Part 1: Death of Baldr
(Continued from last week)
Gunmen kill 50 climate refugees in Manila Airport
This is a breaking news report from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. There has been a horrific terror attack on a group of refugees who were fleeing extreme cold weather.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed men stormed into the arrival lounge of Manila Airport and started firing indiscriminately at a group of climate refugees who had just arrived from France, Germany, Poland and Austria. Panic and chaos ensued as people scrambled to escape the attackers.
The victims, who were mostly families with children, were left bleeding on the ground as the gunmen fled the scene. It is unclear at this time how many people were killed or injured in the attack.
The authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects and are asking anyone with information to come forward. The airport has been temporarily shut down and all flights have been suspended until further notice.
The international community has condemned this heinous act of violence and expressed their condolences to the victims and their families. The incident has once again highlighted the plight of the millions of people who have been displaced by the ice age crisis and are seeking refuge in warmer parts of the world.
We will continue to bring you updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
The blue waves glistened in the morning sunshine ushering a new day to a fishing hamlet in Southern Sri Lanka. The fishermen pushed their boats up the sand dunes and tossed the leftover chum to the stray dogs. A group of sand-covered Japanese men lounged on beach chairs after their morning snorkeling session, admiring the seashells they’ve caught.
It was a Sunday morning and Shalini had been sent to the market to fetch some last-minute groceries. Mala seems to be not worried about the family’s sudden eviction ever since that white lady gave her 20,000 dollars. Mala and Amal had been talking about moving to Avissawella so they will be close to Aruna and help Shalini’s future job and education prospects in Colombo. All in all, the mighty dollar had cured this small family’s woes, for now.
Shalini walked through the market, she noticed the vibrant colours and bustling activity around her.
As she was browsing through the vegetable section, she saw the American lady she had met the day before. The lady was examining some fruits and vegetables with a curious expression.
Shalini approached her and greeted her, “Good morning! How are you doing today?”
The American lady looked up and smiled warmly at Shalini, “Good morning! I’m doing well, thank you. How about you?”
“I’m good too, thank you,” Shalini replied.
They struck up a conversation about the market and the different types of fruits and vegetables available. The American lady seemed to be very interested in the local produce and asked Shalini a lot of questions about the various dishes that could be made with them.
As they were talking, Shalini couldn’t help but think about the generous donation that the American lady had made to her family. She wanted to express her gratitude but didn’t know how to do it without seeming intrusive.
Finally, she mustered up the courage and said, “I just wanted to thank you for what you did yesterday. It means a lot to my family and me.”
The American lady looked at Shalini with a kind smile and replied, “You don’t have to thank me, Shalini. I’m just happy to help.”
Just as Shalini was about to say something more, two local beach boys walked up and stood next to her. They looked at her menacingly and said, “We heard about what your brother did last night. Tell him to watch his back.”
Shalini felt her heart racing as the beach boys walked away. She turned to the American lady, feeling embarrassed and afraid. “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “They’re just some local boys who like to cause trouble.”
The American lady put a hand on Shalini’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. I’m here for you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Shalini felt tears welling up in her eyes as she realized how kind the American lady was. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means a lot to me.”
They talked for a while longer before Shalini finished her shopping. As she walked home, she felt a sense of unease wash over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being followed. She turned around and saw the two beach boys following her at a slow pace on a motorcycle. Her heart raced with fear as she quickened her pace.
Suddenly, a small car pulled up beside her, and Kasun’s familiar face greeted her. “Nangi, get in! Hurry!”
Without hesitation, Shalini got into the car, and Kasun sped away from the beach boys. As they drove away, Shalini’s heart continued to race with fear and anxiety.
“Who were those guys, Kasun ayyia? Why were they following me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Kasun let out a sigh and explained, “They’re the beach boys who hang around the area. They’re not known to be the friendliest bunch, and they probably got riled up about what Aruna did last night.”
Shalini’s heart sank at the mention of her brother’s involvement. “What did ayyia do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kasun hesitated before answering, “He got into a fight with a sudda last night. The man got injured and had to be taken to the hospital.”
Shalini felt a wave of shock wash over her. She knew that her brother had a temper, but she never thought he would go so far as to hurt someone. “Oh my god, Kasun ayyia. What are we going to do?” she asked, her voice shaking with emotion.
Kasun put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, nangi. We’ll figure something out. For now, let’s just get you home safely.”
Shalini nodded, grateful for Kasun’s reassuring presence. As they pulled up to her house, Kasun gave her one final word of advice. “Just stay low for a while. I’ll keep you posted on any developments. And don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”
Shalini gave Kasun a grateful smile before getting out of the car and making her way into her house.
To be continued...