u1ecdc v\u00e0 nghe th\u1ea5y) \u0111\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng ph\u01b0\u01a1ng b\u1eafc c\u1ee7a n\u00f3. H\u1ecd bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ea5t b\u1eafc v\u1eabn c\u00f2n l\u00f4i k\u00e9o n\u00f3, v\u00ec ban \u0111\u00eam \u0111\u00f4i khi h\u1ecd nghe n\u00f3 r\u00ean nho nh\u1ecf; v\u00e0 khi gi\u00f3 b\u1ea5c th\u1ed5i v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng gian c\u00f3 h\u01a1i gi\u00e1, n\u00f3 s\u1ebd r\u1ea5t b\u1ed3n ch\u1ed3n v\u00e0 c\u1ea5t l\u00ean m\u1ed9t l\u1edd\u00ec than ai o\u00e1n h\u1ecd bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng tru d\u00e0i c\u1ee7a ch\u00f3 s\u00f3i. Nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd s\u1ee7a. Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 s\u1ef1 khi\u00eau kh\u00edch n\u00e0o \u0111\u1ee7 s\u1ee9c khi\u1ebfn n\u00f3 b\u1eadt ra ti\u1ebfng k\u00eau \u1ea5y c\u1ee7a lo\u00e0i ch\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Trong th\u1eddi gian thu ph\u1ee5c n\u00f3, h\u1ecd b\u00e0n th\u1ea3o r\u1ea5t l\u00e2u v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n n\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 c\u1ee7a ai. C\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u1ec1u cho r\u1eb1ng n\u00f3 l\u00e0 c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, v\u00e0 m\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00f3i to l\u00ean m\u1ecdi di\u1ec5n \u0111\u1ea1t th\u01b0\u01a1ng y\u00eau c\u1ee7a n\u00f3. Tho\u1ea1t ti\u00ean ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng c\u00f3 l\u1ee3i th\u1ebf, ph\u1ea7n l\u1edbn l\u00e0 v\u00ec anh l\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng. R\u00f5 r\u00e0ng S\u00f3i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 kinh nghi\u1ec7m g\u00ec v\u1ec1 ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef. V\u00e1y c\u1ee7a Madge l\u00e0 th\u1ee9 n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd ho\u00e0n to\u00e0n ch\u1ea5p nh\u1eadn. Ti\u1ebfng x\u1ed9t xo\u1ea1t c\u1ee7a chi\u1ebfc v\u00e1y \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ee7 l\u00e0m n\u00f3 d\u1ef1ng l\u00f4ng l\u00ean nghi ng\u1ea1i, v\u00e0 nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y gi\u00f3 l\u1ed9ng ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 \u0111\u1ebfn g\u1ea7n n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
M\u1eb7t kh\u00e1c, Madge l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi cho n\u00f3 \u0103n; ch\u1ecb c\u0169ng l\u00e0 ch\u1ee7 b\u1ebfp, v\u00e0 c\u00f3 \u0111\u1eb7c \u00e2n c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb, v\u00e0 c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh ch\u1ecb th\u00f4i, n\u00f3 m\u1edbi \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u00e9p v\u00e0o n\u01a1i thi\u00eang li\u00eang \u1ea5y. V\u00ec nh\u1eefng th\u1ee9 n\u00e0y, Madge v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u01b0\u1edbng ng\u1ea1i do qu\u1ea7n \u00e1o c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb g\u00e2y ra. R\u1ed3i th\u00ec Walt b\u1ecf c\u00f4ng kh\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 t\u1ea1o th\u00f3i quen cho S\u00f3i n\u1eb1m b\u00ean ch\u00e2n anh trong khi anh vi\u1ebft,v\u00e0 vu\u1ed1t ve c\u00f9ng n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00e3 l\u1ea5y m\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a anh nhi\u1ec1u th\u00ec gi\u1edd l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c. Cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng Walt th\u1eafng, v\u00e0 chi\u1ebfn th\u1eafng c\u1ee7a anh c\u00f3 l\u1ebd ph\u1ea7n l\u1edbn nh\u1edd v\u00e0o vi\u1ec7c anh l\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng, tuy r\u1eb1ng Madge quy\u1ebft ch\u1eafc r\u1eb1ng h\u1ecd ph\u1ea3i c\u00f3 th\u00eam m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea7n t\u01b0 d\u1eb7m con su\u1ed1i r\u00f3c r\u00e1ch v\u00e0 \u00edt nh\u1ea5t hai ng\u1ecdn gi\u00f3 t\u00e2y ca h\u00e1t qua r\u1eebng th\u00f4ng c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd n\u1ebfu Walt d\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng s\u1ee9c \u0111\u00fang m\u1ee9c v\u00e0o vi\u1ec7c bi\u1ebfn h\u00f3a b\u00e0i ca v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ec3 S\u00f3i y\u00ean \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 bi\u1ec3u l\u1ed9 \u00fd th\u00edch t\u1ef1 nhi\u00ean v\u00e0 s\u1ef1 x\u00e9t \u0111o\u00e1n kh\u00f4ng thi\u00ean v\u1ecb.<\/p>\n
“\u00d0\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac anh ph\u1ea3i c\u00f3 tin v\u1ec1 m\u1ea5y b\u00e0i triolet (th\u01a1 8 c\u00e2u)”, Walt n\u00f3i sau 5 ph\u00fat im l\u1eb7ng khi h\u1ecd \u0111\u1ec1u b\u01b0\u1edbc theo con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00f2n. “Anh bi\u1ebft s\u1ebd c\u00f3 t\u1ea5m ng\u00e2n phi\u1ebfu \u1edf b\u01b0u \u0111i\u1ec7n, v\u00e0 m\u00ecnh s\u1ebd bi\u1ebfn n\u00f3 th\u00e0nh b\u1ed9t m\u00ec, 4 l\u00edt m\u1eadt c\u00e2y phong, v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t \u0111\u00f4i gi\u00e0y bao ngo\u00e0i m\u1edbi cho em\u201d.<\/p>\n
“V\u00e0 th\u00e0nh s\u1eefa ngon l\u00e0nh c\u1ee7a con b\u00f2 nh\u00e0 b\u00e0 Johnson\u201d, Madge th\u00eam. “Ng\u00e0y mai l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea7u th\u00e1ng, anh bi\u1ebft m\u00e0\u201d.<\/p>\n
Walt nh\u00edu m\u00e0y m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch v\u00f4 th\u1ee9c; r\u1ed3i m\u1eb7t anh t\u01b0\u01a1i l\u00ean, v\u00e0 anh \u0111\u1eadp tay v\u00e0o t\u00fai \u00e1o ng\u1ef1c.<\/p>\n
“Kh\u00f4ng sao. Anh c\u00f3 \u0111\u00e2y m\u1ed9t con b\u00f2 xinh \u0111\u1eb9p d\u1ec5 th\u01b0\u01a1ng, con b\u00f2 nhi\u1ec1u s\u1eefa nh\u1ea5t California\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Anh vi\u1ebft n\u00f3 l\u00fac n\u00e0o?” ch\u1ecb nao n\u1ee9c \u0111\u00f2i. R\u1ed3i, tr\u00e1ch m\u00f3c, “V\u1eady m\u00e0 anh kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0a cho em xem\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Anh d\u00e0nh n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u1ecdc cho em nghe tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u1ebfn b\u01b0u \u0111i\u1ec7n, \u1edf m\u1ed9t ch\u1ed7 r\u1ea5t gi\u1ed1ng ch\u1ed7 n\u00e0y\u201d, anh tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi, tay ch\u1ec9 m\u1ed9t kh\u00fac g\u1ed7 kh\u00f4 \u0111\u1ec3 ng\u1ed3i.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t gi\u00f2ng n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ecfng m\u1ea3nh ch\u1ea3y ra t\u1eeb \u0111\u00e1m d\u01b0\u01a1ng x\u1ec9 r\u1eadm r\u1ea1p, chu\u1ed3i xu\u1ed1ng t\u1ea3ng \u0111\u00e1 ph\u1ee7 r\u00eau, v\u00e0 ch\u1ea1y ngang l\u1ed1i m\u00f2n c\u1ea1nh ch\u00e2n h\u1ecd. T\u1eeb thung l\u0169ng v\u1ecdng l\u00ean b\u00e0i h\u00e1t d\u1ecbu d\u00e0ng c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng con chim chi\u1ec1n chi\u1ec7n, trong khi chung quanh h\u1ecd, nh\u1eefng con b\u01b0\u1edbm v\u00e0ng l\u1edbn ch\u1eadp ch\u1eddn bay l\u01b0\u1ee3n qua \u00e1nh n\u1eafng v\u00e0 b\u00f3ng r\u00e2m.