midnight
He could n't remember where he was and why , and he stopped caring , and after a while he felt better . The stars were swimming over him , dancing crazily , and the mud cooled his feet , and the sand was soft behind him . He saw a rocket go up on a tail of flame from the station , and waited for the sound of its blast , but he was already asleep when it came . It was far past midnight when he became conscious of the dog licking wetly at his ear and cheek . He pushed the animal away with a low curse and mopped at the side of his face . He stirred , and groaned . His feet were burning up !