The Bay of Naples

Polly flew over the Bay of Naples. The water was green. Mount Vesuvius was across the bay. The air smelled of salt and diesel.

Polly je letjela iznad Napuljskog zaljeva. Voda je bila zelena. S druge strane zaljeva nalazio se Vezuv. Zrak je mirisao na sol i dizel.

She followed the shore. She saw laundry on balconies and scooters in the streets.

Pratila je obalu. Vidjela je rublje na balkonima i skutere na ulicama.

Her destination was an old building by the water. A small sign read: STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, 1872.

Njezino odredište bila je stara zgrada uz vodu. Mali znak je pisao: STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, 1872.

This is the oldest marine biology institute in the world. It has studied octopuses since 1873.

Ovo je najstariji institut za morsku biologiju na svijetu. Istražuje hobotnice od 1873. godine.

Polly perched on the railing. A young researcher in a lab coat opened the back door. She smiled. "Come in."

Polly se smjestila na ogradu. Mlada istraživačica u bijelom kutu otvorila je stražnja vrata. Nasmiješila se. "Uđi."

The building smelled like the sea. Long corridors had glass tanks on both sides. Polly saw sardines and a small octopus.

Zgrada je mirisala na more. Dugi hodnici imali su staklene akvarije s obje strane. Polly je vidjela srdele i malu hobotnicu.

The researcher's name was Chiara. "The octopuses are the smartest animals here," she said.

Istraživačica se zvala Chiara. "Hobotnice su najpametnije životinje ovdje," rekla je.

They came to a tall tank. The sign said PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Inside was a giant Pacific octopus. It folded itself into a pipe. One golden eye watched.

Došle su do visokog akvarija. Znak je pisao PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Unutra je bila divovska pacifička hobotnica. Savila se u cijev. Jedno zlatno oko promatralo je.

"Pasta," Chiara said, "meet Polly."

"Pasta," rekla je Chiara, "upoznaj Polly."

The octopus did not move. But it watched.

Hobotnica se nije pomaknula. Ali je promatrala.

"You can perch on the rim," Chiara said. "She will not splash you."

"Možeš se smjestiti na rub," rekla je Chiara. "Neće te poprskati."