Great evil must the soul have done that is cast into this shape . ' ' I hate all snakes , ' said Kim . No native training can quench the white man 's horror of the Serpent . ` Let him live out his life . ' The coiled thing hissed and half opened its hood . ` May thy release come soon , brother ! ' the lama continued placidly . ` Hast thou knowledge , by chance , of my River ? ' ` Never have I seen such a man as thou art , ' Kim whispered , overwhelmed . ` Do the very snakes understand thy talk ? ' ` Who knows ? ' He passed within a foot of the cobra 's poised head . It flattened itself among the dusty coils . ` Come , thou ! ' he called over his shoulder . ` Not I , ' said Kim ' . ' I go round . ' ` Come . He does no hurt . ' Kim hesitated for a moment .
The XXXXX backed his order by some droned Chinese quotation which Kim took for a charm .
Kim art brother coils head hood knowledge lama shape snakes