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng kh\u00e1c t\u1eeb b\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi chen v\u00e0o ti\u1ebfng Walt \u0111\u1ecdc kh\u1ebd b\u1ea3n th\u1ea3o c\u1ee7a anh. \u00d0\u00f3 l\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng l\u1ea1o x\u1ea1o c\u1ee7a b\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u00e2n n\u1eb7ng n\u1ec1, th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng \u0111i\u1ec3m th\u00eam ti\u1ebfng l\u00e1ch c\u00e1ch c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t vi\u00ean \u0111\u00e1 b\u1ecb \u0111\u1ed5i ch\u1ed7. Khi Walt \u0111\u1ecdc xong v\u00e0 nh\u00ecn v\u1ee3 ch\u1edd t\u00e1n th\u01b0\u1edfng, m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng hi\u1ec7n ra \u1edf kh\u00fac quanh c\u1ee7a l\u1ed1i m\u00f2n. Anh ta \u0111\u1ea7u tr\u1ea7n, m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i nh\u1ec5 nh\u1ea1i. M\u1ed9t tay anh c\u1ea7m kh\u0103n tay lau m\u1eb7t, tay kia c\u1ea7m chi\u1ebfc m\u0169 m\u1edbi v\u00e0 c\u1ed5 \u00e1o h\u1ed3 c\u1ee9ng anh \u0111\u00e3 c\u1edfi ra v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e3 eo x\u00e8o. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi anh to l\u1edbn, b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 s\u1eafp b\u1eadt ra kh\u1ecfi b\u1ed9 qu\u1ea7n \u00e1o may s\u1eb5n m\u00e0u \u0111en m\u1edbi toanh anh m\u1eb7c.<\/p>\n
“M\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y \u1ea5m \u0111\u1ea5y nh\u1ec9\u201d, Walt ch\u00e0o anh. Walt tin t\u01b0\u1edfng v\u00e0o s\u1ef1 d\u00e2n ch\u1ee7 \u0111\u1ed3ng qu\u00ea, v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd b\u1ecf l\u1ee1 c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i th\u1ef1c h\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n
Ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng ng\u1eebng b\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0 g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u ch\u00e0o.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1eafc t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng quen tr\u1eddi \u1ea5m\u201d, anh n\u00f3i n\u1eeda nh\u01b0 xin l\u1ed7i. “T\u00f4i quen th\u1eddi ti\u1ebft kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ed9 h\u01a1n\u201d.<\/p>\n
Walt c\u01b0\u1eddi.”Anh kh\u00f4ng t\u00ecm th\u1ea5y n\u00f3 \u1edf v\u00f9ng n\u00e0y \u0111\u00e2u”.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1eafc l\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng\u201d, ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. “M\u00e0 t\u00f4i c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2y ki\u1ebfm n\u00f3. T\u00f4i \u0111ang t\u00ecm em g\u00e1i t\u00f4i. C\u00f3 l\u1ebd anh bi\u1ebft c\u00f4 \u1ea5y \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u. C\u00f4 \u1ea5y t\u00ean Johnson, b\u00e0 Willams Johnson\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Anh kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i ng\u01b0\u1eddi anh Klondike c\u1ee7a b\u00e0 \u0111\u1ea5y ch\u1ee9”, Madge la l\u00ean, m\u1eaft ch\u1ecb s\u00e1ng l\u00ean th\u00edch th\u00fa, “ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i nghe \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e3 nhi\u1ec1u?”<\/p>\n
“V\u00e2ng, th\u01b0a ch\u1ecb, ch\u00ednh l\u00e0 t\u00f4i\u201d, anh khi\u00eam t\u1ed1n tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. “T\u00ean t\u00f4i l\u00e0 Miller, Skiff Miller. T\u00f4i \u0111\u1ecbnh s\u1ebd cho c\u00f4 \u1ea5y m\u1ed9t s\u1ef1 b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd\u201d.<\/p>\n
“V\u1eady th\u00ec anh \u0111i \u0111\u00fang h\u01b0\u1edbng r\u1ed3i. Ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 anh \u0111i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ed9 th\u00f4i\u201d. Madge \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady, ch\u1ec9 l\u00ean m\u1ed9t ph\u1ea7n t\u01b0 d\u1eb7m tr\u00ean h\u1ebbm n\u00fai \u0111\u1ec3 h\u01b0\u1edbng d\u1eabn anh. “Anh c\u00f3 th\u1ea5y \u0111\u00e1m th\u00f4ng b\u1ecb c\u00f2i b\u1ec7nh \u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng? Anh c\u1ee9 theo l\u1ed1i m\u00f2n r\u1ebd v\u1ec1 b\u00ean ph\u1ea3i. \u00d0\u00f3 l\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng t\u1eaft \u0111\u1ebfn nh\u00e0 b\u00e0 \u1ea5y. Anh kh\u00f4ng l\u1ea7m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00e2u\u201d.<\/p>\n
“C\u00e1m \u01a1n ch\u1ecb,” anh n\u00f3i. Anh d\u1ee3m b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111i, nh\u01b0ng d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb l\u00fang t\u00fang b\u00e1m r\u1ec5 t\u1ea1i ch\u1ed7. Anh \u0111ang nh\u00ecn ch\u1ecb \u0111\u0103m \u0111\u0103m v\u1edbi v\u1ebb ng\u01b0\u1ee1ng m\u1ed9 kh\u00f4ng che d\u1ea5u m\u00e0 anh kh\u00f4ng h\u1eb3n nh\u1eadn bi\u1ebft, n\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1ee1ng m\u1ed9 \u0111ang ch\u00ecm \u0111\u1eafm c\u00f9ng v\u1edbi anh trong bi\u1ec3n c\u1ea3 ng\u01b0\u1ee3ng ng\u00f9ng \u0111ang d\u00e2ng l\u00ean khi\u1ebfn anh ch\u1edbi v\u1edbi.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i r\u1ea5t mu\u1ed1n nghe anh k\u1ec3 chuy\u1ec7n Klondike,” Madge n\u00f3i. “Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 n\u00e0o gh\u00e9 qua ch\u1ed7 em g\u00e1i anh trong l\u00fac anh \u1edf \u0111\u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng? Hay, t\u1ed1t h\u01a1n n\u1eefa, anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 n\u00e0o \u0111\u1ebfn d\u00f9ng b\u1eefa t\u1ed1i v\u1edbi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng?”<\/p>\n
“\u0110\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ee9, c\u00e1m \u01a1n ch\u1ecb,” anh l\u00fang b\u00fang nh\u01b0 c\u00e1i m\u00e1y. R\u1ed3i anh tr\u1ea5n t\u0129nh l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 th\u00eam: “T\u00f4i s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng \u1edf l\u00e2u. T\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i quay l\u1ea1i mi\u1ec1n B\u1eafc. T\u00f4i \u0111i chuy\u1ebfn xe l\u1eeda t\u1ed1i nay. T\u00f4i kho\u00e1n b\u01b0u th\u01b0 cho ch\u00ednh ph\u1ee7, ch\u1ecb \u1ea1\u201d.<\/p>\n
Khi Madge b\u1ea3o ti\u1ebfc qu\u00e1, anh l\u1ea1i c\u1ed1 d\u1eddi ch\u00e2n m\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. Nh\u01b0ng anh kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 r\u1eddi m\u1eaft kh\u1ecfi khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb. Anh qu\u00ean m\u1ea5t n\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1ee3ng ngh\u1ecbu trong s\u1ef1 ng\u01b0\u1ee1ng m\u1ed9, v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ebfn l\u01b0\u1ee3t ch\u1ecb \u0111\u1ecf m\u1eb7t l\u00fang t\u00fang.<\/p>\n
L\u00fac n\u00e0y, khi Walt v\u1eeba quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac anh ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m d\u1ecbu kh\u00f4ng kh\u00ed, c\u0169ng l\u00e0 l\u00fac S\u00f3i, t\u1eeb n\u00e3y x\u1ee5c m\u0169i trong b\u1ee5i r\u1eadm, ch\u1ea1y lon ton \u0111\u1ebfn theo ki\u1ec3u s\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
