Vladivostok

On the seventh morning, the train was due into Vladivostok. The Moscow clock said 06:15. The local clock said 13:15. Polly woke at first light.

Sedmog jutra vlak je trebao stići u Vladivostok. Moskovski sat pokazivao je 06:15. Lokalni sat pokazivao je 13:15. Polly se probudila s prvim svjetlom.

The forest outside had become low hills and grass. The Pacific was ahead. She could feel it.

Šuma vani pretvorila se u niska brda i travu. Pacifik je bio ispred. Mogla ga je osjetiti.

The last stop before Vladivostok was Ussuriysk. The train stopped for fifteen minutes. Polly hopped down. A woman was selling smoked fish. Polly tried a piece. The woman wrapped it and refused payment.

Posljednja stanica prije Vladivostoka bila je Ussurijsk. Vlak je stao na petnaest minuta. Polly je sišla. Žena je prodavala dimljenu ribu. Polly je probala komadić. Žena ju je zamotala i odbila uzeti novac.

The Pacific appeared on the right side of the train. It was grey and bright.

Pacifik se pojavio s desne strane vlaka. Bio je siv i svijetao.

Vladivostok arrived all at once. The city sits in hills that come down to the sea. The train ended right at the harbour.

Vladivostok je stigao odjednom. Grad se smjestio na brdima koja se spuštaju prema moru. Vlak je završio točno u luci.

The Moscow clock read 06:23. The local clock read 13:23.

Moskovski sat pokazivao je 06:23. Lokalni sat pokazivao je 13:23.

Polly hopped down. Vladivostok smelled of fish and rust and salt. Steep streets came down to the docks.

Polly je sišla. Vladivostok je mirisao na ribu, hrđu i sol. Strme ulice spuštale su se prema dokovima.

At the end of the platform was a small white obelisk. It read: KILOMETRE 9,289. The end of the line.

Na kraju perona bio je mali bijeli obelisk. Pisalo je: KILOMETAR 9.289. Kraj pruge.

Polly stood at the obelisk for a long minute. Seven days. Twenty-five million years of Lake Baikal. One crane. Eight time zones.

Polly je stajala kraj obeliska dugo minutu. Sedam dana. Dvadeset pet milijuna godina Bajkalskog jezera. Jedna dizalica. Osam vremenskih zona.

She stretched her wings. The Pacific was just past the harbour wall. She lifted off. She flew over the cranes of the port. The Sea of Japan opened in front of her.

Ispružila je svoja krila. Pacifik je bio odmah iza zidova luke. Uzletjela je. Letjela je iznad dizalica luke. Japansko more otvorilo se pred njom.