` Who is Kim -- Kim -- Kim ? ' He squatted in a corner of the clanging waiting-room , rapt from all other thoughts ; hands folded in lap , and pupils contracted to pin-points . In a minute -- in another half-second -- he felt he would arrive at the solution of the tremendous puzzle ; but here , as always happens , his mind dropped away from those heights with a rush of a wounded bird , and passing his hand before his eyes , he shook his head . A long-haired Hindu bairagi -LSB- holy man -RSB- , who had just bought a ticket , halted before him at that moment and stared intently . ' I also have lost it , ' he said sadly . ` It is one of the Gates to the Way , but for me it has been shut many years . ' ` What is the talk ? ' said Kim , abashed . ` Thou wast wondering there in thy spirit what manner of thing thy soul might be . The seizure came of a sudden . I know . Who should know but I ? Whither goest thou ? ' ` Toward Kashi -LSB- Benares -RSB- . ' ` There are no Gods there . I have proved them . I go to Prayag -LSB- Allahabad -RSB- for the fifth time -- seeking the Road to Enlightenment . Of what faith art thou ? ' ' I too am a Seeker , ' said Kim , using one of the lama 's pet words . ` Though ' -- he forgot his Northern dress for the moment -- ` though Allah alone knoweth what I seek . '
The old fellow slipped the XXXXX 's crutch under his armpit and sat down on a patch of ruddy leopard 's skin as Kim rose at the call for the Benares train .
Allahabad Benares Enlightenment Kim bairagi goest half-second lama waiting-room years