Jastreb u Ronjenju

Polly je razmišljala o sokolu dva dana. Željela je osjetiti oblik njegovog ronjenja.

Polly thought about the peregrine for two days. She wanted to feel the shape of its dive.

Trećeg jutra otišla je do El Capitana. Sokol je bio na visokoj stijeni. Jeo je nešto.

On the third morning, she went to El Capitan. A peregrine was on a high rock. It was eating something.

Sjela je na grm pedeset metara dalje. Čekala je.

She perched on a bush fifty metres away. She waited.

Sokol je završio svoj obrok. Pogledao ju je. Zatim je zakoračio s kamena.

The peregrine finished its meal. It looked at her. Then it stepped off the rock.

Nije mahao krilima. Čvrsto je sklopio krila. Brzo je padao. Izvukao se, okrenuo i nestao.

It did not flap. It folded its wings tight. It dropped fast. It pulled out, turned, and was gone.

Sivi sokol može roniti brzinom od 380 kilometara na sat. To je najbrža životinja na svijetu. Ptica ima posebni treći kapak. Također ima male konuse u nosu da uspori zrak.

A peregrine falcon can dive at 380 kilometres per hour. It is the fastest animal in the world. The bird has a special third eyelid. It also has small cones in its nose to slow the air.

Polly nije stvorena za ovo ronjenje. Ali željela je pokušati.

Polly is not made for this dive. But she wanted to try.

Odletjela je do visoke stijene. Sklopila je krila. Pala je.

She flew to the high rock. She folded her wings. She fell.

Nije bilo dobro ronjenje. Zanjihala se. Vjetar joj je uhvatio krilo. Otvorila je krila i izvukla se.

It was not a good dive. She wobbled. The wind caught her wing. She opened her wings and pulled out.

Pokušala je ponovno s niže visine. Zatim opet, još niže. Do podneva je pokušala osam puta. Svaki put bilo je malo bolje.

She tried again from lower. Then again, lower still. By noon she had tried eight times. Each one was a little better.