max (pvb -w max, vb list, cmp compare)                                           
{
  items_in (list, (vb current) {
                                 if (!*max)
                                 { 
                                   copy_link (*max, current), { *max = alloc (&_, T_LINK) }; 
                                 }
                                 else
                                 {
                                   if (compare (*max, current) == CR_LT)     
                                   {
                                     copy_link (*max, current), { reset_link (*max) }; 
                                   }
                                   else
                                   {
                                     ;
                                   }
                                 }
                               });
}