Vladivostok

Asubuhi ya saba, treni ilitarajiwa kufika Vladivostok. Saa ya Moscow ilionyesha 06:15. Saa ya eneo hilo ilionyesha 13:15. Polly aliamka wakati wa mapambazuko.

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.

Msitu nje ulikuwa umebadilika kuwa vilima vya chini na nyasi. Bahari ya Pasifiki ilikuwa mbele. Aliweza kuisikia.

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

Kituo cha mwisho kabla ya Vladivostok kilikuwa Ussuriysk. Treni ilisimama kwa dakika kumi na tano. Polly aliruka chini. Mwanamke mmoja alikuwa akiuza samaki wa kuvuta moshi. Polly alionja kipande. Mwanamke alimfungia na kukataa malipo.

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.

Bahari ya Pasifiki ilionekana upande wa kulia wa treni. Ilikuwa kijivu na angavu.

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

Vladivostok ilifika ghafla. Jiji limekaa kwenye vilima vinavyoshuka hadi baharini. Treni iliishia moja kwa moja kwenye bandari.

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

Saa ya Moscow ilisoma 06:23. Saa ya eneo hilo ilisoma 13:23.

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

Polly aliruka chini. Vladivostok ilinukia samaki, kutu na chumvi. Mitaa mikali ilishuka hadi kwenye gati.

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

Mwisho wa jukwaa kulikuwa na mnara mdogo mweupe. Uliandikwa: KILOMITA 9,289. Mwisho wa njia.

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

Polly alisimama kwenye mnara kwa dakika moja ndefu. Siku saba. Miaka milioni ishirini na tano ya Ziwa Baikal. Ndege moja. Kanda nane za wakati.

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

Alinyosha mabawa yake. Bahari ya Pasifiki ilikuwa tu baada ya ukuta wa bandari. Alipaa juu. Aliruka juu ya korongo za bandari. Bahari ya Japani ilifunguka mbele yake.

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.