 "Salt" is narrated from the dual perspective of central characters Barlei and Petja, who function as representatives of Senaar and Als, respectively.Barlei is a senior military official—effectively a dictator—beholden to the well-defined hierarchy of the colony of Senaar.Petja, a wayfaring Alsist to begin with, hardens into a charismatic terrorist, resolved to resist a Senaar campaign that uses ever flimsier pretexts to continue destruction of the Als collective.