final long storageLength = reader.nextVLong();
final int payloadOffset = reader.offset();
// and one more branch: inlined or external storage?
if (externalPathLength > 0) { // external; should only have ext path in there
reader.skip(externalPathLength);
} else { // inline, should have data there
reader.skip((int) storageLength);
}
// and finally, should all add up...
int left = reader.left();