K^T QUA CAN OAT - Cam nhan dugc" tinh cam xdt thuang ciia Thach Lam ddi vdi nhung con ngudi sdng ngheo khd, quin quanh va sg cam thdng, tran trgng ciia nhd van trudc mong udc ciia hp v l mdt cudc sdng tuai sang hon.
I Thiy dugc mpt vai ndt ddc dao trong but phap nghd thudt cCia Thach Lam qua mpt truydn ngin tru tinh.
TIEUBAN
Thach Lam (1910 - 1942) ten khai sinh Id Nguyin Tudng Vinh (sau ddi thdnh Nguyin Tudng Ldn), sinh tai Ha Ndi, trong mdt gia dinh e6ng ehiic gdc quan 1^, Ong Id em nipt Nhat Linh vd Hodng Dao; ed ba ngudi deu Id thanh vien eua Tu lue vdn dodn. Thud nhd, Th^eh Lam sdng d qufi ngo^ : phd huy6n Cam Gidng, tinh Hdi Duong, sau d6 theo cha chuyin sang tinh Thdi Binh.
Thach Lam hpe b Ha Npi; sau khi dd tu tai phan thir nh^t, 6ng ra Idm bdo, viet vdn. Th^eh Lam Id nguoi don hdu vd rat ddi tinh t^. Ong c6 quan
ni$m vdn chuong Idnh manh, tii^n b6 va cd biet tdi ve truygn ngin. Ong thuong vii^t nhiing truyfin khSng e6 chuySn, chu yeu khai thdc th^ gi6i ndi tdm eua nhdn vat voi nhiing xiie cam mong manh, mo hd trong cu6c sdng thuong ngdy. Mdi truyfin eiia Thach Lam nhu mdt bai tho trir tinh, gipng dieu diim dam nhung chiia dung biet bao tinh cam min ySu chdn thdnh va su nhay cam cua tdc gid truoc nhiing bien thdi eua cdnh vdt vd long nguoi. Vdn Thach Lam trong sang, gian di md thdm tram, sdu sac.
Nhirng tde pham chinh ciia Thach Lam : cae tap truySn ngdn Gid ddu miia (1937), Ndng trong vudn (1938), Sgi tdc (1942); tiiu thuyet Ngdy mai (1939) ; tap tieu ludn Theo ddng (1941) ; Uiy biit Hd Ndi bdm sdu phd phuang (1943).
Hai dua tri Id mdt trong nhiing truypn ngan ddc sle eua Thach Lam, in o tap Ndng trong vudn.
Cling nhu nhiiu truypn ngdn khdc eua ong, Hai dda tre ed su hod quyen hai yiu td hi$n thpe vd Idng man trir tinh.
Th^chLam (Si Nggc vi)
VAN BAN
Tieng trdng thu khdng^D trdn edi chdi eila huydn nhd ; timg tieng mdt vang ra de gpi budi ehilu. Phuang tdy dd rgc nhu 16a chdy vd nhimg ddm may dnh hdng nhu hdn than sip tdn. Day tre ldng trudc mat den lgi vd cit hinh rd ret trdn nin trdi.
Chiiu, ehilu rdi. Mdt ehilu dm i nhu ru, vdng vang tidng deh nhdi keu ran ngodi ddng rudng theo gid nhe dua vdo. Trong cua hdng lioi tdi, mudi da bit diu vo ve. Lidn ngdi ydn ldng bdn miy qua thudc son den'^); ddi mit chi bdng tdi nggp diy din vd edi budn cua budi ehilu qud thim thia vdo tdm hdn ngdy tha eua chi;
Lidn khdng hieu sao, nhung chi thiy long budn man mdc trudc cdi gid khic cua ngdy tdn.
- Em thip ddn ldn chi Lidn nhd ? Nghe tidng An, Lien diing day tti ldi :
- Hang thong tha mdt Idt niia cung dugc. Em ra ngdi ddy vdi chi keo d ttong aymudL
An bd bao diem xudng bdn cimg chi ra ngodt chdng ngdi; chide chdng nan liin xudng vd kdu cdt ket.
- Cdi chdng ndy sip gdy rdi ehi nhi ?
