The following version of this book was used to create the guide: de Kerangal, Maylis. Eastbound. Les Fugitives, 2023.

Chapter One opens on a train journey along the Trans-Siberian railway in Russia, where conscripted young men, including protagonist Aliocha, were heading to army duty. Aliocha, desperate to avoid service, contemplated various escape strategies, including finding a girlfriend (because a pregnancy would excuse him from conscription) or fleeing. He briefly engaged in a fight with fellow soldiers over a seat by the window. As he plotted his escape at the next stop, Krasnoyarsk, he encountered suspicion from the train attendant, known only as the provodnitsa, and feared betrayal by her to the officer in charge, Letchov. Aliocha ultimately retreated from his escape plan and returned to his seat, feeling trapped and uncertain about his next move. Along the way, he briefly followed a foreign woman on the platform at Krasnoyarsk.

In Chapter 2, the foreign woman whom Aliocha followed onto the train at Krasnoyarsk entered his carriage on the train. Aliocha, intrigued by her presence in third class, struck up a conversation with her. Readers learn her name is Helene and that she is French. They shared cigarettes and vodka, bonding over their shared journey through Siberia. As they stood together in silence, the narration briefly shifts to Helene's perspective. The narration reveales that she had followed her lover, Anton, to Siberia, where he worked at the Divnogorsk dam. As dawn broke, Aliocha and Helene observed each other more closely, noting their age difference. When Aliocha revealed his desire to escape conscription, Helene, unable to understand his Russian, grasped the urgency of his situation and agreed to help him hide.

In Chapter 3, Helene led Aliocha to her first-class compartment, encountering a leering man on the way. After settling Aliocha in, Helene briefly left to converse with another provodnitsa about the landscape. Returning, she reflected on fleeing Russia, recalling the history of her relationship with Anton.

In Chapter 4, Helene's compartment received a visit from the provodnitsas, prompting Aliocha to hide in a luggage storage area. The blonde provodnitsa expressed gratitude to Helene before leaving. Later, while Helene slept, Aliocha examined her travel documents and planned his escape at the next station, Irkutsk. Upon waking, Helene and Aliocha had a tense exchange where Aliocha demanded clothing belonging to Anton. Reluctantly, Helene complied, transforming Aliocha's appearance. They bid farewell, and Helene headed to the dining carriage. Upon arrival in Irkutsk, Helene received a voicemail from Anton, urging her to enjoy the view of Lake Baikal. She witnessed conscripts disembarking before rejoining the other passengers to admire the lake's beauty as the train passed by. Helene sent a photo of the view to Anton but was surprised to find Aliocha still in her compartment. As the train continued its journey, Aliocha reflected on his failed attempt to escape and resolved to try again at Ulan-Ude.

In Chapter 5, a knock at the door alerted them to the train nearing Ulan-Ude much sooner than anticipated. As the train pulled in, they noticed the conscripts disembarking for a roll call. Letchov spotted Aliocha’s unattended backpack on the platform and kicked it. One of the provodnitsas rushed Aliocha to hide in the toilet, advising him not to lock the door. Soldiers arrived, searching the compartment while the provodnitsa engaged them in conversation, diverting their attention. Letchov and the man who had seen Helene and Aliocha together earlier briefly searched Helene’s compartment but found no trace of Aliocha. Terrified, Aliocha remained concealed in the toilet as the provodnitsa assured him the troops would depart at the next station. Suddenly, a young child burst in, prompting Aliocha to threaten him into silence. The boy left without revealing Aliocha’s presence. As the train reached Ulan-Ude, Letchov threatened to cancel everyone’s leave as punishment for Aliocha’s desertion.

In Chapter 6, After the troops left the train, Helene and the provodnitsa went to see Aliocha in the toilet. He was hunched on the ground, crying. The women reassured him that it was over and the troops had left. He had escaped. The provodnitsa left Helene and Aliocha alone in the toilet. Helene helped Aliocha to undress and washed him. Helene removed her clothes, including Aliocha’s shirt which she had been wearing, and Aliocha bathed her in return. They returned to the compartment and held hands before falling asleep. Later, the train stopped in open countryside and many passengers disembarked for a short break from being on the train. Helene and Aliocha got off the train and climbed a hill and sang a Russian song together. The train arrived at its final destination: Vladivostok. Helene and Aliocha took a photograph together. In the photograph, their faces looked the same.