In which Kim, newly discovered and closely watched by soldiers and priests alike, finds himself swept into the strange world of military life and the expectations of a regiment bound for war, while he fends off the discomforts of school and uneasy companionship. Amidst the bustle and intrigue of Umballa, letters and secret promises traverse between distant friends, hinting at uncertain futures and the tangled loyalties of those who would educate and command the “Friend of all the World.”