midnight
He cut off a piece of the hide two feet square . He took only the outer hide , which was dry and which held the great iridescent scales that formed isotopes after death . From some marsh-bamboo and some wire-vines he formed a shield . By that time it was midnight . He turned his light on the pool where the saurian had been , and shuddered . The water was dull red , and alive with creatures fighting each other to get to the carcass . The surface was covered with flying things , some small , some huge , all fighting , fighting .