From Shackle to Liberty
The Voice That Set Sail for Freedom
Welcome to a space where creativity speaks in two distinct voices—music and words. This website is designed to be a haven for those who appreciate both the art of storytelling and the power of melody.
You are now in the word space, where the journey begins with the written story. Here, you will have the opportunity to explore the first chapter of my book, From Shackle to Liberty.
Through this website, you will find melodies that are crafted to stir the soul, and stories that capture the essence of life’s journeys. Music gives rhythm to emotions that words sometimes cannot contain, while books preserve voices and experiences that time should never erase.
This website brings together both passions—composing music that resonates deeply and writing books that inspire, inform, and connect. Whether you are here to listen, to read, or simply to be moved, you will discover a place where sound and story are woven together in harmony.
This is the first book in a series of two. I am pleased to introduce you to Chapter One from my book: From Shackle to Liberty. If you are eager to discover where the narrative leads, you have two options. You can wait for the official website launch, where the story will be fully unveiled. Alternatively, for immediate access, you may order the book directly by contacting the email address provided on this website.
The adventure continues with the second book in the series, titled A New Beginning. Stay tuned—this next book will be arriving soon and promises to further enrich the experience.
From Shackle to Liberty — Chapter One
Shadows of Despair: A Tale of Oppression and Tragedy
Though it was past midnight, the temperature was still too warm. A crescent moon shone dimly through the windows. Outside, it was quiet; not even a slight breeze disturbed the stillness. Groves of pines and wild trees huddled their dormant heads together in the dark. Glittering here and there was the moon's pale light showing through jungle leaves. Occasionally, one heard the chuff of a tiger on its nightly hunting path. Hoa was swinging on his hammock, trying to soothe himself to sleep, but there was no sleep to be had. The Letter of Summons he received from the district police office this afternoon was taken care of. He lay there, wondering, puzzled because the letter did not mention the subject matter.
Hoa recalled that a few days ago, Khiem, a member of the local Pioneer Youth League (PYL), had expressed discontent with Hoa and said something that sounded like a thinly veiled threat. Though Hoa did not pay attention to what Khiem had said, he couldn't forget the last part: "You will see what happens."
Hoa pondered if there was any connection between this and the Letter of Summons from the police office. Was Khiem aware of something that Hoa was not? He is an ambitious member of the Pioneer Youth League (PYL) and is anxious to make achievements to be sworn into the Party. Perhaps during some internal meeting, he overheard something and, wanting to show off, acted like he knew a secret. If that's the case, then the Letter of Summons might have more negative implications than positive ones.
For a long time, the authorities have naturally classified Hoa as a capitalist follower. Is it now the time for them to act against Vo Hoa's property? Or do they have some ulterior motive about Hoa's past and now want to expose it to confiscating assets and take Hoa away?
Hoa can endure any hardship. But what about his wife and children? Hoa starts to worry. He is not concerned for himself but for the livelihood of his family. Without him, what would his wife do to make a living? And his child growing up in that class-prejudiced environment, where will their future go? Is having money also a crime under this regime?
Hoa feels very uneasy. After the Communist North defeated the Nationalist South, the new regime considered anyone who achieved financial success to be a follower of capitalists and an enemy of the current regime.
There have been countless unjust cases. One notable example is the story of Chin Can and Thuc in Dap Da, who were accused and imprisoned simply because they were labeled as "Capitalist Followers."
Chin Can's only fault was occasionally playing chess to pass the idle time. Yet, in retaliation, he was imprisoned for eight months; there was no appeal. While many people sweat to earn a meal, the tranquility of Chin Can has made the local authorities who hold power furious and envious. They labeled Chin Can as a "Capitalist Follower" and imprisoned him as revenge against the working class.
Thuc, Chin Can’s son-in-law, could see that things did not look good for him, and when he saw what had happened to Chin Can, he decided that he would not give in to the same oppression. Forging papers to join a semi-authorized official group, he tried using them to flee the country. Unfortunately, his counterfeit documents were discovered. He was apprehended and confined to a closed cell for a year. Though he had committed no crime, the anger and envy felt by his local cadre were enough in those times to justify the invention of charges.
There was a power vacuum following the rapid withdrawal of troops and the fall of Saigon. Those who had fought on the "right side" were now given positions of authority as a reward. It was not necessary to have any other qualifications. The rule of law was absent, and instead, with no inspections from any central authority in the small villages and towns, these lower-level officials abused their power and inflicted great harm on innocent citizens. Local authorities could order anyone to be arrested and jailed for as long as they considered necessary.
Typical punishment might have been to detain Thuc in a regular jail for a maximum of five or six months. In this case, he was not even told who had made these charges. It wasn't necessary under this present system. On behalf of the "Oppressed" people, the local leaders could confiscate their property and put them in jail, and no rule of law or justice would even need to be consulted. Thuc was confined to a dark cell without exposure to sunlight for more than a year. His hopelessness and resentment grew until he no longer wanted to continue living. Guarded very closely, he tried many times to commit suicide unsuccessfully.
Others in the community, identified as "oppressors" or "capitalists," were also attacked with vengeance, and there was no one to stop them.
Finally, the day came when he was released. His family came to be reunited with him, only to see he was not the same man they used to know. Quiet and listless, he showed no joy at his release or the reunion with his wife and children. He remained silent and withdrawn even after days had passed. Thuc was choked with anger and frustration. The humiliation and isolation he had suffered in close cell jail had caused this, they thought. In time, he could improve.