- U d l rdi ehi bio me mua cdi khdc thay vdo.
Hai chi em gugng nhe ngdi ydn nliin ra phd. Cdc nhd dd ldn den ci rdi, den treo ttong nhd bdc phd Ml, den hoa ki leo Idt ttong nhd dng Cuu, vd den ddy sdng xanh trPng hidu khdch... Nhiing ngudn dnh sdng iy diu chidu ra ngodi phd khien cdt lip Idnh ttmg chd vd dudng mip md thdm vi nhiing hdn dd nhd mdt bdn sdng mdt bdn tdi.
Chg hgp giiia phd van tii ldu. Ngudi vl hdt vd tidng dn do cung mit. Trdn dit ehi edn rdc rudi, vd budi, vd thi, la nhdn vd Id mia. Mdt itiiii dm im bdc ldn, hoi lidng cua ban ngdy ldn vdi mui cdt bui quen thudc qud, khidn chi em Lidn tudng Id mui ridng cua dit, cua que huong ndy. Mdt vdi ngudi bdn hdng vl mudn dang thu xdp hang hod, ddn gdnh da xd sdn vdo quang rdi, hg cdn diing ndi chuydn vdi nhau it cau niia.
(1) Thu khdng: b kinh thdnh hode tinh thdnh ngdy xtra, den gan tdi eo qudn Iinh di tuan tra, neu thay khdng ed diiu ^ bd!t thudng thi bdo hi6u (thuong Id bdng ttdng) di ddng eiia thdnh, gpi Id thu khdng, f Id ttong thdnh an todn, khong co gi ddng lo ngai. Nghia ttong bdi: hdi ttdng bdo hipu ttoi sip tdi.
(2) Qud thudc san den {qua: dd di dpng, thudng dupe ldm bang gd hode dan bSng tte, hinh hdp ttdn, bdn ttong chia ldm nhiiu ngdn, e6 nip ddy, son mdu den, ndu hode do): qud dpng thudc Ido, son mdu den.
Miy dira tte eon nhd nghdo d ven chg ciii lom khom ttdn mdt dit di lgi tim tdi.
Chiing nhdt nhgnh thanh mia, thanh tte hay bit cii cdi ^ dd ed thi dimg dugc eua cdc ngirdi bdn hang de lgi, Lidn ttdng thiy ddng ldng thuong nhtmg ehinh chi ciing khdng cd tiin dl ma cho chiing nd.
Trdi nhd nhem tdi, bay gid eW em Lidn mdi thiy thing cu bd xdeh dieu ddm vd khieng hai edi ghe ttdn limg d ttong ngd di ra ; chi Ti, me nd, theo sau, ddi edi chdng ttdn diu vd tay mang khdng bidt bao nliidu la dd dgc : tit ci edi eua hang eua chi.
- Sao hdm nay eW dgn hdng mugn thd ?
Chi Ti dl chdng xudng dit, bdy bidn cdc bdt udng nude mdi rdi mdi chep midng ttd ldi Lidn:
- 6i chao, sdm vdi mudn md ed dn thua ^ .
Ngdy, ehi di md eua bit tdp ; tdi ddn ehi mdi dgn edi hang nude ndy dudi gdc cdy bdng, ben cgnh cdi mdc ggch. De ban cho ai ? Miy ngtrdi phu gao hay phu xe, thinh thoang miy chii linh Id'^' ttong huydn hay ngudi nha thiy thiia'^) di ggi chan td tdm, cao hiing vdo hdng chi udng bdt nirdc chd tuoi vd hiit didu thudc Ido. Qu TI cha kidm dirge bao nhidu, nhtmg ehilu ndo ehi cimg dgn hdng, tir chdp tdi cho den ddm.
Chi kd xong chdng, ghe, dieh nggn den hoa Id lgi ngdi tdm ttau, edn thing cu thi loay hoay nhdm lua dl niu ndi nirdc chd. Liic biy gid ehi mdi ngang diu len ndi chuydn vdi Lidn:
- Cdn ed chua dgn hdng d ?
Lidn gidt minh, kdu khd: "Chet chua!", rdi diing day gigc em:
- Vdo ddng eua hdng thdi, khdng me ra ming chdt.
