Goodbye to Pasta

On the seventh morning, Polly came to the tank early. The lab was quiet.

Sedmog jutra, Polly je došla do akvarija rano. Laboratorij je bio tih.

Pasta was at the front of the tank. This was new. For six days, the octopus had been folded in her pipe, or in a corner. Today she was pressed against the glass. All eight arms were spread. Her eye was level with Polly's.

Tjestenina je bila na prednjem dijelu akvarija. Ovo je bilo novo. Šest dana hobotnica je bila sklupčana u svojoj cijevi ili u kutu. Danas je bila pritisnuta uz staklo. Svih osam krakova bilo je rašireno. Njezino oko bilo je u ravnini s Pollyinim.

They looked at each other.

Gledale su se.

What passes between a parrot and an octopus is probably not friendship. Octopuses can sense warmth through their skin. They can sense movement through their suckers. The octopus was collecting information.

Ono što prolazi između papige i hobotnice vjerojatno nije prijateljstvo. Hobotnice mogu osjetiti toplinu kroz svoju kožu. Mogu osjetiti pokret kroz svoje pipke. Hobotnica je skupljala informacije.

Polly hopped along the rim. The octopus's eye tracked her. When Polly stopped, the eye stopped.

Polly je skakutala uz rub. Hobotničino oko pratilo ju je. Kad bi Polly stala, oko bi stalo.

For seven minutes they watched each other.

Sedam minuta su se promatrale.

Then the octopus did something new. She slowly unfurled one arm. She pressed the tip of it against the inside of the glass, exactly opposite Polly's foot. The suckers spread, then stilled.

Tada je hobotnica učinila nešto novo. Polako je odmotala jedan krak. Pritisnula je vrh kraka uz unutrašnjost stakla, točno nasuprot Pollyinoj nozi. Pipci su se raširili, a zatim umirili.

Polly touched the outside of the glass with her beak.

Polly je dotaknula vanjsku stranu stakla svojim kljunom.

The arm stayed for one long minute. Then it slid back into the water.

Krak je ostao jednu dugu minutu. Zatim se povukao natrag u vodu.

Chiara came in with two coffees. "You are leaving," she said. "Travel safely."

Chiara je ušla s dvije kave. "Odlaziš," rekla je. "Sretan put."

Polly flew out of the institute. The Bay of Naples opened in front of her. She climbed and found the wind.

Polly je izletjela iz instituta. Napuljski zaljev otvorio se pred njom. Uzletjela je i pronašla vjetar.