BuddhaatKamakura。Hesat，indefianceofmunicipalorders，astridethegunZam-ZammahonherbrickplatformoppositetheoldAjaib-Gher-theWonderHouse，asthenativescalltheLahoreMuseum。WhoholdZam-Zammah，thatfire-breathingdragon，holdthePunjab，aforthegreatgreen-bronzepieceisalwaysfirstoftheconqueror’sloot。
TherewassomejustificationforKim-hehadkickedLalaDinanath’sboyoffthetrunnions-sincetheEnglishheldthePunjabandKimwasEnglish。
Thoughhewasburnedblackasanynative；thoughhespokethevernacularbypreference，andhismother-tongueinaclippeduncertainsing-song；
thoughheconsortedontermsofperfectequalitywiththesmallboysofthebazar；Kimwaswhite-apoorwhiteoftheverypoorest。Thehalf-castewomanwholookedafterhimshesmokedopium，andpretendedtokeepasecond-handfurnitureshopbythesquarewherethecheapcabswaittoldthemissionariesthatshewasKim’smother’ssister；buthismotherhadbeennursemaidinaColonel’sfamilyandhadmarriedKimballO’Hara，ayoungcolour-sergeantoftheMavericks，anIrishregiment。HeafterwardstookapostontheSind，Punjab，andDelhiRailway，andhisRegimentwenthomewithouthim。ThewifediedofcholerainFerozepore，andO’Harafelltodrinkandloafingupanddownthelinewiththekeen-eyedthree-year-oldbaby。Societiesandchaplains，anxiousforthechild，triedtocatchhim，butO’Haradriftedaway，tillhecameacrossthewomanwhotookopiumandlearnedthetastefromher，anddiedaspoorwhitesdieinIndia。Hisestateatdeathconsistedofthreepapers-onehecalledhisnevarieturbecausethosewordswerewrittenbelowhissignaturethereon，andanotherhisclearance-certificate。
ThethirdwasKim’sbirth-certificate。Thosethings，hewasusedtosay，inhisgloriousopium-hours，wouldyetmakelittleKimballaman。OnnoaccountwasKimtopartwiththem，fortheybelongedtoagreatpieceofmagic-suchmagicasmenpractisedoveryonderbehindtheMuseum，inthebigblue-and-whiteJadoo-Gher-theMagicHouse，aswenametheMasonicLodge。Itwould，hesaid，allcomerightsomeday，andKim’shornwouldbeexaltedbetweenpillars-monstrouspillars-ofbeautyandstrength。
TheColonelhimself，ridingonahorse，attheheadofthefinestRegimentintheworld，wouldattendtoKim-littleKimthatshouldhavebeenbetteroffthanhisfather。Ninehundredfirst-classdevils，whoseGodwasaRedBullonagreenfield，wouldattendtoKim，iftheyhadnotforgottenO’Hara-poorO’Harathatwasgang-foremanontheFerozeporeline。Thenhewouldweepbitterlyinthebrokenrushchairontheveranda。Soitcameaboutafterhisdeaththatthewomansewedparchment，paper，andbirth-certificateintoaleatheramulet-casewhichshestrungroundKim’sneck。
`Andsomeday，’shesaid，confusedlyrememberingO’Hara’sprophecies，`therewillcomeforyouagreatRedBullonagreenfield，andtheColonelridingonhistallhorse，yes，and’-droppingintoEnglish-`ninehundreddevils。’
`Ah，’saidKim，`Ishallremember。ARedBullandaColonelonahorsewillcome，butfirst，myfathersaid，willcomethetwomenmakingreadythegroundforthesematters。Thatishowmyfathersaidtheyalwaysdid；
anditisalwayssowhenmenworkmagic。’
