chemical-biological-weapon
Chloropactrin is introduced as a non-lethal nerve gas capable of inducing uncontrollable weeping, suggesting a covert chemical weapon scenario.
1 chapter across 1 book
Rasputin Swims the Potomac: A NovelBen Fountain
Chapter 2 depicts the chaotic aftermath of a rally where attendees experience uncontrollable weeping, possibly caused by a nerve gas called chloropactrin or a mass psychogenic illness spreading through psychic contagion. Faith, a junior communications aide, navigates the tense White House environment, balancing crisis management with personal concerns, while the president struggles with public humiliation and delivers a defiant address that dismisses the crowd's emotional distress as psychological sabotage. The chapter intertwines conspiracy theories, media spectacle, and the president's fragile ego against a backdrop of political and social unrest.