Goodbye to Pasta

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

Asubuhi ya saba, Polly alifika kwenye tanki mapema. Maabara ilikuwa kimya.

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.

Pasta alikuwa mbele ya tanki. Hii ilikuwa mpya. Kwa siku sita, pweza alikuwa amejikunja kwenye bomba lake, au kwenye kona. Leo alikuwa amebanwa kwenye kioo. Mikono yake yote minane ilikuwa imetandazwa. Jicho lake lilikuwa sawa na la Polly.

They looked at each other.

Walitazamana.

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.

Kinachopita kati ya kasuku na pweza labda si urafiki. Pweza wanaweza kuhisi joto kupitia ngozi yao. Wanaweza kuhisi harakati kupitia vikombe vyao vya kunyonya. Pweza alikuwa akikusanya taarifa.

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

Polly alirukaruka kando ya ukingo. Jicho la pweza lilimfuatilia. Polly alipokoma, jicho lilisimama.

For seven minutes they watched each other.

Kwa dakika saba walitazamana.

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.

Kisha pweza alifanya kitu kipya. Polepole alitandaza mkono mmoja. Aligandamiza ncha yake kwenye ndani ya kioo, moja kwa moja kinyume na mguu wa Polly. Vikombe vya kunyonya vilitandazwa, kisha vikakaa kimya.

Polly touched the outside of the glass with her beak.

Polly aligusa nje ya kioo na mdomo wake.

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

Mkono ulikaa kwa dakika moja ndefu. Kisha uliteleza kurudi ndani ya maji.

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

Chiara aliingia akiwa na kahawa mbili. "Unaondoka," alisema. "Safiri salama."

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

Polly aliruka nje ya taasisi. Ghuba ya Naples ilifunguka mbele yake. Alipanda na kupata upepo.