ldm/src/main/thredds/ldm/VlenIO.java
public String readString() throws IOException {
    int length = readVInt();
    // if (chars == null || length > chars.length)
    char[] chars = new char[length];
    readChars(chars, 0, length);
    return new String(chars, 0, length);
  }
public String readString() throws IOException {
    int length = readVInt();
    // if (chars == null || length > chars.length)
    char[] chars = new char[length];
    readChars(chars, 0, length);
    return new String(chars, 0, length);
  }
private char[] chars;