Polly flew over the Bay of Naples. The water was green. Mount Vesuvius was across the bay. The air smelled of salt and diesel.
She followed the shore. She saw laundry on balconies and scooters in the streets.
Her destination was an old building by the water. A small sign read: STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN, 1872.
This is the oldest marine biology institute in the world. It has studied octopuses since 1873.
Polly perched on the railing. A young researcher in a lab coat opened the back door. She smiled. "Come in."
The building smelled like the sea. Long corridors had glass tanks on both sides. Polly saw sardines and a small octopus.
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The researcher's name was Chiara. "The octopuses are the smartest animals here," she said.
They came to a tall tank. The sign said PASTA, 2.3KG, GPO. Inside was a giant Pacific octopus. It folded itself into a pipe. One golden eye watched.
"Pasta," Chiara said, "meet Polly."
The octopus did not move. But it watched.
"You can perch on the rim," Chiara said. "She will not splash you."