IfthewomanhadsentKimuptothelocalJadoo-Gherwiththosepapers，hewould，ofcourse，havebeentakenoverbytheProvincialLodge，andsenttotheMasonicOrphanageintheHills；butwhatshehadheardofmagicshedistrusted。Kim，too，heldviewsofhisown。Ashereachedtheyearsofindiscretion，helearnedtoavoidmissionariesandwhitemenofseriousaspectwhoaskedwhohewas，andwhathedid。ForKimdidnothingwithanimmensesuccess。True，heknewthewonderfulwalledcityofLahorefromtheDelhiGatetotheouterFortDitch；washandinglovewithmenwholedlivesstrangerthananythingHarounalRaschiddreamedof，andhelivedinalifewildasthatoftheArabianNights，butmissionariesandsecretariesofcharitablesocietiescouldnotseethebeautyofit。HisnicknamethroughthewardswasLittleFriendofalltheWorld；andveryoften，beinglitheandinconspicuous，heexecutedcommissionsbynightonthecrowdedhousetopsforsleekandshinyyoungmenoffashion。Itwasintrigue，ofcourse-heknewthatmuch，ashehadknownallevilsincehecouldspeak，-butwhathelovedwasthegameforitsownsake-thestealthyprowlthroughthedarkgulliesandlanes，thecrawlupawater-pipe，thesightsandsoundsofthewomen’sworldontheflatroofs，andtheheadlongflightfromhousetoptohousetopundercoverofthehotdark。Thentherewereholymen，ash-smearedfakirsbytheirbrickshrinesunderthetreesattheriverside，withwhomhewasquitefamiliar-greetingthemastheyreturnedfrombegging-tours，and，whennoonewasby，eatingfromthesamedish。ThewomanwholookedafterhiminsistedwithtearsthatheshouldwearEuropeanclothes-trousers，ashirt，andabatteredhat。KimfounditeasiertoslipintoHinduorMohammedangarbwhenengagedoncertainbusinesses。Oneoftheyoungmenoffashion-hewhowasfounddeadatthebottomofawellonthenightoftheearthquake-hadoncegivenhimacompletesuitofHindukit，thecostumeofalow-castestreetboy，andKimstoreditinasecretplaceundersomebaulksinNilaRam’stimber-yard，beyondthePunjabHighCourt，wherethefragrantdeodarlogslieseasoningaftertheyhavedrivendowntheRavi。Whentherewasbusinessorfrolicafoot，Kimwouldusehisproperties，returningatdawntotheveranda，alltiredoutfromshoutingattheheelsofamarriageprocession，oryellingataHindufestival。Sometimestherewasfoodinthehouse，moreoftentherewasnot，andthenKimwentoutagaintoeatwithhisnativefriends。
AshedrummedhisheelsagainstZam-Zammahheturnednowandagainfromhisking-of-the-castlegamewithlittleChotaLalandAbdullahthesweetmeat-seller’sson，tomakearuderemarktothenativepolicemanonguardoverrowsofshoesattheMuseumdoor。ThebigPunjabigrinnedtolerantly：heknewKimofold。Sodidthewater-carrier，sluicingwateronthedryroadfromhisgoat-skinbag。SodidJawahirSingh，theMuseumcarpenter，bentovernewpacking-cases。Sodideverybodyinsightexceptthepeasantsfromthecountry，hurryinguptotheWonderHousetoviewthethingsthatmenmadeintheirownprovinceandelsewhere。TheMuseumwasgivenuptoIndianartsandmanufactures，andanybodywhosoughtwisdomcouldasktheCuratortoexplain。
`Off！Off！Letmeup！’criedAbdullah，climbingupZam-Zammah’swheel。
`Thyfatherwasapastry-cook，Thymotherstoletheghi，’sangKim。`AllMussalmansfelloffZam-Zammahlongago！’
`Letmeup！’shrilledlittleChotaLalinhisgilt-embroideredcap。Hisfatherwasworthperhapshalfamillionsterling，butIndiaistheonlydemocraticlandintheworld。
`TheHindusfelloffZam-Zammahtoo。TheMussalmanspushedthemoff。
Thyfatherwasapastry-cook-’
Hestopped；forthereshuffledroundthecorner，fromtheroaringMoteeBazar，suchamanasKim，whothoughtheknewallcastes，hadneverseen。
Hewasnearlysixfeethigh，dressedinfolduponfoldofdingystufflikehorse-blanketing，andnotonefoldofitcouldKimrefertoanyknowntradeorprofession。Athisbelthungalongopen-workironpencaseandawoodenrosarysuchasholymenwear。Onhisheadwasagiganticsortoftam-o’-shanter。
Hisfacewasyellowandwrinkled，likethatofFookShing，theChinesebootmakerinthebazar。Hiseyesturnedupatthecornersandlookedlikelittleslitsofonyx。