An ddp:
- Hdm nay chua chic me ed ra khdng, ehi g- Me cdn ban ldm ggo ea md.
Ngdy ndo, eii chap tdi, me Lidn lgi tat ra thdm hdng mgt lan, vd bd ddn cu ttdng thu khdng Id phai ddng eua hang lgi. The ma Lidn mii ngdi nhin phd qudn mit!
Bay gid Lien vdi vdng vdo thip den, xdp nhimg qui son den lgi, ttong lue An di tim then de edi eua cho chic chin. Cdi eua hdng hai chi em ttdng coi Id mgt eua hang tgp hod nhd xiu, me Lidn dgn ngay tii khi ca nhd bd Hd Ndi vl qud d, vi thiy Lien mit vide. Mdt gian hdng bd thud lgi eua ba lao mdm, ngan ra bing mdt tim phen nira ddn giiy nhdt trinh^^'. Me Lidn giao cho Lidn ttdng coi - bd cdn ban ldm hdng xdo'^' - vd budi tdi thi hai cW em cung ngu d day de ttdng hdng.
(1) Linh li: linh chuyen lam eong vi6c tap dieh vd hau ha quan lai thdi thue ddn phong lain.
(2) Thdy thita {thtta: thira phdi): vien ehiie Idm vifec hdnh ehinh d huy$n dudng.
(3) Nhdt trinh: bdo ra hdng ngdy.
(4) Hdng xdo : nghi dong thoe vi xay gia, kiem lai bdng each bdn gao va thu sdn pham phu nhu tam, cdm.
Lidn ddm lgi nhung phong thudc Ido, xdp vao hdm cdc bdnh xd phdng edn lgi, vira lim nhim tinh tiin hang. Hdm nay ngay phidn'" md bdn ciing ching dnthuagi.
- Cd phii budi trua em bdn cho bd Lgc hai bdnh xa phdng khdng ? An ngam nghl rdi ddp :
- Vang, bd ta mua hai bdnh edn eg Chi liy nua bdnh niia.
Lien vdi cai bdn tinh dl cdng sd tiin. Nhung ttong hdng ndng vd mudi qud, ehi ngin nggi rdi xdp tit ea tiin vdo trdp(2), khdng tinh niia:
- Thdi, de mai tinh mgt the.
An nhin ehi, chi dgi liic ay. Hdi chi em cung vdi mudn ddng cua hdng dl ra ngodi kia, ngdi ttdn chdng ngim nliin phong cinh ngodi phd. Lidn khod vdi ttdp tiin vdi mdt chide khod ehi deo vdo cdi ddy xd tich'^) ^gc d thit lung, chide xd tich vd-cdi khoa ehi quy mdn va hdnh didn, vi nd td ra cW Id ngudi eon gdi ldn vd dim dang.
-A, cdbdldmgithd?
Nghe cdu ndi tidp theo mdt tidng cudi khanh khdch, ehi em Udn khdng ein ngoinh mdt ra cimg bidt Id ai dd vdo hdng. Dd Id eg Thi, mdt bd gid hoi didn .van mua rugu d hdng Lidn. Lidn dd bidt tinh bd, chi lang lgng rdt mdt ciit rupn ti'*' diy dua cho eg ; ehi khdng ddm nhin mdt eg, vd ttong long hoi run sg, elu mong cho eg chdng di. Cu cim ciit rugu soi ldn rdi cudi gidn gid ndi:
- A, em Lidn thio nhi. Hdm nay lgi rdt diy cho chi ddy.
Cg ngiia ed ra dang sau, udng mdt hoi cgn sgch, rdi vtra chdp midng viia lin rudt tugng tti tiin. Cg dl ba ddng xu vdo tay Lidn, xoa diu ehi mdt edi rdi lio dio budc ra ngodi. Hai chi em Odn dung siing nhin theo cu di lin vdo bdng tdi, tidng eirdi khanh khdch nhd din vl phia ldng.
Trdi da bit diu ddm, mdt ddm mua hg dm nhu nhung vd thoang qua gid mat.
