code: protected String readString() throws IOException {
  		//read number of bytes
  		int bytes = _in.readInt();
  		if (bytes <= 0) {
  			throw new IOException("Invalid number of string bytes");
  		}
  		String s;
  		if (bytes > 1) {
  			s = _in.readUTF(bytes - 1);
  		} else {
  			s = "";
  		}
  		//read terminating zero
  		_in.readByte();
  		return s;
  	}
docs: Reads a string that consists of a integer denoting the number of bytes,
  the bytes (including a terminating 0 byte)
  @return the string
  @throws IOException if the string could not be read