`Whoisthat？’saidKimtohiscompanions。
`Perhapsitisaman，’saidAbdullah，fingerinmouth，staring。
`Withoutdoubt，’returnedKim；`butheisnomanofIndiathatIhaveeverseen。’
`Apriest，perhaps，’saidChotaLal，spyingtherosary。`See！HegoesintotheWonderHouse！’
`Nay，nay，’saidthepoliceman，shakinghishead。`Idonotunderstandyourtalk。’TheconstablespokePunjabi。`OFriendofalltheWorld，whatdoeshesay？’
`Sendhimhither，’saidKim，droppingfromZam-Zammah，flourishinghisbareheels。`Heisaforeigner，andthouartabuffalo。’
Themanturnedhelplesslyanddriftedtowardstheboys。Hewasold，andhiswoollengaberdinestillreekedofthestinkingartemisiaofthemountainpasses。
`OChildren，whatisthatbighouse？’hesaidinveryfairUrdu。
`TheAjaib-Gher，theWonderHouse！’Kimgavehimnotitle-suchasLalaorMian。Hecouldnotdivinetheman’screed。
`Ah！TheWonderHouse！Cananyenter？’
`Itiswrittenabovethedoor-allcanenter。’
`Withoutpayment？’
`Igoinandout。Iamnobanker，’laughedKim。
`Alas！Iamanoldman。Ididnotknow。’Then，fingeringhisrosary，hehalfturnedtotheMuseum。
`Whatisyourcaste？Whereisyourhouse？Haveyoucomefar？’Kimasked。
`IcamebyKulu-frombeyondtheKailas-butwhatknowyou？FromtheHillswhere’-hesighed-`theairandwaterarefreshandcool。’
`Aha！Khitai[aChinaman]，’saidAbdullahproudly。FookShinghadoncechasedhimoutofhisshopforspittingatthejossabovetheboots。
`Pahari[ahillman]，’saidlittleChotaLal。
`Aye，child-ahillmanfromhillsthou’ltneversee。DidsthearofBhotiyal[Tibet]？IamnoKhitai，butaBhotiya[Tibetan]，sinceyoumustknow-alama-or，say，aguruinyourtongue。’
`AgurufromTibet，’saidKim。`Ihavenotseensuchaman。TheybeHindusinTibet，then？’
`WebefollowersoftheMiddleWay，livinginpeaceinourlamasseries，andIgotoseetheFourHolyPlacesbeforeIdie。Nowdoyou，whoarechildren，knowasmuchasIdowhoamold。’Hesmiledbenignantlyontheboys。
`Hastthoueaten？’
Hefumbledinhisbosomanddrewforthawornwoodenbegging-bowl。Theboysnodded。Allpriestsoftheiracquaintancebegged。
`Idonotwishtoeatyet。’Heturnedhisheadlikeanoldtortoiseinthesunlight。`IsittruethattherearemanyimagesintheWonderHouseofLahore？’Herepeatedthelastwordsasonemakingsureofanaddress。
`Thatistrue，’saidAbdullah。`Itisfullofheathenb&；umacron；tsNote。
Thoualsoartanidolater。’
`Nevermindhim，’saidKim。`ThatistheGovernment’shouseandthereisnoidolatryinit，butonlyaSahibwithawhitebeard。ComewithmeandIwillshow。’
`Strangepriestseatboys，’whisperedChotaLal。
`Andheisastrangerandab&；umacron；t-parastNote[idolater]，’saidAbdullah，theMohammedan。
Kimlaughed。`Heisnew。Runtoyourmothers’laps，andbesafe。Come！’
Kimclickedroundtheself-registeringturnstile；theoldmanfollowedandhaltedamazed。Intheentrance-hallstoodthelargerfiguresoftheGreco-Buddhistsculpturesdone，savantsknowhowlongsince，byforgottenworkmenwhosehandswerefeeling，andnotunskilfully，forthemysteriouslytransmittedGreciantouch。Therewerehundredsofpieces，friezesoffiguresinrelief，fragmentsofstatuesandslabscrowdedwithfiguresthathadencrustedthebrickwallsoftheBuddhiststupasandviharasoftheNorthCountryandnow，dugupandlabelled，madetheprideoftheMuseum。Inopen-mouthedwonderthelamaturnedtothisandthat，andfinallycheckedinraptattentionbeforealargealto-reliefrepresentingacoronationorapotheosisoftheLordBuddha。TheMasterwasrepresentedseatedonalotusthepetalsofwhichweresodeeplyundercutastoshowalmostdetached。