read an array for the specified node (off of group

def read_array(self, key, start=None, stop=None):
        """ read an array for the specified node (off of group """
        import tables
        node = getattr(self.group, key)
        attrs = node._v_attrs

        transposed = getattr(attrs, 'transposed', False)

        if isinstance(node, tables.VLArray):
            ret = node[0][start:stop]
        else:
            dtype = getattr(attrs, 'value_type', None)
            shape = getattr(attrs, 'shape', None)

            if shape is not None:
                # length 0 axis
                ret = np.empty(shape, dtype=dtype)
            else:
                ret = node[start:stop]

            if dtype == 'datetime64':

                # reconstruct a timezone if indicated
                ret = _set_tz(ret, getattr(attrs, 'tz', None), coerce=True)

            elif dtype == 'timedelta64':
                ret = np.asarray(ret, dtype='m8[ns]')

        if transposed:
            return ret.T
        else:
            return ret