Catherine scooted out of the way, giving Terry access to the keyboard. With a labored sigh, Terry began searching the encrypted text. “I could try a ciphertext-only attack,” he mumbled to no one in particular. “Then again,” he glared at the attacker and continued, “I could always try rubber-hose cryptanalysis.” He thought for a moment. “I don't need a total break; I'm only interested in information deduction. Let me check the swap file.”

to scan the hard drive for errors

He thus participates in the general tendency of the time to numb critical attention to the problems in American society, to see the war as wageable only to the extent that it was an uncomplicated crusade.

Cameron was for closing the discussion as useless and ununderstandable.