’And mine to thee.  But how could I know that the Red Bull would bring me to this business?’

The lama covered his face afresh, and nervously rattled the rosary.  Kim squatted beside him and laid hold upon a fold of his clothing.

‘Now it is understood that the boy is a Sahib?’ he went on in a muffled tone.  ’Such a Sahib as was he who kept the images in the Wonder House.’  The lama’s experience of white men was limited.  He seemed to be repeating a lesson.  ’So then it is not seemly that he should do other than as the Sahibs do.  He must go back to his own people.’

‘For a day and a night and a day,’ Kim pleaded.

‘No, ye don’t!’ Father Victor saw Kim edging towards the door, and interposed a strong leg.

’I do not understand the customs of white men.  The Priest of the Images in the Wonder House in Lahore was more courteous than the thin one here.  This boy will be taken from me.  They will make a Sahib of my disciple?  Woe to me!  How shall I find my River?  Have they no disciples?  Ask.’

’He says he is very sorree that he cannot find the River now any more.  He says, Why have you no disciples, and stop bothering him?  He wants to be washed of his sins.’

Neither Bennett nor Father Victor found any answer ready.

Said Kim in English, distressed for the lama’s agony:  ’I think if you will let me go now we will walk away quietly and not steal.  We will look for that River like before I was caught.  I wish I did not come here to find the Red Bull and all that sort of thing.  I do not want it.’

’It’s the very best day’s work you ever did for yourself, young man,’ said Bennett.

‘Good heavens, I don’t know how to console him,’ said Father Victor, watching the lama intently.  ’He can’t take the boy away with him, and yet he’s a good man — I’m sure he’s a good man.  Bennett, if you give him that rupee he’ll curse you root and branch!’

They listened to each other’s breathing — three — five full minutes.  Then the lama raised his head, and looked forth across them into space and emptiness.

‘And I am a Follower of the Way,’ he said bitterly.  ’The sin is mine and the punishment is mine.  I made believe to myself for now I see it was but make-belief — that thou wast sent to me to aid in the Search.  So my heart went out to thee for thy charity and thy courtesy and the wisdom of thy little years.  But those who follow the Way must permit not the fire of any desire or attachment, for that is all Illusion.  As says ...’  He quoted an old, old Chinese text, backed it with another, and reinforced these with a third.  ’I stepped aside from the Way, my chela.  It was no fault of thine.  I delighted in the sight of life, the new people upon the roads, and in thy joy at seeing these things.  I was pleased with thee who should have considered my Search and my Search alone.  Now I am sorrowful because thou art taken away and my River is far from me.  It is the Law which I have broken!’