Vladivostok

Pada pagi ketujuh, kereta dijadwalkan tiba di Vladivostok. Jam Moskow menunjukkan pukul 06:15. Jam setempat menunjukkan pukul 13:15. Polly terbangun saat fajar menyingsing.

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.

Hutan di luar telah berubah menjadi perbukitan rendah dan padang rumput. Samudra Pasifik ada di depan. Dia bisa merasakannya.

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

Pemberhentian terakhir sebelum Vladivostok adalah Ussuriysk. Kereta berhenti selama lima belas menit. Polly melompat turun. Seorang wanita menjual ikan asap. Polly mencoba sepotong. Wanita itu membungkusnya dan menolak pembayaran.

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.

Samudra Pasifik muncul di sisi kanan kereta. Warnanya abu-abu dan cerah.

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

Vladivostok tiba dengan tiba-tiba. Kota ini terletak di perbukitan yang turun ke laut. Kereta berakhir tepat di pelabuhan.

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

Jam Moskow menunjukkan pukul 06:23. Jam setempat menunjukkan pukul 13:23.

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

Polly melompat turun. Vladivostok berbau ikan, karat, dan garam. Jalan-jalan curam turun ke dermaga.

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

Di ujung peron ada sebuah obelisk putih kecil. Tertulis: KILOMETER 9.289. Akhir dari jalur.

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

Polly berdiri di obelisk selama satu menit yang panjang. Tujuh hari. Dua puluh lima juta tahun Danau Baikal. Satu derek. Delapan zona waktu.

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

Dia merentangkan sayapnya. Samudra Pasifik tepat di balik dinding pelabuhan. Dia terbang. Dia melayang di atas derek-derek pelabuhan. Laut Jepang terbentang di depannya.

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.