Short value = (Short)rs.row[numCol];
Short value = new Short(XSQLVAR.decodeShort(rs.row[numCol]));
    byte getByte() throws SQLException {        if (rs.row[numCol]==null) return BYTE_NULL_VALUE;        Short value = (Short)rs.row[numCol];        // check if value is withing bounds        if (value.shortValue() > MAX_BYTE_VALUE ||            value.shortValue() < MIN_BYTE_VALUE)                throw (SQLException)createException(                    BYTE_CONVERSION_ERROR+" "+value).fillInStackTrace();        return value.byteValue();    }