S\u1ef1 l\u01a1 \u0111\u00e3ng c\u1ee7a Skiff Miller bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 xinh \u0111\u1eb9p tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eb7t bi\u1ebfn ra kh\u1ecfi t\u1ea7m nh\u00ecn c\u1ee7a anh. Anh ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y con ch\u00f3, v\u1edbi v\u1ebb ng\u1ee1 ng\u00e0ng tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t.<\/p>\n
“Tr\u1eddi \u0111\u1ea5t qu\u1ef7 th\u1ea7n \u01a1i!” anh n\u00f3i, t\u1eeb t\u1ed1n v\u00e0 ngi\u00eam trang.<\/p>\n
Anh ng\u1ed3i xu\u1ed1ng tr\u00ean kh\u00fac c\u00e2y, v\u1ebb ngh\u0129 ng\u1ee3i, \u0111\u1ec3 m\u1eb7c Madge \u0111\u1ee9ng. Nghe ti\u1ebfng anh, \u0111\u00f4i tai S\u00f3i n\u1eb1m r\u1ea1p xu\u1ed1ng, r\u1ed3i mi\u1ec7ng n\u00f3 h\u00e1 ra n\u1ee5 c\u01b0\u1eddi. N\u00f3 ch\u1ea7m ch\u1eadm \u0111\u1ebfn b\u00ean ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1ea1, \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean ng\u1eedi, r\u1ed3i d\u00f9ng l\u01b0\u1ee1i li\u1ebfm tay anh.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller v\u1ed7 \u0111\u1ea7u con ch\u00f3, t\u1eeb t\u1ed1n v\u00e0 nghi\u00eam trang l\u1eadp l\u1ea1i “Tr\u1eddi \u0111\u1ea5t qu\u1ef7 th\u1ea7n \u01a1i!”<\/p>\n
R\u1ed3i anh n\u00f3i “Xin l\u1ed7i ch\u1ecb, ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 t\u00f4i h\u01a1i ng\u1ea1c nhi\u00ean, th\u1ebf th\u00f4i\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u0169ng b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd\u201d, ch\u1ecb vui v\u1ebb tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. “Ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd ch\u00fang t\u00f4i th\u1ea5y S\u00f3i l\u00e0m th\u00e2n v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1ea1\u201d.<\/p>\n
“\u00d0\u00f3 l\u00e0 t\u00ean ch\u1ecb g\u1ecdi n\u00f3 sao – S\u00f3i?” ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
Madge g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u. “Nh\u01b0ng t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u t\u1ea1i sao n\u00f3 th\u00e2n thi\u1ec7n v\u1edbi anh – tr\u1eeb phi b\u1edfi v\u00ec anh \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Klondike. N\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 v\u00f9ng Klondike, anh \u1ea1\u201d.<\/p>\n
“V\u00e2ng\u201d, Miller l\u01a1 \u0111\u00e3ng n\u00f3i. Anh nh\u1ea5c m\u1ed9t ch\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc c\u1ee7a S\u00f3i l\u00ean v\u00e0 xem x\u00e9t l\u00f2ng b\u00e0n ch\u00e2n, nh\u1ea5n n\u00f3 b\u1eb1ng ng\u00f3n tay c\u00e1i. “H\u01a1i M\u1ec0M\u201d, anh nh\u1eadn x\u00e9t. ” \u0110\u00e3 l\u00e2u n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng \u0111i \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng tr\u01b0\u1eddng\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i l\u00e0\u201d, Walt xen v\u00e0o, ” th\u1eadt \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t l\u00e0 n\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u1ec3 anh ch\u1ea1m \u0111\u1ebfn\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller \u0111\u1ee9ng l\u00ean, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n l\u00fang t\u00fang v\u00ec s\u1ef1 ng\u01b0\u1ee1ng m\u1ed9 d\u00e0nh cho Madge, v\u00e0 h\u1ecfi v\u1edbi v\u1ebb s\u1eafc s\u1ea3o th\u1eb3ng th\u1eafn, “Anh ch\u1ecb nu\u00f4i n\u00f3 bao l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i?”<\/p>\n
Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00fang l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3, con ch\u00f3 \u0111ang u\u1ed1n ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u1ee5i v\u00e0o ch\u00e2n ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1edbi \u0111\u1ebfn m\u1edf mi\u1ec7ng s\u1ee7a. \u00d0\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng s\u1ee7a to, ng\u1eafn v\u00e0 vui m\u1eebng, nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00fang l\u00e0 ti\u1ebfng s\u1ee7a.<\/p>\n
“Tr\u00f2 n\u00e0y m\u1edbi \u0111\u00e2y\u201d, Skiff Miller nh\u1eadn x\u00e9t.<\/p>\n
Walt v\u00e0 Madge nh\u00ecn nhau. Ph\u00e9p l\u1ea1 \u0111\u00e3 x\u1ea3y ra. S\u00f3i \u0111\u00e3 s\u1ee7a.<\/p>\n
“L\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean n\u00f3 s\u1ee7a\u201d, Madge n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
“C\u0169ng l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean t\u00f4i nghe th\u1ea5y\u201d, Miller n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
Madge m\u1ec9m c\u01b0\u1eddi v\u1edbi anh. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00e0y qu\u1ea3 l\u00e0 kh\u00f4i h\u00e0i.<\/p>\n
“D\u0129 nhi\u00ean r\u1ed3i\u201d, ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i, “v\u00ec anh ch\u1ec9 m\u1edbi g\u1eb7p n\u00f3 n\u0103m ph\u00fat\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller soi m\u00f3i nh\u00ecn ch\u1ecb, t\u00ecm ki\u1ebfm tr\u00ean m\u1eb7t ch\u1ecb s\u1ef1 d\u1ed1i tr\u00e1 anh ng\u1edd v\u1ef1c trong l\u1eddi n\u00f3i c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i t\u01b0\u1edfng ch\u1ecb \u0111\u00e3 hi\u1ec3u\u201d, anh ch\u1eadm r\u00e3i n\u00f3i. “T\u00f4i ngh\u0129 ch\u1ecb nh\u1eadn ra t\u1eeb c\u00e1ch n\u00f3 th\u00e2n thi\u1ec7n v\u1edbi t\u00f4i. N\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i. T\u00ean n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 S\u00f3i. T\u00ean n\u00f3 l\u00e0 N\u00e2u\u201d.<\/p>\n
“\u1ed2, Walt!” Madge b\u1eadt k\u00eau ch\u1ed3ng theo b\u1ea3n n\u0103ng.<\/p>\n
Ngay l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c Walt th\u1ee7 th\u1ebf.<\/p>\n
“L\u00e0m sao anh bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 c\u1ee7a anh?” anh v\u1eb7n.<\/p>\n
“B\u1edfi v\u00ec n\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i\u201d, l\u00e0 c\u00e2u tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 l\u1eddi n\u00f3i th\u00f4i\u201d, Walt c\u1ed9c l\u1ed1c.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller nh\u00ecn anh v\u1edbi v\u1ebb ch\u1eadm r\u00e3i \u0111\u1eafn \u0111o c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh, r\u1ed3i g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda Madge, h\u1ecfi:<\/p>\n
“L\u00e0m sao anh bi\u1ebft \u0111\u00e2y l\u00e0 v\u1ee3 anh? Anh ch\u1ec9 n\u00f3i \u2018V\u00ec c\u00f4 ta l\u00e0 v\u1ee3 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i\u2019, v\u00e0 t\u00f4i n\u00f3i ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 l\u1eddi n\u00f3i th\u00f4i. Con ch\u00f3 l\u00e0 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i. T\u00f4i nu\u00f4i n\u00f3 l\u1edbn, t\u00f4i ngh\u0129 t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i bi\u1ebft. Nh\u00ecn \u0111\u00e2y. T\u00f4i ch\u1ee9ng minh cho anh xem\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller quay v\u1ec1 con ch\u00f3. “N\u00e2u!” gi\u1ecdng anh vang l\u00ean nh\u1ecdn s\u1eafc, v\u00e0 nghe ti\u1ebfng \u1ea5y, hai tai con ch\u00f3 n\u1eb1m r\u1ea1p xu\u1ed1ng nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vu\u1ed1t ve. “B\u00ean ph\u1ea3i!” con ch\u00f3 xoay v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng ph\u1ea3i. “Gi\u1edd \u0111i th\u1eb3ng!” V\u00e0 con ch\u00f3 ng\u1eebng ngay v\u00f2ng xoay, \u0111i th\u1eb3ng v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc, ngoan ngo\u00e3n d\u1eebng khi c\u00f3 l\u1ec7nh.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 d\u00f9ng ti\u1ebfng hu\u00fdt s\u00e1o”, Skiff Miller h\u00e3nh di\u1ec7n n\u00f3i. “N\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111\u00e0n c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Nh\u01b0ng anh kh\u00f4ng mang n\u00f3 \u0111i c\u00f9ng anh ch\u1ee9?” Madge run run h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
Ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u.<\/p>\n
“Tr\u1edf v\u1ec1 ch\u1ed1n Klondike gh\u00ea g\u1edbm kh\u1ed5 s\u1edf \u1ea5y?”<\/p>\n
Anh g\u1eadt v\u00e0 th\u00eam: “Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1ed7i l\u1eafm \u0111\u00e2u. Nh\u00ecn t\u00f4i xem. Kh\u00e1 kho\u1ebb m\u1ea1nh, ph\u1ea3i kh\u00f4ng?”<\/p>\n
“Nh\u01b0ng m\u1ea5y con ch\u00f3! S\u1ef1 c\u01a1 c\u1ef1c, c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c n\u1eb7ng nh\u1ecdc, \u0111\u00f3i kh\u00e1t, s\u01b0\u01a1ng gi\u00e1! \u00d4i, t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ecdc v\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng chuy\u1ec7n \u1ea5y, t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft m\u00e0\u201d.<\/p>\n
“C\u00f3 l\u1ea7n t\u00f4i su\u00fdt l\u00e0m th\u1ecbt n\u00f3, tr\u00ean s\u00f4ng C\u00e1 Nh\u1ecf\u201d, Miller n\u00f3i v\u1edbi v\u1ebb u \u00e1m. “N\u1ebfu h\u00f4m \u1ea5y t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng b\u1eaft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c con nai s\u1eebng t\u1ea5m th\u00ec n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u1ee9u\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1eb3ng th\u00e0 t\u00f4i ch\u1ebft tr\u01b0\u1edbc!” Madge la l\u00ean.<\/p>\n
“\u1ede \u0111\u00e2y kh\u00e1c\u201d, Miller gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch. “Ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i \u0103n th\u1ecbt ch\u00f3. L\u00fac ch\u1ecb c\u00f9ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng ch\u1ecb s\u1ebd ngh\u0129 kh\u00e1c. Ch\u1ecb ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd c\u00f9ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, cho n\u00ean ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft g\u00ec v\u1ec1 chuy\u1ec7n \u0111\u00f3\u201d.<\/p>\n
“\u00d0\u1ea5y ch\u00ednh l\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec3m t\u00f4i mu\u1ed1n n\u00f3i\u201d, ch\u1ecb h\u0103ng h\u00e1i c\u00e3i. “\u1ede California ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta kh\u00f4ng \u0103n th\u1ecbt ch\u00f3. T\u1ea1i sao kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 l\u1ea1i \u0111\u00e2y? N\u00f3 vui v\u1ebb. N\u00f3 s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd thi\u1ebfu th\u1ee9c \u0103n – anh bi\u1ebft m\u00e0. N\u00f3 s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ecbu l\u1ea1nh l\u1ebdo hay c\u1ef1c kh\u1ed5. \u1ede \u0111\u00e2y m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 hi\u1ec1n h\u00f2a v\u00e0 \u00eam d\u1ecbu. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0 th\u00fa \u0111\u1ec1u kh\u00f4ng hoang d\u00e3. N\u00f3 s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ebfn ng\u1ecdn roi l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa. V\u00e0 th\u1eddi ti\u1ebft – \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y ch\u1eb3ng bao gi\u1edd tuy\u1ebft r\u01a1i\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Xin l\u1ed7i ch\u1ecb, nh\u01b0ng m\u00f9a h\u00e8 th\u00ec n\u00f3ng s\u00f4i l\u00ean,” Skiff Miller c\u01b0\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“Nh\u01b0ng anh kh\u00f4ng tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi\u201d, Madge s\u00f4i n\u1ed5i ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c. “Anh cho n\u00f3 c\u00e1i g\u00ec trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng ph\u01b0\u01a1ng B\u1eafc \u1ea5y?”<\/p>\n
“Th\u1ee9c \u0103n, khi t\u00f4i c\u00f3, t\u1ee9c l\u00e0 h\u1ea7u h\u1ebft th\u1eddi gian\u201d, l\u00e0 c\u00e2u tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“V\u00e0 nh\u1eefng l\u1ea7n kh\u00e1c?”<\/p>\n
“Kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 th\u1ee9c \u0103n\u201d.<\/p>\n
“V\u00e0 c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c?”<\/p>\n
“V\u00e2ng, vi\u1ec7c nhi\u1ec1u l\u1eafm\u201d, Skiff Miller n\u00f3ng n\u1ea3y th\u1ed1t l\u00ean. “Vi\u1ec7c kh\u00f4ng d\u1ee9t, v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f3i, v\u00e0 s\u01b0\u01a1ng gi\u00e1, v\u00e0 t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 nh\u1eefng c\u01a1 c\u1ef1c kh\u00e1c – n\u00f3 ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ecbu h\u1ebft khi n\u00f3 \u0111i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i. Nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 th\u00edch. N\u00f3 quen r\u1ed3i. N\u00f3 bi\u1ebft cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng \u1ea5y. N\u00f3 sinh ra v\u00e0 l\u1edbn l\u00ean trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng \u1ea5y. Ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft g\u00ec v\u1ec1 cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng \u1ea5y. Ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u ch\u1ecb \u0111ang n\u00f3i g\u00ec. Con ch\u00f3 thu\u1ed9c v\u1ec1 cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng \u1ea5y, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 s\u1ebd vui s\u01b0\u1edbng nh\u1ea5t trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng \u1ea5y\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Con ch\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng \u0111i\u201d, Walt tuy\u00ean b\u1ed1 b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng c\u01b0\u01a1ng quy\u1ebft. “Cho n\u00ean kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n b\u00e0n c\u00e3i th\u00eam\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Sao?” Skiff Miller h\u1ecfi, c\u1eb7p l\u00f4ng m\u00e0y h\u1ea1 xu\u1ed1ng v\u00e0 tr\u00e1n \u0111\u1ecf l\u00ean b\u01b0\u1edbng b\u1ec9nh.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i n\u00f3i con ch\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng \u0111i, v\u00e0 th\u1ebf l\u00e0 xong. T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng tin con ch\u00f3 l\u00e0 c\u1ee7a anh. Anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00e3 t\u1eebng nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y n\u00f3. Th\u1eadm ch\u00ed anh c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00e3 t\u1eebng \u0111i\u1ec1u khi\u1ec3n n\u00f3 k\u00e9o xe cho ch\u1ee7 c\u1ee7a n\u00f3. Nh\u01b0ng chuy\u1ec7n n\u00f3 tu\u00e2n theo nh\u1eefng m\u1ec7nh l\u1ec7nh th\u00f4ng th\u01b0\u1eddng c\u1ee7a v\u00f9ng Alaska kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ee9ng t\u1ecf n\u00f3 l\u00e0 c\u1ee7a anh. Con ch\u00f3 n\u00e0o \u1edf Alaska c\u0169ng s\u1ebd tu\u00e2n theo anh nh\u01b0 n\u00f3. H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, n\u00f3 h\u1eb3n l\u00e0 con ch\u00f3 cao gi\u00e1, v\u00ec \u1edf Alaska ch\u00f3 cao gi\u00e1, v\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee7 gi\u1ea3i th\u00edch t\u1ea1i sao anh mu\u1ed1n chi\u1ebfm h\u1eefu n\u00f3. D\u00f9 sao \u0111i n\u1eefa, anh ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ee9ng minh quy\u1ec1n s\u1edf h\u1eefu\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u0110i\u1ec1m t\u0129nh v\u00e0 th\u1ea3n nhi\u00ean, m\u00e0u \u0111\u1ecf b\u01b0\u1edbng b\u1ec9nh \u0111\u1eadm h\u01a1n m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat tr\u00ean tr\u00e1n, nh\u1eefng b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt l\u1edbn cu\u1ed9n l\u00ean d\u01b0\u1edbi l\u1edbp v\u1ea3i \u0111en c\u1ee7a chi\u1ebfc \u00e1o kho\u00e1c, Skiff Miller nh\u00ecn k\u1ef9 nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 t\u1eeb \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111\u1ebfn ch\u00e2n nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 l\u01b0\u1ee3ng \u0111\u1ecbnh s\u1ee9c m\u1ea1nh trong s\u1ef1 m\u1ea3nh d\u1ebb c\u1ee7a anh.<\/p>\n
Khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t ng\u01b0\u1eddi Klondike l\u1ed9 v\u1ebb khinh th\u1ecb khi cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng anh n\u00f3i, “T\u00f4i ngh\u0129 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 c\u00e1i chi quanh \u0111\u00e2y c\u1ea3n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00f4i l\u1ea5y con ch\u00f3 \u0111i ngay b\u00e2y gi\u1edd\u201d.<\/p>\n
M\u1eb7t Walt \u0111\u1ecf l\u00ean, nh\u1eefng b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt d\u00f9ng \u0111\u1ec3 vung l\u00ean c\u1ee7a hai c\u00e1nh tay v\u00e0 vai anh d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 g\u1ed3ng c\u1ee9ng l\u1ea1i. V\u1ee3 anh lo l\u1eafng v\u1ed9i len v\u00e0o cu\u1ed9c tranh c\u00e3i.<\/p>\n
“C\u00f3 l\u1ebd \u00f4ng Miller n\u00f3i \u0111\u00fang\u201d, ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i. “Em e r\u1eb1ng \u00f4ng \u1ea5y \u0111\u00fang r\u1ed3i. S\u00f3i th\u1ef1c c\u00f3 v\u1ebb bi\u1ebft \u00f4ng, v\u00e0 ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn n\u00f3 bi\u1ebft t\u00ean ‘N\u00e2u\u2019. N\u00f3 th\u00e2n thi\u1ec7n v\u1edbi \u00f4ng \u1ea5y l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c, m\u00e0 anh bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 ch\u1eb3ng bao gi\u1edd l\u00e0m v\u1eady v\u1edbi b\u1ea5t k\u1ef3 ai. V\u1ea3 l\u1ea1i, xem c\u00e1i c\u00e1ch n\u00f3 s\u1ee7a k\u00eca. N\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n v\u1ee1 \u00f2a v\u00ec vui m\u1eebng. Vui v\u00ec c\u00e1i g\u00ec? R\u00f5 r\u00e0ng v\u00ec n\u00f3 t\u00ecm ra \u00f4ng Miller\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nh\u1eefng b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt d\u00f9ng \u0111\u1ec3 vung \u0111\u00e1nh c\u1ee7a Walt d\u00e3n ra, v\u00e0 vai anh nh\u01b0 ch\u00f9ng xu\u1ed1ng v\u1edbi v\u00f4 v\u1ecdng.<\/p>\n
“Anh ngh\u0129 em \u0111\u00fang r\u1ed3i, Madge\u201d, anh n\u00f3i. “S\u00f3i kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 S\u00f3i, m\u00e0 l\u00e0 N\u00e2u, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn thu\u1ed9c v\u1ec1 \u00f4ng Miller\u201d.<\/p>\n
“C\u00f3 l\u1ebd \u00f4ng Miller s\u1ebd b\u00e1n n\u00f3\u201d, ch\u1ecb \u0111\u1ec1 ngh\u1ecb. “Ch\u00fang ta c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 mua n\u00f3\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller l\u1eafc \u0111\u1ea7u, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n v\u1ebb hung h\u0103ng, m\u00e0 t\u1eed t\u1ebf, nhanh ch\u00f3ng \u0111\u00e1p l\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9 l\u01b0\u1ee3ng b\u1eb1ng \u0111\u1ed9 l\u01b0\u1ee3ng.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i c\u00f3 n\u0103m con ch\u00f3\u201d, anh n\u00f3i, c\u1ed1 t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch d\u1ec5 nh\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m d\u1ecbu \u0111i s\u1ef1 t\u1eeb ch\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. “N\u00f3 l\u00e0 con \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111\u00e0n. B\u1ecdn ch\u00fang l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed9i c\u1eeb c\u1ee7a Alaska. Kh\u00f4ng g\u00ec th\u1eafng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u00fang. N\u0103m 1898 t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu b\u00e1n c\u1ea3 b\u1ecdn l\u1ea5y 5 ng\u00e0n \u0111\u00f4 la. Gi\u00e1 ch\u00f3 l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3 cao; nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 nguy\u00ean nh\u00e2n c\u1ee7a c\u00e1i gi\u00e1 5 ng\u00e0n, m\u00e0 ch\u00ednh l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed9i ch\u00f3. N\u00e2u l\u00e0 con ch\u00f3 gi\u1ecfi nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a \u0111\u1ed9i. M\u00f9a \u0111\u00f4ng \u0111\u00f3 t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu b\u00e1n n\u00f3 v\u1edbi gi\u00e1 1200 \u0111\u00f4 la. T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng b\u00e1n n\u00f3 l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3, t\u00f4i c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng b\u00e1n n\u00f3 b\u00e2y gi\u1edd. H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, t\u00f4i qu\u00fd con ch\u00f3 \u1ea5y l\u1eafm. T\u00f4i \u0111i t\u00ecm n\u00f3 ba n\u0103m r\u1ed3i. T\u00f4i mu\u1ed1n ng\u00e3 b\u1ec7nh khi t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 b\u1ecb tr\u1ed9m – kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i v\u00ec gi\u00e1 tr\u1ecb c\u1ee7a n\u00f3, m\u00e0 l\u00e0 – t\u00f4i th\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00f3 gh\u00ea l\u1eafm, v\u1eady th\u00f4i, xin l\u1ed7i anh ch\u1ecb. L\u00fac n\u00e3y t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng tin n\u1ed5i m\u1eaft m\u00ecnh khi t\u00f4i th\u1ea5y n\u00f3. T\u00f4i ng\u1ee1 m\u00ecnh \u0111ang m\u01a1. Kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 n\u00e0o l\u00e0 th\u1ef1c. T\u00f4i l\u00e0 v\u00fa em c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 m\u00e0. T\u00f4i mang n\u00f3 v\u00e0o ng\u1ee7 chung m\u1ed7i t\u1ed1i. M\u1eb9 n\u00f3 ch\u1ebft, t\u00f4i nu\u00f4i n\u00f3 b\u1eb1ng s\u1eefa \u0111\u1eb7c hai \u0111\u00f4 la m\u1ed9t h\u1ed9p trong khi ch\u00ednh t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ee7 s\u1ee9c mua s\u1eefa u\u1ed1ng c\u00e0 ph\u00ea. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u1eb9 n\u00e0o ngo\u00e0i t\u00f4i. N\u00f3 v\u1eabn th\u01b0\u1eddng b\u00fa ng\u00f3n tay t\u00f4i – con qu\u1ef7 nh\u1ecf – ch\u00ednh ng\u00f3n tay n\u00e0y \u0111\u00e2y!”<\/p>\n
Qu\u00e1 x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i n\u00ean l\u1eddi, Skiff Miller gi\u01a1 ng\u00f3n tay tr\u1ecf cho h\u1ecd nh\u00ecn th\u1ea5y.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u00ednh ng\u00f3n tay n\u00e0y \u0111\u00e2y\u201d, anh c\u1ed1 g\u01b0\u1ee3ng n\u00f3i, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 x\u00e1c \u0111\u1ecbnh b\u1eb1ng ch\u1ee9ng quy\u1ec1n s\u1edf h\u1eefu v\u00e0 g\u1eafn b\u00f3 t\u00ecnh c\u1ea3m.<\/p>\n
Anh v\u1eabn c\u00f2n nh\u00ecn \u0111\u0103m \u0111\u0103m ng\u00f3n tay ch\u00eca ra c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh khi Madge n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
