saw a car drive into Saxon's Lake. Acting quickly, Tom dove into the water attempting to save the driver. What Tom saw that day will haunt him for the rest of the novel. The man in the car was already dead; he had been beaten, had a piano wire wrapped around his throat, and had been handcuffed to the steering wheel of the car before it plunged into the lake. Tom then begins having nightmares, in which he believes he hears the murdered man telling him to join him down in the dark. Tom interprets this to mean the man wants him to commit suicide, but eventually he learns from the Lady that the man is speaking instead to the killer. Tom will later learn that he is not saying "down in the dark", but "Dahninaderke". His dreams will lead Tom to the identity of the killer and solve his nightmares. Rebecca Mackenson Rebecca Mackenson is Cory's mother. Rebecca is an overprotective mother who has trouble adjusting to the idea that her son is growing up. Rebecca does not want Cory to go camping on his own, but finally relents when her husband agrees to it. Rebecca is a force in her son's life, not always the one to say no but occasionally the one who encourages her son. When the Lady invites Cory to visit her, Rebecca insists that they go even though her husband disagrees. This meeting allows the Mackenson family to discover that the Lady is actually a kind woman who only wants to help. The Lady The Lady is a highly respected black woman who lives in Bruton. It's said that the Lady is over one hundred years old and that she is an expert in voodoo magic. Most white people are afraid of the Lady, including Tom Mackenson. However, Cory becomes good friends with the Lady after the flood that wipes out a portion of Bruton. Cory rescues a small black boy from a monster fish known as Old Moses. In return, the Lady gives Cory a new bike he names Rocket. The Lady also claims to be able to help Tom with the nightmares he has suffered since he saw a dead man sink into Saxon's Lake. The Lady gives Tom a reading that comes up with the number 33. In the end, Tom uses this number to solve the mystery of the dead