I made up the conversation with Malcolm about the lodge. I dreamed the lodge itself, though, vaguely, filling in the details.  And I know that Deirdre became better equipped after this point–at least for awhile. 

I had the nightmare about the fingers–a narcoleptic flash dream on a job where I typed so much that I did myself some damage.  But eventually you will see that it has relevance for the story, too.

As for the half-skull rock, that boulder exists in the waking world, in the general vicinity of Poway, California.  It would doubtless look like even half a skull only to imaginative and slightly morbid children, however.  It used to be a landmark in our drives through the countryside.  Now it broods over yet one more suburban neighborhood.