“Nh\u01b0ng con ch\u00f3\u201d, ch\u1ecb n\u00f3i. “Anh ch\u01b0a ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn con ch\u00f3\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller c\u00f3 v\u1ebb kh\u00f4ng hi\u1ec3u.<\/p>\n
“Anh \u0111\u00e3 ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn n\u00f3 ch\u01b0a?” ch\u1ecb h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
“Kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft ch\u1ecb mu\u1ed1n n\u00f3i g\u00ec\u201d, l\u00e0 c\u00e2u tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi.<\/p>\n
“C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 con ch\u00f3 c\u00f3 s\u1ef1 ch\u1ecdn l\u1ef1a trong v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 n\u00e0y\u201d, Madge ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c. “C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 n\u00f3 c\u00f3 \u01b0\u1edbc mu\u1ed1n v\u00e0 s\u1edf th\u00edch. Anh ch\u01b0a ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn n\u00f3. Anh kh\u00f4ng cho n\u00f3 s\u1ef1 ch\u1ecdn l\u1ef1a n\u00e0o. Anh ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd ngh\u0129 r\u1eb1ng n\u00f3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 th\u00edch California h\u01a1n Alaska. Anh ch\u1ec9 ngh\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00e1i anh mu\u1ed1n. Anh xem n\u00f3 nh\u01b0 l\u00e0 bao khoai t\u00e2y hay ki\u1ec7n r\u01a1m\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00d0\u00e2y l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch nh\u00ecn m\u1edbi, v\u00e0 r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng t\u1ea1o \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u1ea5n t\u01b0\u1ee3ng v\u1edbi Miller trong khi anh c\u00e2n nh\u1eafc n\u00f3 trong \u0111\u1ea7u. Madge l\u1ee3i d\u1ee5ng s\u1ef1 kh\u00f4ng quy\u1ebft c\u1ee7a anh.<\/p>\n
“N\u1ebfu anh th\u1eadt s\u1ef1 th\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00f3, h\u1ea1nh ph\u00fac c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 c\u0169ng l\u00e0 h\u1ea1nh ph\u00fac c\u1ee7a anh\u201d, ch\u1ecb kh\u1ea9n kho\u1ea3n.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c suy ngh\u0129, v\u00e0 Madge ph\u1ea5n kh\u1edfi li\u1ebfc nh\u00ecn v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda ch\u1ed3ng, ng\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u00ecn l\u1ea1i ch\u1ecb v\u1edbi v\u1ebb \u0111\u1ed3ng t\u00ecnh \u1ea5m \u00e1p.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1ecb ngh\u0129 sao?” ng\u01b0\u1eddi Klondike \u0111\u1ed9t nhi\u00ean h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
\u00d0\u1ebfn l\u01b0\u1ee3t ch\u1ecb b\u1ed1i r\u1ed1i. “Anh mu\u1ed1n n\u00f3i g\u00ec?” ch\u1ecb h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u1ecb ngh\u0129 n\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n \u1edf l\u1ea1i California sao?”<\/p>\n
Ch\u1ecb g\u1eadt \u0111\u1ea7u x\u00e1c quy\u1ebft. “T\u00f4i ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn th\u1ebf\u201d.<\/p>\n
Skiff Miller l\u1ea1i suy ngh\u0129, d\u00f9 l\u1ea7n n\u00e0y n\u00f3i th\u00e0nh ti\u1ebfng, trong l\u00fac xem x\u00e9t con v\u1eadt \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u1ea3o lu\u1eadn.<\/p>\n
“N\u00f3 l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c gi\u1ecfi. N\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0m kh\u1ed1i vi\u1ec7c cho t\u00f4i. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd l\u00e0m bi\u1ebfng, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 l\u00e0 b\u1eadc th\u1ea7y bi\u1ebfn m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1ed9i m\u1edbi v\u00e0o n\u1ec1n n\u1ebfp. N\u00f3 c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ea7u \u00f3c. N\u00f3 l\u00e0m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ecdi th\u1ee9 tr\u1eeb n\u00f3i chuy\u1ec7n. N\u00f3 bi\u1ebft ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta n\u00f3i c\u00e1i g\u00ec v\u1edbi n\u00f3. Nh\u00ecn n\u00f3 xem. N\u00f3 bi\u1ebft m\u00ecnh \u0111ang n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 n\u00f3\u201d.<\/p>\n
Con ch\u00f3 n\u1eb1m b\u00ean ch\u00e2n Skiff Miller, \u0111\u1ea7u d\u1ef1a tr\u00ean b\u00e0n ch\u00e2n, tai d\u1ef1ng l\u00ean l\u1eafng nghe, v\u00e0 \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft nhanh nh\u1eb9n \u0111au \u0111\u00e1u theo d\u00f5i \u00e2m thanh t\u1eeb m\u00f4i ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00e0y qua m\u00f4i ng\u01b0\u1eddi kia.<\/p>\n
“V\u00e0 n\u00f3 c\u00f2n l\u00e0m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vi\u1ec7c nhi\u1ec1u. N\u00f3 c\u00f2n l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nhi\u1ec1u n\u0103m n\u1eefa. V\u00e0 t\u00f4i th\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00f3. T\u00f4i th\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00f3 gh\u00ea l\u1eafm\u201d.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t hai l\u1ea7n sau \u0111\u00f3 Skiff Miller m\u1edf mi\u1ec7ng r\u1ed3i ng\u1eadm l\u1ea1i m\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng n\u00f3i g\u00ec. Sau c\u00f9ng anh n\u00f3i:<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i n\u00f3i ch\u1ecb nghe t\u00f4i s\u1ebd l\u00e0m sao. Nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb, th\u01b0a ch\u1ecb, nghe c\u0169ng c\u00f3 l\u00fd. Con ch\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c nhi\u1ec1u, v\u00e0 c\u00f3 l\u1ebd n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ee7 quy\u1ec1n an nh\u00e0n v\u00e0 quy\u1ec1n l\u1ef1a ch\u1ecdn. D\u00f9 sao \u0111i n\u1eefa, ch\u00fang ta c\u1ee9 \u0111\u1ec3 t\u00f9y n\u00f3. N\u00f3 b\u1ea3o sao th\u00ec nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. Hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y ch\u1edd. T\u00f4i s\u1ebd t\u1eeb gi\u00e3 v\u00e0 th\u1ea3n nhi\u00ean \u0111i. N\u1ebfu n\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n \u1edf l\u1ea1i, n\u00f3 c\u1ee9 \u1edf l\u1ea1i. N\u1ebfu n\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n \u0111i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i, \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 \u0111i. T\u00f4i s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng g\u1ecdi n\u00f3 \u0111i theo, ch\u1ecb \u0111\u1eebng g\u1ecdi n\u00f3 quay l\u1ea1i\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anh nh\u00ecn Madge v\u1edbi v\u1ebb nghi ng\u1ea1i b\u1ea5t ch\u1ee3t, v\u00e0 th\u00eam, “Ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 ch\u1ecb ph\u1ea3i c\u00f4ng b\u1eb1ng. Kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c thuy\u1ebft d\u1ed7 n\u00f3 khi t\u00f4i quay l\u01b0ng\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i s\u1ebd c\u00f4ng b\u1eb1ng\u201d, Madge b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u, nh\u01b0ng Skiff Miller ng\u1eaft ngang nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi b\u1ea3o \u0111\u1ea3m c\u1ee7a ch\u1ecb.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i bi\u1ebft ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef\u201d, anh tuy\u00ean b\u1ed1. “Tr\u00e1i tim h\u1ecd m\u1ec1m y\u1ebfu. Khi tr\u00e1i tim h\u1ecd c\u1ea3m \u0111\u1ed9ng. h\u1ecd th\u01b0\u1eddng ch\u01a1i gian, v\u00e0 n\u00f3i d\u1ed1i nh\u01b0 qu\u1ef7 – xin l\u1ed7i ch\u1ecb. T\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 n\u00f3i chung chung v\u1ec1 ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef\u201d.<\/p>\n
