five o'clock
Lance felt a hand jarring his shoulder ; he turned sleepily over , yawned , and stared up into the dark , full-cheeked face of Ranth , the orderly . `` Huh ? '' `` Colonel Douglas wants you , '' repeated Ranth . `` It 's five o'clock , sir . '' Wearily Lance pulled on his boots and adjusted the military belt . The night was hot and sticky ; somewhere , miles to the rear of the base , the batteries of long-distance guns were beginning their nightly serenade . Lance followed the orderly 's broad , chunky back to the colonel 's office .