Mwewe Anayeruka

Polly alifikiria kuhusu mwewe kwa siku mbili. Alitaka kuhisi jinsi unavyoruka kwa kasi.

Polly thought about the peregrine for two days. She wanted to feel the shape of its dive.

Asubuhi ya tatu, alikwenda El Capitan. Mwewe alikuwa juu ya mwamba mrefu. Alikuwa anakula kitu.

On the third morning, she went to El Capitan. A peregrine was on a high rock. It was eating something.

Alikaa kwenye kichaka umbali wa mita hamsini. Alisubiri.

She perched on a bush fifty metres away. She waited.

Mwewe alimaliza chakula chake. Alimtazama. Kisha aliruka kutoka kwenye mwamba.

The peregrine finished its meal. It looked at her. Then it stepped off the rock.

Hakupiga mabawa. Alikunja mabawa yake vizuri. Alidondoka kwa kasi. Alijivuta, akageuka, na akatoweka.

It did not flap. It folded its wings tight. It dropped fast. It pulled out, turned, and was gone.

Mwewe anaweza kuruka kwa kasi ya kilomita 380 kwa saa. Ni mnyama wa kasi zaidi duniani. Ndege huyu ana kope maalum ya tatu. Pia ana koni ndogo puani kupunguza kasi ya hewa.

A peregrine falcon can dive at 380 kilometres per hour. It is the fastest animal in the world. The bird has a special third eyelid. It also has small cones in its nose to slow the air.

Polly hajatengenezwa kwa ajili ya kuruka hivi. Lakini alitaka kujaribu.

Polly is not made for this dive. But she wanted to try.

Aliruka hadi kwenye mwamba mrefu. Alikunja mabawa yake. Alidondoka.

She flew to the high rock. She folded her wings. She fell.

Haikuwa kuruka vizuri. Alitetemeka. Upepo ulishika bawa lake. Alifungua mabawa yake na kujivuta.

It was not a good dive. She wobbled. The wind caught her wing. She opened her wings and pulled out.

Alijaribu tena kutoka chini. Kisha tena, chini zaidi. Kufikia mchana alikuwa amejaribu mara nane. Kila moja ilikuwa bora kidogo.

She tried again from lower. Then again, lower still. By noon she had tried eight times. Each one was a little better.