The rest was as the darkness of interstellar space . ` These , ' he said slowly , ` are indeed my Hills . Thus should a man abide , perched above the world , separated from delights , considering vast matters . ' ` Yes ; if he has a chela to prepare tea for him , and to fold a blanket for his head , and to chase out calving cows . ' A smoky lamp burned in a niche , but the full moonlight beat it down ; and by the mixed light , stooping above the food-bag and cups , Kim moved like a tall ghost . ` Ai ! But now I have let the blood cool , my head still beats and drums , and there is a cord round the back of my neck . ' ` No wonder . It was a strong blow . May he who dealt it -- ' ` But for my own passions there would have been no evil . ' ` What evil ? Thou hast saved the Sahibs from the death they deserved a hundred times . ' ` The lesson is not well learnt , chela . ' The lama came to rest on a folded blanket , as Kim went forward with his evening routine . ` The blow was but a shadow upon a shadow . Evil in itself -- my legs weary apace these latter days ! -- it met evil in me : anger , rage , and a lust to return evil . These wrought in my blood , woke tumult in my stomach , and dazzled my ears . ' Here he drank scalding black-tea ceremonially , taking the hot cup from Kim 's hand . ` Had I been passionless , the evil blow would have done only bodily evil -- a scar , or a bruise -- which is illusion .
But my mind was not abstracted , for rushed in straightway a lust to XXXXX the Spiti men kill .
burned dazzled dealt drank fold learnt let met stooping wrought