The Circle and the Morning Boat

The Ring of Brodgar sits on a narrow strip of land between two lochs. The stones stand in a circle about one hundred and four metres across. A ditch was cut around it into solid rock. It was built between four and four and a half thousand years ago. It is part of a world heritage site.

Prsten Brodgara leži na uskoj traci kopna između dvaju jezera. Kamenje stoji u krugu širokom oko sto četiri metra. Oko njega je u živu stijenu usječen jarak. Podignut je prije četiri do četiri i pol tisuće godina. Dio je svjetske baštine.

There were around sixty stones once. Thirty-six are standing now. The gaps are as much of the shape as the stones are. Polly walked around the outside of the ring, with heather to her knees and the light going flat across the water. Nothing about it was arranged for a visitor.

Nekada je kamenova bilo oko šezdeset. Danas ih stoji trideset šest. Praznine su jednako dio oblika kao i kamenje. Polly je obišla prsten izvana, s vrijeskom do koljena i sa svjetlom koje se plosnato razlijevalo po vodi. Ništa na njemu nije bilo posloženo za posjetitelja.

Then came the ordinary business of leaving. At the harbour office there was a shag behind a counter. "What time does the ferry leave?" Polly asked. "How much does this cost?" She looked at the printed sheet with him. "I would like to buy a ticket, please."

Zatim je došao obični posao odlaska. U lučkom uredu bio je morski vranac za šalterom. „U koliko sati kreće trajekt?” pitala je Polly. „Koliko ovo košta?” Gledala je tiskani list zajedno s njim. „Htjela bih kupiti kartu, molim vas.”

"How long does the crossing take?" she asked last. She put the ticket away. In the morning the boat went out past the same low headland, and the islands went down behind it one by one.

„Koliko traje prijelaz?” pitala je posljednje. Spremila je kartu. Ujutro je brod isplovio pokraj istog niskog rta, a otoci su jedan za drugim tonuli za njim.