The Body That Thinks

On the third morning, Chiara put a small clear maze in the tank. There was crab meat at the centre. The way through had two right turns and a left turn.

Asubuhi ya tatu, Chiara aliweka fumbo dogo la wazi ndani ya tanki. Kulikuwa na nyama ya kaa katikati. Njia ya kufika ilihitaji kugeuka kulia mara mbili na kushoto mara moja.

Pasta watched from her corner.

Pasta aliangalia kutoka pembezoni mwake.

Pasta sent two arms toward the maze. Her body did not move. The arms went different ways. One went on top. One went inside.

Pasta alituma mikono miwili kuelekea kwenye fumbo. Mwili wake haukusogea. Mikono ilienda njia tofauti. Moja ilipita juu. Moja iliingia ndani.

An octopus has many neurons. Two thirds of them are in the arms, not in the head. Each arm has its own nervous system. Each arm can solve a problem.

Pweza ana neuroni nyingi. Theluthi mbili ziko kwenye mikono, si kichwani. Kila mkono una mfumo wake wa neva. Kila mkono unaweza kutatua tatizo.

The first arm went through the maze. It turned at the corners. The second arm found a small gate. The first arm pushed from inside. The second arm pushed from outside. The gate opened.

Mkono wa kwanza ulipita kwenye fumbo. Uligonga kwenye pembe. Mkono wa pili ulipata lango dogo. Mkono wa kwanza ulisukuma kutoka ndani. Mkono wa pili ulisukuma kutoka nje. Lango likafunguka.

The arm took the crab meat.

Mkono ukachukua nyama ya kaa.

Pasta had not moved her body.

Pasta hakuwa amesogeza mwili wake.

Chiara watched her video. "The arms got the food," she said. "Did the octopus solve the maze, or did the arms solve it? We do not know."

Chiara aliangalia video yake. "Mikono ilipata chakula," alisema. "Je, pweza alitatua fumbo, au mikono ilitatua? Hatujui."

Polly looked at Pasta. The octopus pulled the crab meat to her beak.

Polly alimwangalia Pasta. Pweza alikokota nyama ya kaa hadi kwenye mdomo wake.