The Bay of Naples

Polly came in over the Bay of Naples in late morning. The water was the colour of green glass. Mount Vesuvius sat on the far side of the bay, partly hidden by haze. The air smelled of salt and diesel from fishing boats.

Polly aliwasili juu ya Ghuba ya Napoli asubuhi ya kuchelewa. Maji yalikuwa na rangi ya kioo cha kijani. Mlima Vesuvius ulikuwa upande wa mbali wa ghuba, sehemu ukifunikwa na ukungu. Hewa ilinukia chumvi na mafuta ya dizeli kutoka kwa boti za uvuvi.

She followed the shoreline. She could see laundry hanging from balconies and scooters in the streets.

Alifuata ukingo wa bahari. Aliweza kuona nguo zikining'inia kwenye mabalkoni na pikipiki mitaani.

Her destination was an old building on the water. A small brass plaque read STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, FONDATA 1872.

Lengo lake lilikuwa jengo la zamani karibu na maji. Kibao kidogo cha shaba kilisomeka STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, FONDATA 1872.

Polly knew about this place. It had been founded by a German zoologist named Anton Dohrn. The Bay of Naples is one of the richest sea ecosystems in Europe. The institute has been studying octopuses since 1873. It is the oldest marine biology institute still working in the world.

Polly alijua kuhusu mahali hapa. Ilianzishwa na mtaalamu wa wanyama wa Ujerumani aitwaye Anton Dohrn. Ghuba ya Napoli ni mojawapo ya mifumo ya ikolojia ya baharini yenye utajiri mkubwa barani Ulaya. Taasisi hiyo imekuwa ikichunguza pweza tangu 1873. Ni taasisi ya zamani zaidi ya biolojia ya baharini inayofanya kazi duniani.

She perched on the railing. A young researcher in a navy lab coat unlocked the back door. She saw Polly and smiled. "Come on in."

Alikaa kwenye reli. Mtafiti kijana aliyevaa koti la maabara la buluu alifungua mlango wa nyuma. Alimwona Polly na kutabasamu. "Karibu ndani."

The building smelled of seawater. Long corridors ran between rooms full of tanks. Through the glass walls, Polly saw sardines, a small octopus in a corner, and a sea hare on a kelp blade.

Jengo lilinukia maji ya bahari. Korido ndefu zilipita kati ya vyumba vilivyojaa matanki. Kupitia kuta za kioo, Polly aliona sardini, pweza mdogo kwenye kona, na sungura wa baharini kwenye jani la kelp.

The researcher's name was Chiara Bianchi. She had been studying cephalopod cognition for nine years. "The octopuses are the smartest animals here," she said. "Or at least the smartest ones we are sure are conscious."

Jina la mtafiti lilikuwa Chiara Bianchi. Alikuwa akichunguza ufahamu wa wanyama wa baharini kwa miaka tisa. "Pweza ni wanyama werevu zaidi hapa," alisema. "Au angalau werevu zaidi ambao tuna uhakika wana ufahamu."

They came to a tall round tank. A card on the side read PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Inside, folded into a coil of plastic pipe, was a giant Pacific octopus. Eight arms wrapped tidily around itself. One golden eye watched through the glass.

Walifika kwenye tanki refu la mviringo. Kadi upande wa tanki ilisomeka PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Ndani, amejikunja kwenye bomba la plastiki, kulikuwa na pweza mkubwa wa Pasifiki. Mikono minane ilijizungusha kwa utaratibu. Jicho moja la dhahabu lilimtazama kupitia kioo.

Chiara set her coffee down. "Pasta," she said, "meet Polly."

Chiara aliweka kikombe chake cha kahawa chini. "Pasta," alisema, "kutana na Polly."

The octopus did not move. But its eye stayed on Polly.

Pweza hakusogea. Lakini jicho lake lilibaki kwa Polly.

"You can perch on the rim," Chiara said. "She will not splash you. She is calm in the mornings. She gets clever in the afternoons."

"Unaweza kukaa kwenye ukingo," Chiara alisema. "Hatakumwagia maji. Yuko tulivu asubuhi. Anakuwa mwerevu mchana."