noon
He shook hands and trotted after his friends . They scrambled up the ladder to the cab . The tractor picked up speed , lumbering into the airlock . Later , a little after noon , I crawled out of bed and watched the flare of their pipes as the ship streaked up into the dark Martian sky . I hoped they would make it -- almost as much as I wished it could have been me . Well , I still come out to the wall of whatever dome I find myself in , to watch the sky a while -- not that I 'll see _ those _ boys coming down at this late date ! They must have splattered to a puddle on Jupiter , or slipped back into the sun , or taken up a cold , dark orbit out where they 'll never bother anyone .