Dudng phd vd cdc ngd eon dan din ehiia diy bdng tdi. Cdc nhd dd ddng cua rni im, trir mdt vai cua hdng edn thiie, nhung eua chi dd hd ra mdt khe dnh sdng. Tre eon
(1) Ngdy phiin: ngdy hpp chp ehinh theo dinh ki hdng thdng.
(2) Trdp : dd dung hinh hpp ttdn hode chii nhdt, ldm bing gd di dung giay td, ttiu cau hode vdt quy.
(3) Xd tich : mdt thir dd ttang siic eiia phu nii ngdy xua, thudng Id mdt spi ddy m^ b^ic gilt b thit lung c6 deo chia khod, hdp vol dn ttau.
(4) Rugu ti: rupu do eong ti sdn xuat, dupe Phdp cho ph6p bdn (khde vdi rupu ldu, rupu do ddn tp n^u; thdi thupc Phdp, ddn khong dupe ph6p nau rupu).
tg hgp nhau d thim hd, tidng cudi ndi vui vd, khidn An them mudn nhdp bgn vdi chung de nd dua, nhung sg ttdi ldi m? dan phai coi hdng, ndn hai ehi em ddnh ngdi ydn ttdn chdng, dua mdt theo ddi nhimg ngudi vl mugn, tii tii di ttong ddm.
Vdm ttdi hdng ngdn ngdi sao ganh nhau lip Idnh, lin vdi vet sdng eua nhiing con dom ddm bay la Id tten mat dit hay len vdo nhiing cdnh cdy. An vd Lidn lgng ngudc mdt ldn nhin cdc vi sao de tim sdng Ngan Hd vd con vit theo sau dng Than Ndng'i'. Vu tru thdm tham bao la ddi vdi tdm hdn hai diia tre nhu diy bi mat va xa lg vd ldm mdi tri nghl, ndn chi mdt Idt hai chi em lgi ciii nhin vl mat dit, vl quang sang thdn mat chung quanh ngpn ddn lay ddng ttdn chdng hdng eua ehi Ti.
v l phia huydn, mpt chim liia khdc nhd vd vdng la liing di ttong ddm tdi, mat di, rdi lgi hidn ra... An ttd tay bao ehi:
- Kia, hdng phd cua bdc Sidu den kia rdi.
Tieng ddn gdnh kiu kit nghe rd ret, khdi theo gid tgt lgi ehd hai elu em. Bdc Sieu dd tdi gin, ddt gdnh phd xudng dudng. Bdc ciii xudng nhdm lgi lua, thdi vdo cai dng niia con. Bdng bdc mdnh mdng ngi xudng dit mdt vimg vd kdo dai den tan hang rdo hai bdn ngd. An vd Lidn ngui thiy miii phd thom, nhtmg d cdi huydn nho ndy, qud bdc Sidu Id mdt thii qud xa xi, nhiiu tiin, hcii chi em khdng bao gid mua dugc. Lidn nhd lgi khi d Hd Ndi chi dupe hudng nhiing thiie qua ngon, la - biy gid me Lidn nhiiu tiin - dugc di choi Bd Hd'^) udng nhiing cdc nude Ignh xanh d6<''.
Ngodi ra, ki mdm edn nhd lgi khdng rd ret ^ , ehi Id mdt vimg sdng rgc vd lip lanh.
Hd Ndi nhiiu den qud ! Tir khi nhd Lien dgn vl day, tii khi cd cdi cua hdng nay, ddm ndo Lidn vd em cimg phai ngdi ttdn chide chdng tte dtrdi gdc cay bdng vdi cai tdi cua quang cdnh phd chung quanh.
Ddm tdi ddi vdi Lidn quen ldm, chi khdng sg nd niia. Tdi hdt ci, con dudng thdm thim ra sdng, con dudng qua chg vl nha, cdc ngd vdo ldng lai cdng sdm den hon niia. Gid ehi cdn nggn den con eua chi Ti, vd c i cdi bdp lua cua bac Sidu, chidu sdng mdt vung dat cdt; ttong eua hdng, nggn ddn cua Lidn, ngon ddn vgn nhd, thua thdt timg hot sdng Igt qua phdn mia. Tit ca phd xd ttong huyen bay gid diu thu nhd lgi noi hdng nudc cua elu TI. Thdm dugc mdt gia dinh bdc xam'*' ngdi trdn manh chieu, edi thau sit tring d l trudc mdt, nhung bdc chua hdt vi chua ed khdch nghe.
