46 pages 1 hour read

Helon Habila

Oil on Water

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2010

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Chapters 1-3

Chapter 1 Summary

Rufus and Zaq are travelling down the Niger River, in search of a white woman who has been kidnapped by militants. An old man and his son, Tamuno and Michael, guide them. As they travel, they come to various villages that have been decimated and abandoned, with no people left to talk to. Finally, they come to a village where the old man has a friend named Karibi. They are hoping to stay overnight there, so that they may rest and Zaq can recover somewhat from his fever, which he has been suffering from for days.

After consulting with other men in the village, Karibi tells the old man that the travelers must leave because the military is coming. Rufus and Zaq ask why, and it turns out that Karibi is accused of helping the militants. The military shows up in speed boats and attacks the village, causing chaos, firing shots into the air, and hurting people. Rufus is knocked down by a fleeing woman, which inadvertently saves him from being trampled or assaulted by the soldiers. They grab Karibi while a woman villager calls out to God for help.