private Vector retrieve(int index){
  if (index < 0)   return fastRetrieve(0);
  if (index >= nodes.size())   return fastRetrieve(nodes.size() - 1);
  return fastRetrieve(index);
}

private Vector retrieve ( int index ) { if ( index < 0 ) return fastRetrieve ( 0 ) ; if ( index >= nodes . size ( ) ) return fastRetrieve ( nodes . size ( ) - 1 ) ; return fastRetrieve ( index ) ; }
retrieves a node . indexes are clamped to the valid range .
