Kim (Kimball O'Hara) is the orphaned son of an Irish soldier (Sahib). He earns his living by begging and running small errands on the streets of Lahore. He occasionally works for his friend, Mahbub Ali, a horse trader who is one of the native operatives of the British secret service. One day, he befriends a Tibetan Lama who is on a quest to free himself from the Wheel of Things. Kim becomes his chela, or disciple, and accompanies him on his journey. On the way, Kim accidentally learns about parts of the Great Game and is recruited by the British to carry a message to the British commander in Ambala. Kim's trip with the Lama along the Grand Trunk Road is the first great adventure in the novel.