Neapolský záliv

Polly letela nad Neapolským zálivom. Voda bola zelená. Na druhej strane zálivu sa týčil Vezuv. Vzduch voňal po soli a nafte.

Polly flew over the Bay of Naples. The water was green. Mount Vesuvius was across the bay. The air smelled of salt and diesel.

Sledovala pobrežie. Videla prádlo na balkónoch a skútre na uliciach.

She followed the shore. She saw laundry on balconies and scooters in the streets.

Jej cieľom bola stará budova pri vode. Malá tabuľka hlásala: STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, 1872.

Her destination was an old building by the water. A small sign read: STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, 1872.

Toto je najstarší inštitút morskej biológie na svete. Od roku 1873 tu študujú chobotnice.

This is the oldest marine biology institute in the world. It has studied octopuses since 1873.

Polly si sadla na zábradlie. Mladá výskumníčka v bielom plášti otvorila zadné dvere. Usmiala sa. "Poď ďalej."

Polly perched on the railing. A young researcher in a lab coat opened the back door. She smiled. "Come in."

Budova voňala morom. Dlhé chodby mali na oboch stranách sklenené nádrže. Polly videla sardinky a malú chobotnicu.

The building smelled like the sea. Long corridors had glass tanks on both sides. Polly saw sardines and a small octopus.

Výskumníčka sa volala Chiara. "Chobotnice sú tu najchytrejšie zvieratá," povedala.

The researcher's name was Chiara. "The octopuses are the smartest animals here," she said.

Prišli k vysokej nádrži. Tabuľka hlásala PASTA, 2,3KG, GPO. Vo vnútri bola obrovská tichomorská chobotnica. Zložila sa do rúrky. Jedno zlaté oko sledovalo.

They came to a tall tank. The sign said PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Inside was a giant Pacific octopus. It folded itself into a pipe. One golden eye watched.

"Pasta," povedala Chiara, "zoznám sa s Polly."

"Pasta," Chiara said, "meet Polly."

Chobotnica sa nepohla. Ale sledovala.

The octopus did not move. But it watched.

"Môžeš si sadnúť na okraj," povedala Chiara. "Neobleje ťa."

"You can perch on the rim," Chiara said. "She will not splash you."