long delta = a - b; // can't overflow, since a and b are nonnegative

      long minDeltaOrZero = delta & (delta >> (Long.SIZE - 1));
      // equivalent to Math.min(delta, 0)

      a = delta - minDeltaOrZero - minDeltaOrZero; // sets a to Math.abs(a - b)
      // a is now nonnegative and even

      b += minDeltaOrZero; // sets b to min(old a, b)