Arrowsmith Chapter 31

In which a mysterious and deadly sickness stealthily spreads to the tropical island of St. Hubert, where local politics and complacency impede recognition of the threat, and the rat population flourishes unchecked amid the steamy, sun-drenched town. The island’s social tapestry, from the weary Governor to the contentious legislators and the habitués of the Ice House bar, quietly braces against an unseen menace that stirs unease beneath its outward placidity.