Zbohom cestovinám

Na siedme ráno prišla Polly k nádrži skoro. Laboratórium bolo tiché.

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

Cestovina bola na prednej strane nádrže. To bolo nové. Šesť dní bola chobotnica schúlená vo svojej rúrke alebo v rohu. Dnes bola pritlačená k sklu. Všetkých osem ramien mala rozprestretých. Jej oko bolo na úrovni Pollyinho.

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.

Pozreli sa na seba.

They looked at each other.

Čo prechádza medzi papagájom a chobotnicou, pravdepodobne nie je priateľstvo. Chobotnice dokážu cez svoju kožu cítiť teplo. Pohyb dokážu vnímať cez svoje prísavky. Chobotnica zbierala informácie.

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.

Polly poskakovala po okraji. Chobotnicino oko ju sledovalo. Keď Polly zastavila, oko tiež zastavilo.

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

Sedem minút sa na seba pozerali.

For seven minutes they watched each other.

Potom chobotnica urobila niečo nové. Pomaly rozvinula jedno rameno. Pritlačila jeho špičku na vnútornú stranu skla, presne oproti Pollyinej nohe. Prísavky sa roztiahli a potom zastavili.

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.

Polly sa dotkla skla svojím zobákom.

Polly touched the outside of the glass with her beak.

Rameno zostalo jednu dlhú minútu. Potom sa vrátilo späť do vody.

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

Chiara prišla s dvoma kávami. "Odchádzaš," povedala. "Cestuj bezpečne."

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

Polly vyletela z inštitútu. Pred ňou sa otvoril Neapolský záliv. Vystúpila a našla vietor.

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