1 Interesting. I'm actually thinking of chopping my body up, and having different parts decay at different rates. Reader Bob just pointed me to Wickenberg, which has a river that flows underground: I like that. I might put part of the body into the Salt River, and part into this underground river in the mountains.

2 Well, they call it Salt River because there is salt in it. More accurately dissolved minerals-calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate--about 480 mg/L. At tha level you cold taste the "salt". I bet that's the origin of the name! Anything less than 500 mg/L is onsidered safe for most uses--that's about a quarter teaspoon per gallon of water. Your Pacific Ocean, by contrast, is about 35,000 mg/L, If I remember correctly. Know what your mailbox had since Monday?

3 Ooooh, how annoying! I stopped by, and said I had two packages--he said there was only one there, so I assumed they put two "oversize" notes in there by mistake! I was curious because I had the impression that the Salt River forked off of a freshwater river--wasn't it the mighty Colorado, from which we Californians steal all our H2O? I'll double-check on that. Anyway, I've got my protagonists; just need my method/motive, and it'll be nearly finished

4 The Colorado flows over the same sort of terrain, under the same brutal sun, so it, too, is "salty". The 480 mg/L for the Salt R. is something I looked up, btw. I can't remember everything! Not even to proofread even though my keyboard is failing and skipping letters occasionally. Unless I give the keys the finger of death. The USPS said noon Monday. If they give you only one, it should be mine! At least in my world. . .