Kim: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

As Punjabi policemen unsuccessfully scour the train at Delhi, E23 thanks Kim for his assistance. A Director Superintendent of Police boards the carriage, and E23 gets up to take a drink of water, stumbling into the man on the way. When the policeman chastises him, E23 curses him by the “curse of the Queen’s stone,” explaining afterward to Kim that the policeman is another agent who can now retrieve the letter from its location. Before leaving, E23 thanks Kim for his help and promises to include him in his report. Reflecting on E23’s quick thinking, Kim realizes how new he is to the Great Game.

Commenting on the “spell” he cast on the Mahratta, the lama chastises Kim for “loose[ing] an act upon the world,” suggesting there may be unforeseen consequences. Unable to explain the true reason for his actions, Kim accepts the criticism. Traveling by foot, Kim and the lama make their way to the widow’s estate, enjoying the fresh air and telling stories to friendly village-people along the way. The lama teaches Kim about the Wheel of Life, having him study the hierarchy of beings, like Gods. When learning of the Human World, however, Kim is distracted, noting that the “very Wheel itself” could be found moving along the roadside in the bustle of everyday life.

Kim asks the lama whether all doing is evil, claiming the sahibs taught him otherwise. The lama responds there is no black and white; still, when Kim bathes in the River, he will be freed from all illusion, including the wisdom learned among the sahibs. Kim asks where the lama got the money to pay for his education, and the lama admits he is technically wealthy, though he claims it does not concern him. Kim and the lama continue traveling, with the lama telling stories of his home and Kim slowly slipping back into thinking and dreaming in Hindi. Listening to his stories and wisdom, Kim’s love for the lama—once unreasoning—soon roots itself in “fifty good reasons.”

One of the widow’s Oorya servitors arrives, begging the attendance of the lama. Arriving at the widow’s residence, Kim and the lama are met with much celebration and hospitality. The widow recounts the lama’s past charm-casting for her, and Kim mocks him playfully, pointing out the lama’s hypocrisy in not abstaining from action; the lama blames women for distracting him from the Way. The widow mentions she is also hosting a new Bengali hakim, or doctor, and Kim excitedly prepares to confront him. The Bengali arrives, and he and Kim exchange a series of riddle-like insults. The widow retires, and to Kim’s surprise the Bengali reveals himself as Hurree Babu.

Hurree Babu congratulates Kim on his performance in Delhi. Kim swells with pride, but does not believe Hurree traveled all the way just to congratulate him, demanding the full story. Relenting, Hurree describes how two foreign agents have been manipulating the hillmen—funded by the British— to build roads and infrastructure for them in the Northern mountains. Hurree Babu explains his intention to infiltrate the agents’ camp, but being Asiatic, wants to have emergency support. Kim agrees to help, and the two conspire to feign unfamiliarity on the road for the sake of the lama. That night, Kim reflects on the Great Game and the debt he owes to the lama and Creighton and Mahbub.

The next day, Kim and Hurree manipulate the lama into traveling to the mountains. Kim reflects admiringly on the Babu's professionalism, noting his impressive composure despite his nervousness the night before. Equipped with new supplies for their journey, the lama reflects on the widow’s great generosity, suggesting that, despite being “given over to the shows of this life,” she acquires merit. Kim tells the lama he cannot picture someone entirely freed from the Wheel, and the lama agrees; still, he suggests the widow has many millions of lives before her. Emboldened by Hurree’s promise of revitalization in the cool mountain air and the companionship of Kim, the lama expresses confidence in their Search.