“T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft l\u00e0m sao c\u00e1m \u01a1n anh\u201d, Madge run run n\u00f3i.<\/p>\n
‘T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y t\u1ea1i sao ch\u1ecb ph\u1ea3i c\u00e1m \u01a1n t\u00f4i\u201d, anh tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. “N\u00e2u c\u00f2n ch\u01b0a ch\u1ecdn m\u00e0. Ch\u1ecb kh\u00f4ng phi\u1ec1n n\u1ebfu t\u00f4i \u0111i ch\u1eadm ch\u1ee9? C\u0169ng c\u00f4ng b\u1eb1ng th\u00f4i, v\u00ec ch\u1eebng 100 th\u01b0\u1edbc t\u00f4i s\u1ebd khu\u1ea5t b\u00f3ng\u201d. Madge b\u1eb1ng l\u00f2ng, v\u00e0 th\u00eam, “T\u00f4i xin nh\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ecbnh h\u1ee9a r\u1eb1ng ch\u00fang t\u00f4i s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m g\u00ec \u0111\u1ec3 lay chuy\u1ec3n n\u00f3\u201d.<\/p>\n
“Th\u1ebf th\u00ec t\u00f4i \u0111i \u0111\u00e2y\u201d, Skiff Miller n\u00f3i b\u1eb1ng gi\u1ecdng b\u00ecnh th\u01b0\u1eddng c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi s\u1eafp ra \u0111i.<\/p>\n
Nghe s\u1ef1 thay \u0111\u1ed5i trong gi\u1ecdng anh, S\u00f3i v\u1ee5t ng\u1ea9ng \u0111\u1ea7u l\u00ean, v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady nhanh h\u01a1n n\u1eefa khi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0 b\u1eaft tay. N\u00f3 ch\u1ed3m \u0111\u1ee9ng l\u00ean b\u1eb1ng hai ch\u00e2n sau, \u0111\u1eb7t hai ch\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 ngang h\u00f4ng ch\u1ecb, c\u00f9ng l\u00fac li\u1ebfm tay Skiff Miller. Khi Skiff Miller b\u1eaft tay v\u1edbi Walt, S\u00f3i l\u1eadp l\u1ea1i c\u1eed ch\u1ec9 \u1ea5y, d\u1ef1a v\u00e0o Walt v\u00e0 li\u1ebfm tay c\u1ea3 hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng.<\/p>\n
“Kh\u00f4ng d\u1ec5 g\u00ec \u0111\u00e2u, t\u00f4i c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 n\u00f3i ch\u1ecb bi\u1ebft th\u1ebf\u201d, l\u00e0 nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a ng\u01b0\u1eddi Klondike, khi anh xoay m\u00ecnh v\u00e0 ch\u1eadm r\u00e3i \u0111i l\u00ean l\u1ed1i m\u00f2n.<\/p>\n
S\u00f3i nh\u00ecn anh \u0111i xa hai m\u01b0\u01a1i b\u1ed9 Anh, h\u0103ng h\u00e1i v\u00e0 ng\u00f3ng \u0111\u1ee3i, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 ch\u1edd ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng quay tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i. R\u1ed3i, r\u00edt m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng ng\u1eafn nh\u1ecf, S\u00f3i ph\u00f3ng theo anh, b\u1eaft k\u1ecbp anh, ng\u1eadm l\u1ea5y tay anh v\u1edbi s\u1ef1 d\u1ecbu d\u00e0ng mi\u1ec5n c\u01b0\u1ee1ng, v\u00e0 nh\u1eb9 nh\u00e0ng c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng l\u00e0m anh d\u1eebng l\u1ea1i.<\/p>\n
Th\u1ea5t b\u1ea1i, S\u00f3i ch\u1ea1y bay v\u1ec1 ch\u1ed7 Walt Irvine ng\u1ed3i, ngo\u1ea1m tay \u00e1o anh v\u00e0 c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch v\u00f4 hi\u1ec7u k\u00e9o anh \u0111i theo ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111ang r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n
S\u00f3i b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u xao xuy\u1ebfn h\u01a1n. N\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n s\u1ef1 m\u1eadp m\u1edd. N\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n \u1edf hai ch\u1ed7 c\u00f9ng m\u1ed9t l\u00fac, v\u1edbi ch\u1ee7 m\u1edbi v\u00e0 c\u0169, m\u00e0 kho\u1ea3ng c\u00e1ch gi\u1eefa h\u1ecd \u0111ang d\u00e0i ra. N\u00f3 qu\u00fdnh qu\u00e1ng nh\u1ea3y d\u1ef1ng l\u00ean, nh\u1eefng c\u00e1i nh\u1ea3y v\u00e0 v\u1eb7n m\u00ecnh b\u1ed3n ch\u1ed3n, l\u00fac v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00e0y, l\u00fac v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda ng\u01b0\u1eddi kia, trong s\u1ef1 b\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ecbnh kh\u1ed5 s\u1edf, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft r\u00f5 \u00fd m\u00ecnh, mong mu\u1ed1n c\u1ea3 hai v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 ch\u1ecdn l\u1ef1a, b\u1eadt ra nh\u1eefng ti\u1ebfng r\u00ean ng\u1eafn s\u1eafc v\u00e0 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u th\u1edf h\u1ed3ng h\u1ed9c.<\/p>\n
B\u1ea5t th\u00ecnh l\u00ecnh n\u00f3 ng\u1ed3i xu\u1ed1ng, ng\u01b0\u1edbc m\u0169i l\u00ean, m\u00f5m gi\u1eadt gi\u1eadt h\u00e1 r\u1ed3i ng\u1eadm, m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n h\u00e1 r\u1ed9ng h\u01a1n. Nh\u1eefng c\u1eed \u0111\u1ed9ng co gi\u1eadt n\u00e0y \u0111\u1ed3ng \u0111i\u1ec7u v\u1edbi c\u01a1n co gi\u1eadt cu\u1ed1ng h\u1ecdng, m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n d\u1eef d\u1ed9i h\u01a1n l\u1ea7n tr\u01b0\u1edbc. C\u00f9ng l\u00fac v\u1edbi c\u01a1n co gi\u1eadt, cu\u1ed1ng h\u1ecdng b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u rung, tho\u1ea1t ti\u00ean th\u1ea7m l\u1eb7ng, k\u00e8m theo h\u01a1i th\u1edf ra t\u1eeb ph\u1ed5i, r\u1ed3i th\u00e0nh ti\u1ebfng k\u00eau nh\u1ecf v\u00e0 tr\u1ea7m, \u00e2m thanh th\u1ea5p nh\u1ea5t tai ng\u01b0\u1eddi nghe \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. T\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 l\u00e0 ph\u1ea7n m\u1edf \u0111\u1ea7u c\u1ee7a th\u1ea7n kinh v\u00e0 b\u1eafp th\u1ecbt tr\u01b0\u1edbc ti\u1ebfng tru.<\/p>\n
Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00fang l\u00fac ti\u1ebfng tru s\u1eafp b\u1eadt ra t\u1eeb c\u1ed5 h\u1ecdng, c\u00e1i m\u00f5m h\u00e1 r\u1ed9ng ng\u1eadm l\u1ea1i, nh\u1eefng co gi\u1eadt ng\u01b0ng, v\u00e0 n\u00f3 nh\u00ecn \u0111\u0103m \u0111\u0103m th\u1eadt l\u00e2u h\u00ecnh d\u00e1ng \u0111ang r\u1eddi kh\u1ecfi. \u00d0\u1ed9t nhi\u00ean S\u00f3i quay \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u00ecn Walt, c\u0169ng \u0111\u0103m \u0111\u0103m nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. S\u1ef1 van xin kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi. Con ch\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng nh\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00edn hi\u1ec7u hay l\u1eddi n\u00f3i n\u00e0o, kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0m g\u00ec.<\/p>\n
