question: public int read ( ) throws IOException { int val ; if ( ( val = is . read ( ) ) < 0 ) { return - 1 ; } if ( bo == 'b' ) { val = ( char ) ( ( val << 8 ) | ( is . read ( ) & 0xff ) ) ; } else { val = ( char ) ( ( is . read ( ) << 8 ) | ( val & 0xff ) ) ; } return val ; }
target:  Reads a single character.