Summary

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. The middle aged man saw Helene with a man and felt suspicious, but also thought that Aliocha (still wearing Anton’s clothes) looked nothing like the conscript he had...