The Diving Falcon

Polly thought about the peregrine for two days. She wanted to feel the shape of its dive.

Polly je razmišljala o sokolu dva dana. Željela je osjetiti oblik njegovog ronjenja.

On the third morning, she went to El Capitan. A peregrine was on a high rock. It was eating something.

Trećeg jutra otišla je do El Capitana. Sokol je bio na visokoj stijeni. Jeo je nešto.

She perched on a bush fifty metres away. She waited.

Sjela je na grm pedeset metara dalje. Čekala je.

The peregrine finished its meal. It looked at her. Then it stepped off the rock.

Sokol je završio svoj obrok. Pogledao ju je. Zatim je zakoračio s kamena.

It did not flap. It folded its wings tight. It dropped fast. It pulled out, turned, and was gone.

Nije mahao krilima. Čvrsto je sklopio krila. Brzo je padao. Izvukao se, okrenuo i nestao.

A peregrine falcon can dive at 380 kilometres per hour. It is the fastest animal in the world. The bird has a special third eyelid. It also has small cones in its nose to slow the air.

Sivi sokol može roniti brzinom od 380 kilometara na sat. To je najbrža životinja na svijetu. Ptica ima posebni treći kapak. Također ima male konuse u nosu da uspori zrak.

Polly is not made for this dive. But she wanted to try.

Polly nije stvorena za ovo ronjenje. Ali željela je pokušati.

She flew to the high rock. She folded her wings. She fell.

Odletjela je do visoke stijene. Sklopila je krila. Pala je.

It was not a good dive. She wobbled. The wind caught her wing. She opened her wings and pulled out.

Nije bilo dobro ronjenje. Zanjihala se. Vjetar joj je uhvatio krilo. Otvorila je krila i izvukla se.

She tried again from lower. Then again, lower still. By noon she had tried eight times. Each one was a little better.

Pokušala je ponovno s niže visine. Zatim opet, još niže. Do podneva je pokušala osam puta. Svaki put bilo je malo bolje.