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!”
“Powers of Darkness below!” said Father Victor, who, wise in the confessional, heard the pain in every sentence.
“I see now that the sign of the Red Bull was a sign for me as well as for thee. All Desire is red—and evil. I will do penance and find my River alone.”
“At least go back to the Kulu woman,” said Kim, “otherwise thou wilt be lost upon the roads. She will feed thee till I run back to thee.”
The lama waved a hand to show that the matter was finally settled in his mind.
“Now,”—his tone altered as he turned to Kim—“what will they do with thee? At least I may, acquiring merit, wipe out past ill.”
“Make me a Sahib—so they think. The day after tomorrow I return. Do not grieve.”
“Of what sort? Such an one as this or that man?” He pointed to Father Victor. “Such an one as those I saw this evening, men wearing swords and stamping heavily?”
“Maybe.”
“That is not well. These men follow desire and come to emptiness. Thou must not be of their sort.”