Item l = left.hasNext() ? left.next() : null;
                        Item r = right.hasNext() ? right.next() : null;

                        // if this is shorter, then invert the compare and mul with -1
                        int result = l == null ? (r == null ? 0 : -1 * r.compareTo(l)) : l.compareTo(r);

                        if (result != 0) {