The Seed He Planted: A Rucksack Universe Story: Rucksack Universe

By Anthony St. Clair

An ugly satchel holds an uglier truth.

 

Nia Fox gave up everything for Guru Deep, so the perfect CEO could have the perfect executive assistant at his beck and call, every moment.

 

Nia loves working for Guru Deep. He sees a path for the future that few comprehend. She knows today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Lotus, the new company headquarters in south London, dominates Guru Deep's thoughts.

 

But why did he insist on wearing that damn satchel? The brown shoulder strap and bulging bag smear his gleaming orange suit like a dripping turd.

 

He refuses to say what the satchel holds. She chides herself for wanting to ask. She never thought to wonder what to do if she found out.

 

Like strong women learning their strength? Enjoy losing yourself in alternate Londons, complete with a new mystical twist on corporate intrigue? Then get ready to lose yourself in "The Seed He Planted."

 

The Rucksack Universe series combines alternate history, speculative fiction, myth, adventure, globetrotting, and intrigue—all with well-poured pints of beer. Library Journal says Anthony St. Clair's storytelling has "universe building reminiscent of Terry Pratchett," and readers say they love the Rucksack Universe's unique combination of "quirk, wit, travel, and magic."

 

Praise for Anthony St. Clair and the Rucksack Universe

 

"Left me completely gobsmacked. Great concept, fun characters, and beautiful writing… High-stakes story, told with wit and compassion." – Nth Degree

 

"Brings the reader into the story and holds them there with every sight, smell, sound, and feeling…. St. Clair is now one of my favorite authors and I truly cannot wait to read more." – Online Book Club

 

"Fans of travel, fantasy, and beer will circle around this story. Matching Indian lore with universe building reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, St. Clair's tale will make readers reconsider fate." – Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal's Self-Published Ebook Awards

 

What Readers Say

 

"Cheeky and sophisticated."

 

"Pulls you in fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat."

 

"The characters and story swept me into their grasp and whisked me into their world."

 

"A page turner for sure."

 

"Fascinating new universe."

 

"Modern fantasy writing with very real characters and situations."

 

"Easy to read, wildly entertaining, and full of imagination."

 

"St. Clair is a fine storyteller who will keep you reading to the end and still wanting more."

 

"Anthony seamlessly combines quirk, wit, travel, and magic."

 

"Grabs your attention and doesn't let go."

 

"Entertaining fantasy full of twists and turns."

 

"Challenges and trials that will keep you fully engaged as you read St. Clair's beautiful prose."

 

"Delightful and artful adventure into an intriguing world."

 

"Sharp writing and dialogue."

 

"Left me wanting more!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rucksack Press
• Release date: Jan 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781940119564

Anthony St. Clair

Anthony St. Clair creates compelling fiction and non-fiction for a curious world full of everyday discoveries, endeavors, and surprises. He is the author of the ongoing Rucksack Universe series; covers craft beer, food, business, and more for various publications; and is a copywriter and content manager for select clients. When not at his desk or in his kitchen in Oregon, Anthony is on an adventure with his wife, son, and daughter.

Book preview

The Seed He Planted

The Seed He Planted

A Rucksack Universe Story

Anthony St. Clair

Rucksack Press

Contents

1. Personal Cornerstone

2. Red Dot

3. The Gritty Dark

4. Magnificent

Thank You for Reading

Become a Wanderer

Also by Anthony St. Clair

Acknowledgments

Special Features

Sneak Peek

About the Author

The seed itself is irrelevant. Only what grows matters.

—Guru Deep, Travels Through the Third Eye

1

Personal Cornerstone

Aturd on a sunrise.

Nia Fox couldn’t look at the damn satchel anymore, at the way the scuffed brown leather streaked across the orange silk. She shifted on her rear-facing black bench seat in one of London’s iconic orange Saṃsāra taxicabs. At the perfectly organized desk of her mind, Nia made a note: Guru Deep needed to discuss a taxi interior refresh with the head of transport. Something more colorful to match the bright city. Note filed, Nia turned to her right, where the taxi window reflected her dark-brown eyes and skin.

To the east, the sun had risen halfway between the River Thames and a blanket of gray clouds, and now its light was mostly hidden. She had been hoping for a rich aqua sky, the sort that London sometimes got on spring days like this—at the least, it would have matched her own suit jacket, though blouse-matching white cloud would have been acceptable. Nia smoothed her black slacks. To her relief, at least the clouds did not portend rain. Bad weather was the last thing they needed. They could still carry off the announcement, but the photo ops would be less front page–worthy. Radio news would still have Guru Deep at the top of every report, though. Nia sighed. It had better not rain. Rain would mean nixing the theatrical finale Guru Deep had planned—and he would not be too happy about that. A chill like a draft invaded the cab.

Just thinking about her boss, sitting in the middle of the bench seat across from Nia, at the back of the taxi, and she had to glance at him again. She breathed in. Smiled. The chill faded, and the air felt golden and warm once more. Even in the half-light of the spring morning, Guru Deep’s golden-brown skin and bald head gleamed like copper. Combined with his crisp white shirt and matching soft leather gloves, and the bright orange tie that matched his silk suit, it was like sitting in the car with the sun.

The sun might rise in the east, but the world’s true star that rose everywhere was Guru Deep.

Nia smiled, but she had to look away again. If only he wasn’t wearing that suit-rumpling, asymmetrical, stupid front-flap satchel. If the scuffed, shine-worn, brown leather were as oily, dirty, and dingy as it looked, then Guru Deep’s jacket would be ruined.

Nia flipped through the files and lists in her mind. Advance would have two backup suits on site, in the trailer they kept at the ready for off-site press conferences. Nia’s dark-brown eyes narrowed. At