(1) Than Ndng: dng vua thdi ed d^ d Trung Qudc, day ddn Idm rudng, hpp ehp vd ehiia bfinh.
Ten dng dupe ddt cho mdt chdm sao.
(2) BdHd: hd Hodn Kiim, b trung tdm Ha Npi.
(3) Nudc Ignh xanh dd: nudc ngpt ed mau xanh hode dd di lanh.
(4) Xdm: ngudi kiim sdng bdng nghi hat rong.
Chi Ti phe phiy cdnh chudi khd dudi rudi bd ttdn miy tiiiie hdng, chdm rdi ndi:
- Gid mugn thd ndy md hg chua ra nhi ?
Chi mudn ndi miy chii linh trong huydn, miy ngtrdi nhd eua eg thira, eg luc'"
la nhiing khdch hang quen eua ehi. Bdc Sidu ddp van va:
- Hdm nay ttong dng gido ciing ed td tdm. Dl hg khdng phii di ggi ddu.
Vg chdng bdc xim gdp chuydn bang miy tidng ddn biu'^' bat ttong ydn ldng.
Thing con bd ra dit, ngodi manh ehidu, nghich nhdt nhiing rdc bin vui ttong cdt bdn dudng. Chimg iy ngudi ttong bdng tdi mong dgi mdt edi 0 tuoi sdng cho sg sdng nghdo khd hang ngdy ciia hg.
An vd Lidn da budn ngu riu ci mat. Tuy vdy hai chi em vin gugng de thiic khuya chiit niia, trudc khi vdo hdng ddng cua di ngi. Me vin ddn phai thiic den khi tdu xudng - dudng sit di ngang qua ngay ttudc mdt phd - dl bdn hang, may ra cdn cd mgt vdi ngudi mua. Nhtmg cimg nhu mgi ddm, Lidn khdng ttdng mong cdn ai den mua niia. Vdi lgi, dem hg chi mua bao diem hay gdi thudc Id cimg. Lien vd em ed thiic la vi ed khdc, vi mudn dugc nhin chuydn tdu do Id sg hogt ddng cudi cung cua ddm khuya.
An dd nim xudng gdi diu ldn dixi chi, mi mit sip sua roi xudng, cdn dan vdi:
- Tdu ddn chi ddnh thiie em dgy nhd.
- U, em cii ngu di.
Lidn khe qugt cho An, vudt lgi mdi tdc ta. Diu em be ndng din trdn ngudi Lidn;
chi ngdi ydn khdng ddng ddy. Qua ke Id eua cdnh bdng, ngdn sao vdn lip Idnh ; mdt eon dom ddm bdm vao dudi mdt Id, vung sdng nhd xanh nhip nhdy rdi hoa bdng rgng xudng vai Lidn khe khd, thuih thoang ttmg logt mdt. Tam hdn Lidn ydn tinh han, cd nhiing cam gidc ma hd khdng hilu.
Trdng cim canh'^' d huydn ddnh tung ldn mdt tieng ngin khd khan, khdng vang ddng ra xa, rdi chim ngay vdo bdng tdi. Ngudi ving mdi; trdn hdng ghd ehi Ti mdi cd hai, ba bdc phu ngdi udng nude vd hiit thudc Ido. Nhung mdt Idt tir phd huy$n di ra, hai ba ngudi cam ddn long lung lay cac bdng ddi: miy ngudi ldm cdng b hidu khdch di ddn bd chu d tinh vl. Bdc Sidu nghin ed nhin ra phia ga, ldn tidng:
- Ddn ghi'*' dd ra kia rdi.
(1) Luc dvc sp): vien chirc lo vipc giay td x6t xii b huypn dudng thdi Phdp thude.
(2) Ddn bdu (dde huyin cam): ddn ddn tpc, gdm mdt biu, mdt ddy vd mpt ein nhd bing tre udn cong, khdng cd phim.