Nh\u00ecn ra ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 c\u0169 g\u1ea7n kh\u00fac quanh c\u1ee7a con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng l\u1ea1i khi\u1ebfn n\u00f3 b\u1ed3n ch\u1ed3n. N\u00f3 r\u00ean v\u00e0 nh\u1ea3y d\u1ef1ng l\u00ean, r\u1ed3i, n\u1ea3y ra \u00fd m\u1edbi, h\u01b0\u1edbng s\u1ef1 ch\u00fa \u00fd v\u00e0o Madge. Cho \u0111\u1ebfn b\u00e2y gi\u1edd n\u00f3 b\u1ecf l\u01a1 ch\u1ecb, nh\u01b0ng c\u1ea3 hai ch\u1ee7 \u0111\u1ec1u kh\u00f4ng gi\u00fap n\u00f3, ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i m\u00ecnh ch\u1ecb. N\u00f3 l\u1ea1i b\u00ean ch\u1ecb v\u00e0 \u0111\u1eb7t \u0111\u1ea7u tr\u00ean g\u1ed1i ch\u1ecb, d\u00fai m\u0169i v\u00e0o tay ch\u1ecb – tr\u00f2 n\u00f3 hay l\u00e0m khi xin x\u1ecf \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec. N\u00f3 l\u00f9i l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u u\u1ed1n \u00e9o nh\u01b0 mu\u1ed1n \u0111\u00f9a gi\u1ee1n, nh\u1ea3y c\u1ee1n v\u00e0 tung t\u0103ng, ch\u1ed3m n\u1eeda ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00ean r\u1ed3i \u0111\u1eadp hai ch\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc v\u00e0o \u0111\u1ea5t, c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng v\u1edbi to\u00e0n th\u00e2n, t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft van v\u1ec9 \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00f4i tai n\u1eb1m r\u1ea1p xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00e1i \u0111u\u00f4i ve v\u1ea9y, \u0111\u1ec3 di\u1ec5n \u0111\u1ea1t \u00fd ngh\u0129 n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ed1t ra \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 nhanh ch\u00f3ng b\u1ecf lu\u00f4n chuy\u1ec7n n\u00e0y. N\u00f3 ch\u00e1n n\u1ea3n v\u00ec s\u1ef1 l\u1ea1nh l\u1ebdo c\u1ee7a nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u01b0a bao gi\u1edd l\u1ea1nh l\u1ebdo. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ea3n \u1ee9ng n\u00e0o c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd, kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c s\u1ef1 g\u00ed\u00fap \u0111\u1ee1 n\u00e0o. H\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng m\u00e0ng \u0111\u1ebfn n\u00f3. H\u1ecd nh\u01b0 \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ebft r\u1ed3i.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 quay l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd nh\u00ecn ch\u0103m ch\u00fa theo ch\u1ee7 c\u0169. Skiff Miller \u0111ang qu\u1eb9o \u1edf kh\u00fac quanh. M\u1ed9t l\u00fac n\u1eefa anh s\u1ebd bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t kh\u1ecfi t\u1ea7m nh\u00ecn. Th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng anh kh\u00f4ng ngo\u00e1i \u0111\u1ea7u, c\u1eafm c\u00fai \u0111i v\u1ec1 ph\u00eda tr\u01b0\u1edbc, ch\u1eadm r\u00e3i v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ec1u, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ebfn chuy\u1ec7n g\u00ec \u0111ang x\u1ea3y ra sau l\u01b0ng.<\/p>\n
V\u00e0 nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf, anh bi\u1ebfn kh\u1ecfi t\u1ea7m nh\u00ecn. S\u00f3i \u0111\u1ee3i anh hi\u1ec7n ra tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i. N\u00f3 l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd \u0111\u1ee3i m\u1ed9t l\u00fac, kh\u00f4ng c\u1eed \u0111\u1ed9ng, nh\u01b0 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00e3 ho\u00e1 \u0111\u00e1 – d\u00f9 l\u00e0 h\u00f2n \u0111\u00e1 v\u1edbi b\u1ed3n ch\u1ed3n v\u00e0 mong mu\u1ed1n. N\u00f3 s\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng, r\u1ed3i \u0111\u1ee3i. R\u1ed3i n\u00f3 quay l\u1ea1i v\u00e0 ch\u1ea1y ch\u1ea7m ch\u1eadm \u0111\u1ebfn b\u00ean Walt Irvine. N\u00f3 ng\u1eedi tay anh v\u00e0 n\u1eb1m ph\u1ee5c xu\u1ed1ng b\u00ean ch\u00e2n anh, nh\u00ecn kh\u00fac quanh tr\u1ed1ng tr\u1ea3i c\u1ee7a con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng.<\/p>\n
Gi\u00f2ng n\u01b0\u1edbc nh\u1ecf xu\u00f4i theo t\u1ea3ng \u0111\u00e1 ph\u1ee7 r\u00eau d\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 r\u00f3c r\u00e1nh to h\u01a1n. Tr\u1eeb con chim chi\u1ec1n chi\u1ec7n, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 ti\u1ebfng \u0111\u1ed9ng n\u00e0o kh\u00e1c. Nh\u1eefng con b\u01b0\u1edbm v\u00e0ng to l\u01b0\u1edbt l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd qua \u00e1nh n\u1eafng v\u00e0 l\u1ea1c m\u1ea5t trong b\u00f3ng r\u00e2m ng\u00e1i ng\u1ee7. Madge \u0111\u1eafc th\u1eafng nh\u00ecn ch\u1ed3ng.<\/p>\n
V\u00e0i ph\u00fat sau S\u00f3i \u0111\u1ee9ng d\u1eady. C\u1eed \u0111\u1ed9ng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 mang d\u1ea5u quy\u1ebft \u0111o\u00e1n v\u00e0 ch\u1ee7 \u00fd. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng li\u1ebfc nh\u00ecn ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e0n \u00f4ng v\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0n b\u00e0. M\u1eaft n\u00f3 nh\u00ecn \u0111\u0103m \u0111\u0103m con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng. N\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 quy\u1ebft \u00fd. H\u1ecd bi\u1ebft th\u1ebf. V\u00e0 h\u1ecd bi\u1ebft, v\u1edbi h\u1ecd, cu\u1ed9c th\u1eed th\u00e1ch ch\u1ec9 m\u1edbi b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 ch\u1ea1y ch\u1ea7m ch\u1eadm, v\u00e0 m\u00f4i Madge ch\u00fam l\u1ea1i, m\u1edf l\u1ed1i cho m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebfng k\u00eau \u00e2u y\u1ebfm ch\u1ecb mu\u1ed1n th\u1ed1t l\u00ean. Nh\u01b0ng ti\u1ebfng \u00e2u y\u1ebfm kh\u00f4ng b\u1eadt ra. Kh\u00f4ng c\u01b0\u1ee1ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c, ch\u1ecb nh\u00ecn ch\u1ed3ng, v\u00e0 th\u1ea5y anh \u0111ang nh\u00ecn ch\u1ecb v\u1edbi v\u1ebb nghi\u00eam ngh\u1ecb. L\u00e0n m\u00f4i d\u00e3n ra, ch\u1ecb th\u1edf d\u00e0i trong c\u00e2m l\u1eb7ng.<\/p>\n
S\u00f3i ch\u1ea1y nhanh h\u01a1n. B\u01b0\u1edbc v\u1ecdt c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 m\u1ed7i b\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ed7i d\u00e0i h\u01a1n. N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng ngo\u00e1i \u0111\u1ea7u l\u1ea7n n\u00e0o, c\u00e1i \u0111u\u00f4i s\u00f3i c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 d\u1ef1ng th\u1eb3ng l\u00ean ph\u00eda sau. N\u00f3 qu\u1eb9o g\u1eaft qua kh\u00fac quanh v\u00e0 bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
N\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 qu\u00e1 kh\u1ee9. L\u1ecbch s\u1eed c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u v\u1edbi Walt v\u00e0 Madge. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb ph\u00eda nam, n\u00f3 r\u00f5 r\u00e0ng ch\u1ea1y tr\u1ed1n, nh\u01b0ng h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft g\u00ec v\u1ec1 ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 c\u0169. B\u00e0 Johnson, ng\u01b0\u1eddi h\u00e0ng x\u00f3m g\u1ea7n nh\u1ea5t v\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi cung c\u1ea5p s\u1eefa cho h\u1ecd, tuy\u00ean b\u1ed1 r\u1eb1ng n\u00f3 l\u00e0 ch\u00f3 Klondike. Anh c\u1ee7a b\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0o t\u00ecm nh\u1eefng l\u1eb1n v\u00e0ng \u0111\u00f4ng c\u1ee9ng \u1edf x\u1ee9 s\u1edf xa x\u00f4i \u0111\u00f3, v\u00e0 nh\u01b0 th\u1ebf b\u00e0 t\u1ef1 cho r\u1eb1ng m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 th\u1ea9m quy\u1ec1n trong v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 n\u00e0y.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2010,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,22,42,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dich-thuat","category-sang-tac","category-sang-viet-ngu","category-truyen-ngan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35999","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\/2010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35999"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36002,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35999\/revisions\/36002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}