# Kinko — The Special Correspondent character guide

> Kinko in The Special Correspondent by Jules Verne.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Brave Kinko, friend Kinko, the fraudulent Kinko, machine poor Kinko

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

A stowaway Romanian acrobat whose devotion to the woman he loves turns him into the unlikely hero of a trans-Asiatic railway adventure.

## Who they are

Kinko travels hidden aboard the Grand Transasiatic, enduring hunger and discomfort for the sake of Zinca Klork, the young Romanian woman waiting for him in Peking. When bandits threaten the train's imperial treasure, his courage saves the day — yet he is hauled before a Chinese magistrate and sentenced to prison for his irregular passage. His fate becomes the emotional test of the novel's middle stretch: whether a selfless act can outweigh a broken rule.

## Relationships

### [Zinca Klork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/zinca_klork)

_romantic_

Kinko is deeply infatuated with Zinca Klork, pursuing her with persistent devotion.

### [Claudius Bombarnac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/claudius_bombarnac)

_friendship_

Claudius Bombarnac, the journalist, befriends Kinko and often accompanies him on the journey.

### [Faruskiar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/faruskiar)

_social_

Faruskiar interacts with Kinko as a fellow passenger on the train, with no deep connection.

### [Claudius Bombarnac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/claudius_bombarnac)

_friendship_

Claudius Bombarnac, the journalist, befriends Kinko and often accompanies him on the journey.

### [Zinca Klork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/zinca_klork)

_romantic_

Kinko is deeply infatuated with Zinca Klork, pursuing her with persistent devotion.

### [Zinca Klork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/zinca_klork)

_romantic_

Kinko is deeply infatuated with Zinca Klork, pursuing her with persistent devotion.

### [Claudius Bombarnac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/claudius_bombarnac)

_friendship_

Claudius Bombarnac, the journalist, befriends Kinko and often accompanies him on the journey.

## In the story

### [Kizil Arvat and the Transcaspian Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/vii)

Mysterious passenger hiding in a box in the luggage van; Claudius attempts to communicate with him.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xiii)

The young Romanian hidden in a packing case, traveling to Peking to marry Zinca Klork.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xiv)

Hidden in the baggage van; Claudius thinks of his love for Zinca Klork and plans to bring him provisions.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xv)

Hidden in the baggage van; receives provisions from Claudius and is warned about the danger at the Chinese frontier.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xvi)

Claudius worries about Kinko's hidden case during the customs inspection; not discovered yet.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xvii)

Sleeping in the front van, dreaming of his Romanian fiancée; Claudius does not wake him.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xviii)

Visited by Claudius at night; in high spirits, getting fat in his box.

### [The Aftermath of the Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxi)

Hidden in a box in the luggage van; checked on by Claudius.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxiii)

Hides in the train; Claudius brings him provisions and agrees to help with the box.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxiv)

Hidden in a crate; heroically climbs onto the engine and causes an explosion to stop the train.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxv)

The Romanian who sacrificed himself by causing the locomotive explosion to save the train; his body is not found.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxvi)

Survives the train explosion and arrives in Peking in his box, but is discovered and arrested by police after the box is damaged in a collision.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxvii)

Arrested for fraud but saved the train; sentenced to six months in prison but later freed and triumphantly returns.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/kinko
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters