In the gripping tale of "In the Shadow of War," a Nigerian village becomes the setting for a narrative that weaves together the lives of its inhabitants and the ominous presence of conflict. As soldiers disrupt the peace and a mysterious veiled woman draws the focus of a curious boy, the story unravels layers of tension and symbolism. Through the eyes of young Omovo, readers are drawn into a world where reality and myth collide, painting a poignant picture of life overshadowed by war.

The Arrival of Soldiers

One afternoon, the tranquility of an unnamed Nigerian village is shattered by the arrival of three soldiers. As they make their way to a local bar, their presence unsettles the roaming animals and seems to bring with it a swarm of flies, which buzz persistently around as the soldiers indulge in palm-wine.

A Father and Son's Vigil

Inside a modest home, a young boy named Omovo watches the soldiers from the window he shares with his father. Their Grundig radio, a relic purchased from a fleeing family, crackles with news of "bombings and air raids" tearing through the country's heart. As Omovo's father prepares for his day in an ill-fitting coat, Omovo remains fixated on the daily passerby—a veiled woman heading through village paths to the forest. The radio's grave updates conclude with an announcement of a lunar eclipse, prompting Omovo's father to scoff at the irrelevance of celestial events amid war. Their conversation meanders into folklore as the father warns Omovo of the eclipse's dangers to children, a tale Omovo dismisses with skepticism. His father, however, leaves him with ten kobo, a paternal gesture, before heading out with a final reminder to avoid listening excessively to the war's grim reports.

Curiosity and Caution

Once Omovo sees his father board a bus, he defies the instruction and switches the radio back on, settling once more on the windowsill. He recalls the veiled woman's previous attire—a yellow smock—and the children's reaction to her enigmatic presence. They once claimed she cast no shadow and that her feet never touched the ground, yet she seemed impervious to their taunts or thrown stones. The ambient sounds of the village accompany Omovo's wait, as life continues in the heat of the day.

The Village's Routine and Omovo's Encounter with Soldiers

Despite the oppressive heat, villagers continue their daily activities, seemingly moving as though in a dream. The soldiers, still at the bar, pass the time with drinks and a game of draughts. Observing from above, Omovo notes how the soldiers engage passing children, exchanging brief words and a bit of money. When Omovo himself passes by, the soldiers initially ignore him but later summon him with questions about his peculiar response, "Heclipse," to their query. Their laughter is punctuated by the spray of spit, a reminder of their disregard. Amidst this, Omovo notices the soldiers' guns, marked with identifying numbers. They question him about the veiled woman, labeling her a "spy" and offering him money to report on her whereabouts. Omovo declines and returns to his post by the window, where the oppressive heat eventually lulls him to sleep.

Following the Veiled Woman

When Omovo awakes, the veiled woman has already passed, trailed by the soldiers. He races to keep up, noticing the bare-chested soldier and another whose pants are split from his large build. Omovo trails them across the Express road and deeper into the forest, diverging from the soldiers' path to continue his pursuit of the woman. She is clad in "faded wrappers and a grey shawl," with her veil and a red basket perched...