The Bay of Naples

Polly came in over the Bay of Naples in late morning. The water was the colour of green glass. Mount Vesuvius sat on the far side of the bay, partly hidden by haze. The air smelled of salt and diesel from fishing boats.

Polly priletela nad Záliv Neapol neskoro ráno. Voda mala farbu zeleného skla. Na druhej strane zálivu sedel Vezuv, čiastočne skrytý v opare. Vzduch voňal soľou a naftou z rybárskych lodí.

She followed the shoreline. She could see laundry hanging from balconies and scooters in the streets.

Sledovala pobrežie. Videla prádlo visiace z balkónov a skútre na uliciach.

Her destination was an old building on the water. A small brass plaque read STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, FONDATA 1872.

Jej cieľom bola stará budova pri vode. Malá mosadzná tabuľka niesla nápis STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, FONDATA 1872.

Polly knew about this place. It had been founded by a German zoologist named Anton Dohrn. The Bay of Naples is one of the richest sea ecosystems in Europe. The institute has been studying octopuses since 1873. It is the oldest marine biology institute still working in the world.

Polly o tomto mieste vedela. Založil ho nemecký zoológ menom Anton Dohrn. Záliv Neapol je jedným z najbohatších morských ekosystémov v Európe. Inštitút študuje chobotnice od roku 1873. Je to najstarší morský biologický inštitút, ktorý stále funguje na svete.

She perched on the railing. A young researcher in a navy lab coat unlocked the back door. She saw Polly and smiled. "Come on in."

Usadila sa na zábradlí. Mladá výskumníčka v tmavomodrom laboratórnom plášti odomkla zadné dvere. Uvidela Polly a usmiala sa. "Poď ďalej."

The building smelled of seawater. Long corridors ran between rooms full of tanks. Through the glass walls, Polly saw sardines, a small octopus in a corner, and a sea hare on a kelp blade.

Budova voňala morskou vodou. Dlhé chodby viedli medzi miestnosťami plnými nádrží. Cez sklenené steny Polly videla sardinky, malú chobotnicu v rohu a morského zajaca na liste chaluhy.

The researcher's name was Chiara Bianchi. She had been studying cephalopod cognition for nine years. "The octopuses are the smartest animals here," she said. "Or at least the smartest ones we are sure are conscious."

Výskumníčka sa volala Chiara Bianchi. Študovala kogníciu hlavonožcov deväť rokov. "Chobotnice sú tu najchytrejšie zvieratá," povedala. "Alebo aspoň tie, o ktorých sme si istí, že sú vedomé."

They came to a tall round tank. A card on the side read PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Inside, folded into a coil of plastic pipe, was a giant Pacific octopus. Eight arms wrapped tidily around itself. One golden eye watched through the glass.

Prišli k vysokej okrúhlej nádrži. Na boku bola karta s nápisom PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Vo vnútri, zložená do špirály plastovej rúry, bola obrovská tichomorská chobotnica. Osem ramien sa úhľadne obtočilo okolo seba. Jedno zlaté oko sledovalo cez sklo.

Chiara set her coffee down. "Pasta," she said, "meet Polly."

Chiara odložila svoju kávu. "Pasta," povedala, "zoznám sa s Polly."

The octopus did not move. But its eye stayed on Polly.

Chobotnica sa nepohla. Ale jej oko zostalo na Polly.

"You can perch on the rim," Chiara said. "She will not splash you. She is calm in the mornings. She gets clever in the afternoons."

"Môžeš sa usadiť na okraj," povedala Chiara. "Nešpliechne ťa. Ráno je pokojná. Popoludní sa stáva prefíkanou."