Skywalkers is a mystery tale that evolved slowly.
It came to me while I daydreamed in my job, staring out the window of my 16th floor workstation. Laid out before me, the city provided welcome distraction; aircraft on final descent into Adelaide Airport, a blimp during the Fringe Festival, Children’s balloons that escaped sticky fingers, and then the human activity. Maintenance men climbed over rooves, window washers swung past via gantries, and cranes were active most days. I began to picture the life that occurs above street level, and the people who live it.
Older high-rise commercial buildings often had a caretaker flat either on the roof, or located in the basement. That doesn’t happen as often anymore, as computerized technologies and facilities managers monitor city buildings remotely. My story evolved around those people who look after the older buildings, and have live-in positions. They regard the city as theirs after hours, when all the diurnals or flat-earthers have retreated to the suburbs.
The Skywalkers are part of a community with a restricted membership, and their own means of communication. Next time you see an unusual flog raised on top of a city building, you will wonder who is communicating what to whom. It won’t always represent a particular state, company, or nation.
The people who live and work above the city, have their own code of ethics, and look after their own. They have a strong sense of community. When one of them is under threat, the others rally to help, particularly when lives may be in peril.
Winding between the legs of those who stand still long enough is a large, opinionated, ginger cat. He is every bit a part of the story as the two-legged characters. When it seems that Ginger Puss is also at risk, it’s time for everyone to take action.
books2read.com/skywalkers for links to major book retailers.
Emily Hussey 