six o'clock
`` Everybody knows _ what _ happens . Tell me _ how _ and maybe I 'll listen . '' Tom caught his flight engineer 's eye and signaled with his head that it might be a good idea to get rid of the students . Any other time it would be all right , a part of their stand-by job , but they 'd got word last night to have the ship in readiness from six o'clock on . They might have to wait all day , but then again , some E might get an idea and want to go shooting out to Eden right off . Frank caught the signal , grinned , and began to herd the two students toward the door . They were in such heated argument now , accusing one another of parrot repetition instead of thinking for himself , that they did n't realize that they were being nudged out of the ship , down its ramp , and out on the field .