Goodbye to Pasta

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

Pada pagi ketujuh, Polly datang ke tangki lebih awal. Laboratorium itu sunyi.

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.

Pasta berada di depan tangki. Ini adalah hal baru. Selama enam hari, gurita itu selalu bersembunyi di dalam pipa atau di sudut. Hari ini, dia menempel pada kaca. Semua delapan lengannya terbentang. Matanya sejajar dengan mata Polly.

They looked at each other.

Mereka saling memandang.

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.

Apa yang terjadi antara seekor burung beo dan gurita mungkin bukan persahabatan. Gurita bisa merasakan kehangatan melalui kulit mereka. Mereka bisa merasakan gerakan melalui pengisap mereka. Gurita itu sedang mengumpulkan informasi.

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

Polly melompat di sepanjang tepi tangki. Mata gurita itu mengikutinya. Ketika Polly berhenti, mata itu juga berhenti.

For seven minutes they watched each other.

Selama tujuh menit mereka saling memperhatikan.

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.

Kemudian gurita itu melakukan sesuatu yang baru. Dia perlahan-lahan membuka satu lengannya. Dia menekan ujungnya ke bagian dalam kaca, tepat di seberang kaki Polly. Pengisapnya terbuka, lalu diam.

Polly touched the outside of the glass with her beak.

Polly menyentuh bagian luar kaca dengan paruhnya.

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

Lengan itu tetap di sana selama satu menit yang panjang. Kemudian ia meluncur kembali ke dalam air.

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

Chiara masuk dengan dua kopi. "Kamu akan pergi," katanya. "Selamat jalan."

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

Polly terbang keluar dari institut. Teluk Napoli terbentang di depannya. Dia naik dan menemukan angin.