Crystal tumbler of whiskey in hand, I switched on the TV for my six pm news fix. With everything going on around the world, I did not relish getting another dose of misery. It’s enough to drive a man to drink.
The sight of Gaza almost totally obliterated, starving Palestinians because of Israel’s aid blockade despite the ceasefire agreement, made me cringe and shake my head. Then there are the bombed cities and villages in Ukraine under increased Russian drone and missile attacks. Predictably, Kyiv intensified its retaliatory strikes against Russian military bases and oil refineries, which in turn has caused real problems for civilians who always suffer the most in any war. I had enough watching Chinese Coast Guard vessels ram Philippine fishing vessels, then brazenly claim they are only protecting their sovereign waters, which is a load of crock. I chuckle when I see clips of President Trump claim victories in his tariff war while America is slowly getting ruined.
Scenes of destruction and starvation turn my stomach, and I wonder why such things are allowed to happen. However, like a junky, I need my dose of local and international news, simply to confirm that things really were rotten as I thought they were.
The ABC intro music ended and a flashing red BREAKING NEWS footer on the screen caught my attention. The presenter, Iskhandar Razak, trim in his blue suit, looked grave. Without any preliminaries, he started his announcement.
“For those who missed our five o’clock bulletin, three hours ago, President Zelenskyy authorized launch of newly delivered Tomahawk cruise missiles against multiple targets in Russia, including a strike against Moscow. Despite President Trump’s escalated sanctions, President Putin has shown no inclination to engage in any peace talks. As reported two days ago, US intelligence sources claim that Russia deployed several road-mobile SS-26 Stone missile batteries near the Ukrainian border. The missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. Kyiv is only eighty kilometers from the Russian border and well within range of those batteries. Just a moment…”
An individual appeared from off-camera and handed Razak a note.
“I am informed that the Russian State Duma, the Federation Assembly building, was struck by two Tomahawk missiles. There is no information on damage or casualties. In response, Russia has launched an unknown number of missiles against Kyiv. We are still waiting for results of that strike.
“We also have a major development in Israel. At 7:32 am local time, Jerusalem came under a sustained missile attack launched by Yemen Houthi rebels, backed and supplied by Iran. The attack was apparently made in retaliation for Israel’s resumption of its bombing of Gaza. Although Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted most of the incoming missiles, several struck Jerusalem, including the Knesset. I will now switch you to Matthew Doran, our Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem.”
Another strike by the Houthi? Despite all the international fanfare and Trump’s breast-beating claiming victory, I never believed the fragile ceasefire would hold. Netanyahu’s far-right, ultraconservative religious coalition partners, would never allow a permanent peace with the Palestinians. They agreed to a ceasefire only to secure the release of remaining hostages and the return of those already dead, and fumed for days because Hamas could not produce all the bodies. After two years of war, no wonder Hamas could not deliver the bodies. This, of course, gave Netanyahu a perfect excuse to resume his war. The objective being to occupy the Gaza Strip and make it Israeli territory. It was their God-given land after all, right?
The picture shifted to the equally serious Doran, a microphone in hand.
“Jerusalem is burning this morning.” The camera panned to show smoke rising across the city. “I am told the Knesset was hit by two missiles, which killed a number of sitting members, staff, and civilians in the area. It is not known if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those killed. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Force launched several Arrow 3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles against Tehran, possibly nuclear-tipped. There is no report if the strike was intercepted. I am told by sources inside the IDF that Israel’s nuclear forces were brought—”
An intense white flash made me wince and the picture returned to the studio. Iskhandar Razak glanced at Tamara Oudyn, his co-host. She slowly returned his gaze and pressed both hands to her mouth. He cleared his throat and faced the camera.
“It appears we have a technical difficulty—”
Someone rushed to his side and whispered to him. Visibly shaken, Iskhandar licked his lips.
“I have been informed that Jerusalem was struck by a nuclear missile launched from Iran. We shall provide ongoing updates as they come to hand. To other major—”
The same individual hurried to his side. Iskhandar turned white and swallowed hard.
“It appears Kyiv was obliterated by two nuclear SS-26 missiles. Thirty-five minutes ago, China launched multiple ICBMs against Russia and the US.”
I stared at the TV in disbelief.
Holy shit!
The idiots went and done it.
Around me, sirens began to wail.
Iskhandar choked as he stared at the camera. Tamara Oudyn quietly sobbed beside him. “This is a nuclear alert. Take immediate shelter, and may God be with us all.”
The picture immediately turned into hissing static.
I swiveled my brown leather recliner and faced the ceiling-high window. My 14th floor Southbank apartment gave me an excellent view of Melbourne ablaze with light from high-rise buildings and skyscrapers against a background of an approaching evening. I took a sip of whiskey and chuckled. Take shelter? The chuckle turned into a belly laugh.
I stood and slowly walked to the window, tumbler in hand. I should feel panic, swamped with regrets and opportunities missed, but I felt unaccountably calm. Perhaps I should put on a CD of something classical that fitted my mood.
I saw a searing white light—
