Kim

Kim is an orphan boy living in 1885 India under British rule. He occasionally works for Mahbub Ali, a roguish horse trader who is also a secret British agent. This setup introduces Kim to the world of espionage and danger at a young age.

Kim encounters an elderly Buddhist lama from Tibet who is searching for the River of the Arrow. The lama is on a spiritual quest, while Kim is drawn into the adventure around him. Their encounter marks the beginning of a mentor-disciple relationship.

The lama decides Kim should become his chela, a disciple, so that Kim can deliver a message to Colonel Creighton. This formalizes Kim's role as a courier and potential spy for the British. The bond between boy and mentor deepens.

As they travel together, Kim and the lama grow to love each other through shared trials. They navigate bustling towns, desert crossings, and the dangers of travel in Raj-era India. The journey blends spiritual quest with political intrigue.

One day British soldiers set up camp and Kim sneaks into their encampment out of curiosity and opportunity. He is mistaken for a thief and detained, and his possession of confidential papers reveals his true lineage as the son of Kimball O'Hara. The revelation sets him on a path of education and future espionage.

The lama elects that Kim should live among his own kind to be educated, despite the boy's initial resistance. The lama pays for Kim's tuition at the finest boarding school in India. This education marks a turning point in Kim's life, shaping his future as a spy.

To prepare Kim for future missions, Mahbub Ali convinces Colonel Creighton that Kim has great potential as a spy. Kim undergoes extra training from the shopkeeper Lurgan during the first part of his summer vacation. The lessons emphasize observation, disguise, and strategic thinking.

While traveling in disguise, Kim overhears a plot to assassinate Mahbub Ali and warns him, saving his life. The act demonstrates Kim's growing instincts and usefulness as a spy. This event deepens Mahbub Ali's trust and sets up further missions.

Kim is reunited with his lama and dispatched to notify Hurree Chunder to keep an eye on two Russian spies posing as surveyors. He finds Chunder murdered and decides to take on the mission himself. This marks Kim's ascent into a more dangerous role.

With Chunder dead, Colonel Creighton assigns Mahbub Ali to take his place, but Kim presses on with the mission. He persuades the Russians to hire him as their servant, effectively infiltrating their circle. Kim's courage and cunning push him deeper into the espionage world.

An emissary meets with the Russians and grows suspicious of Kim, forcing him onto a narrow ledge on a cliff to extract the truth. The lama is beaten by the Russians during the confrontation. Mahbub Ali confronts the intruders at gunpoint.

Mahbub Ali throws the emissary off the cliff and rescues Kim, seizing the intruders at gunpoint. When a small Russian force approaches, the spies attempt to overpower him. He kills them to protect Kim and complete the mission.

Kim and the lama cause a rockslide to bury the approaching Russians, eliminating their threat. The aftermath leaves the lama gravely injured but spiritually at peace. The act demonstrates the power of their combined resolve.

The lama, though wounded, reaches the River of the Arrow in a vision and dies contented. His departure marks the end of a quest that intertwined spiritual enlightenment with political intrigue. Kim remains ready to carry forward the lama's legacy.