high time to be going home vs. high time to go home

[Alinalu]

Hello,

I read in a fable "He thought it was now high time to be going home."

Is this form right? Why with "be"?

Many thanks
Alinalu

[Victor]

usually in a construction like it's high time, subjunctive mood is preferred- it-s high time we went home. in spoken english this is also employed.