High Ground

The greatest gold discovery in history draws a young Charles Knight to West Africa, where he unearths deception, violence, and romance. Xander Winn - a Dutchman on his own mission - mentors Charles on his voyage into the world of speculation and African politics. But a psychopathic rebel leader, the purveyors of a six-billion-dollar fraud, a team of mercenaries bent on early retirement, and the US government all get in his way. Everyone wants him dead. But Charles plans to strike it rich.

Charles Knight returns to the United States after seven years traveling the world. He embarks on two concurrent professions: one as a major investor in a small pharmaceutical company, and the other as the head of a black market drug-smuggling and distribution operation. Charles has to sort through the legal and illegal, moral and immoral, and right and wrong as he navigates the war on drugs and the crony pharmaceutical industry.

Charles Knight is released from an especially unpleasant stay in prison, only to rejoin a society overwhelmed by looting, riots, arson, viral panic, mob-think, and economic decay, with a presidential election in the balance. The cronies are in charge, abetted by their media lackeys and political puppets. They’ll do anything to get what they want.