Mai-Ly was concerned with how deeply sad and angry Thuc was. She tried, in vain, to draw him out in conversation, to speak to him about things that might cheer him up, but he continued stone-faced and silent. All day, he looked into the sky, breathed long sighs, and did not speak.
Thuc's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lam, were enraged over their son's condition and encouraged Mai-Ly to bring him to their home for a visit. They thought a family dinner and get-together would lighten Thuc's inner pain. Thuc agreed to come, but his behavior was unchanged.
After dinner, the family gathered to sit and talk together. Soon, they noticed that Thuc was not there. Mai-Ly called him, but there was no answer. A hurried search began as they looked frantically for him. Then, there was a flash, and they were in sudden darkness. Both the TV and the refrigerator were dark. Thuc's father told everyone to stop moving until he could light a candle. After this was done, it was clear Thuc was still nowhere to be seen. Mai-Ly began to panic-stricken and ran outside to look for her husband. Mr. Lam, still holding the candle, went to check the fuses in the main electrical breaker. There, he saw Thuc, twisted in pain on the floor, his left hand held tightly to his right wrist. The fuse box on the wall hung open, and the air smelled of burning flesh. Thuc had tried unsuccessfully to electrocute himself. Fortunately, there was a short, and he was thrown back onto the floor, the fuse blown and plunging the entire house into darkness.
Mr. Lam screamed: “Oh, Thuc! What have you tried to do? My God, what has he done that made him suffer like this?”
Mai-Ly and Thuc's mother began to wail in sorrow while others came to help Mr. Lam carry Thuc to bed. Mr. Lam tried to call an ambulance, but Thuc begged him not to do so. Mai-Ly went to find a bandage and ointment to wrap Thuc's hand, and while she was doing so, his parents came to Thuc's bedside. Holding his grandson (Thuc's son) on his lap, Thuc's father spoke gently to him:
“Son, why have you acted so foolishly? Life-changing is nothing new. Sometimes, it is up and sometimes down. We are oppressed today, but who knows what will come tomorrow? Harming yourself will change nothing. Your suicide only legitimizes their abuse of power. We must live and fight. Though they may tyrannize us in the short term, we must continue to live to witness retribution. And what about your wife and children? What about your parents, brothers, and relatives, who will always love you dearly? Please do not leave us like this! If anything is bothering you, tell us or your wife and children. Your wife is young, and your children are still childhood. Would you notice them if you went? I ask that you listen to me. Please do not be foolish. All right?”
Thuc did not respond. The atmosphere in the house remained somber and desolate. Thuc's mother, his wife Mai-Ly, and his sisters all cupped their mouths, wept, and moaned. Thuc's brothers and brothers-in-law became sullen and gloomy. And Thuc remained quiet, his face cold as stone, and his eyes tired and glassy. No one could know his thoughts.
Thuc and Mai-Ly spent the night at his parents' home, and by the following day, she persuaded him to go to the hospital. Thuc seemed full of his faculties, so Mai-Ly insisted on taking him on her motorcycle.
They quickly got on the road and, before long, arrived at the fork by Ba Di Bridge. Traffic here was much busier, and Mai-Ly had to slow down her motorcycle. A cargo truck was coming in the opposite direction toward Thuc and Mai-Ly. Suddenly, Mai-Ly heard the screeching brakes of a car coming to a sudden stop. She felt as if someone had pushed her motorcycle toward the right edge of the road, causing her to lose her balance momentarily. She hurriedly pressed on the brake, and her wobbling bike fell on its side.
As it fell, Mai-Ly's leg became stuck under the motorcycle, so she looked back to ask Thuc to help lift her bike. Then she saw the cargo truck skidding to the other side of the road, carrying Thuc's body underneath its wheel.
The truck's wheels had run over Thuc's body, spreading his internal organs along a stretch of road about thirty feet. Mai-Ly let out a loud, anguished cry. With all her strength, she pulled her leg from under the bike and limped toward her husband's lifeless body. She cupped her hands on her face, throwing herself about on the road, lamenting wildly. Passersby clustered and helped carry Mai-Ly to the roadside. It was clear that Thuc had planned to commit suicide all along. He saw an opportunity, and he took it. No one could imagine the depth and strength of his despair.
It took over half an hour for the traffic police to come and make a report, wrap poor Thuc's corpse, and carry it away.
Hoa felt deeply saddened by the loss of a young man in his prime life, leaving his wife alone and his young children fatherless. All of this is because of the consequences of judgments not based on the rule of law but on the whims of those in power. Voices rose, speaking about how the Communists brought the rule of law and how, in those days, there were no capitalists or oppressors, only people who had toiled and fought against the oppressors. What is the meaning of the term "capitalist"? The more Hoa thought about it, the more confused he became.
The night was long, and Hoa lay there, unable to sleep, pondering the darkness of the future. The longer he thought, the more dispirited he became. The authorities might seize his property, or they might expose his past and confiscate his assets. With no rule of law, it was difficult to predict what would happen. Hoa's mind spun in circles, and his heart raced with anxiety.
The darkness outside seemed to mirror the darkness within his heart. The moon, once dimly visible, was now completely concealed by clouds. It was a dark night, indeed—a night filled with shadows of despair and tragedy.
— END OF CHAPTER ONE —
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