public static Word prepareWord(Object object,Offset offset){
  if (VM.VerifyAssertions)   VM._assert(VM.NOT_REACHED);
  return Word.max();
}

public static Word prepareWord ( Object object , Offset offset ) { if ( VM . VerifyAssertions ) VM . _assert ( VM . NOT_REACHED ) ; return Word . max ( ) ; }
get contents of ( object + offset ) and begin conditional critical section .