(3) Trdng cdm canh: ngtrdi xua chia dem thdnh ndm canh, canh mdt ki tit Me ttdi vita tdi; diu mdi canh diu cd diem ttdng.
(4) Ê)cô g/ii: d^n bdo hi^u chuyin xe Ilia ch^y sang dudng ray khdc.
Lidn ciing ttdng tiiay ngpn lua xanh bide, sdt mdt dit nhu ma ttai. Roi tidng edi xe lua d dau vang lgi, ttong ddm khuya kdo ddi ra theo ngpn gid xa xdi. Lidn ddnh thiic em : - .
- Day di. An. Tdu den rdi.
An nhdm day, liy tay dgi mdt cho tinh hin. Hai ehi ôm nghe thiy tieng ddn ddp, tidng xe rit manh vdo ghi. Mdt ldn khdi btmg sang tting ldn ding xa, tidp den tieng hdnh khdch dn do khe khd. May nam nay budn bdn kem ndn ngtrdi ldn xudng It, ed khi hai ehi em dgi chd ching thiy ai. Tnrdc kia, b sdn ga, cd may hang com md ddn khdch,. den sang cho den nua ddm. Nhtmg bay gid hg ddng cim ca rdi, cimg im ldng tdi den nhu ngoai phd.
Hai ehi em chd khdng ldu. Tieng edi dd rit ldn, va tau rim rd di tdi. Lien dit em diing ddy de nhin dodn xe vgt qua, cdc toa den sang tnmg, chieu dnh ci xudng dirdng. Lidn ehi thoang ttdng thiy nhiing toa hgng ttdn sang ttgng Id nhd nhimg ngtrdi, ddng vd kin lip idnh, vd cdc cua kinh sang. Rdi chide tdu di vdo ddm tdi, de lgi nhiing ddm than do bay tung ttdn dudng sdt. Hai chi em edn nhin theo edi chim nhd cua chide den xanh tteo trdn toa sau cung, xa xa mdi rdi khuit sau rang tre.
- Tdu hdm nay khdng ddng, chi nhi.
Lidn cim tay em khdng ddp. Chuyen tdu dem nay khdng ddng nhu mgi khi, thua ving ngudi vd hinh nhu kdm sdng hon. Nhtmg hg d Hd Ndi vl! Lidn ldng theo ma tudng. Hd Ndi xa xdm. Ha Ndi sdng rgc vui ve vd huydn ndo. Con tdu nhu da dem mdt chiit thd gidi khde di qua. Mdt the gidi khdc hin, ddi vdi Lidn, khdc hin cdi ving sdng nggn den eua chi Ti vd anh lua eua bdc Sidu. Ddm tdi vin bao bpe chung quanh, ddm eua dit que, va ngoai kia, ddng rudng mdnh mang va yen ldng.
- Thdi di ngu di eW.
Lien vo vai em, ngdi xudng chdng. An ciing ngdi jcudng vd nga diu vdo vai Lien.
Tidng vang ddng cua xe hoi dd nhd rdi, vd mit din ttong bdng tdi, ling tai ciing khdng nghe thay niia. Sao ttdn ttdi vin lap lanh. Ci phd huydn bay gid mdi that la hdt ndo ddng, ehi cdn ddm khuya, tieng ttdng cam canh vd tidng chd cin. Tu phia ga, bdng ddn long vdi bdng ngudi di v l ; elu Ti duong sua sogn do dgc vd bdc Sidu dd gdnh hdng di vdo ttong ldng, edn vg chdng bdc xam ngu ggc ttdn manh ehilu tg bao gid.
Lien quay lgi nhin em, thay An ciing da ngu say tay nim chat td do chi vd dau van dga vdo vai. Lidn niiin quanh ddm tdi, gid dd thoang lanh vd dom ddm khdng cdn niia. Chi ciii xudng vge em vdo ttong hang, mit cimg da riu lgi. Chi gai cua can than vd van nhd nggn den dat ttdn cdi qua thudc son den. Rdi Lidn den ben em nam xudng. Chi gdi diu ldn tay nhim mit lai. Nhung cam gidc ban ngdy ling di ttong tdm hdn Lidn vd hmh anh thd gidi quanh minh md md di ttong mdt ehi.