InputStream execute(String cmd, Object ... args)
        throws AgentLoadException, IOException
    {

  {- -------------------------------------------
  (1) (assert)
      ---------------------------------------- -}

            assert args.length <= 3;        // includes null

  {- -------------------------------------------
  (1) 
      ---------------------------------------- -}

            // create a pipe using a random name
            int r = (new Random()).nextInt();
            String pipename = "\\\\.\\pipe\\javatool" + r;
            long hPipe = createPipe(pipename);

  {- -------------------------------------------
  (1) 
      ---------------------------------------- -}

            // check if we are detached - in theory it's possible that detach is invoked
            // after this check but before we enqueue the command.
            if (hProcess == -1) {
                closePipe(hPipe);
                throw new IOException("Detached from target VM");
            }

            try {
                // enqueue the command to the process
                enqueue(hProcess, stub, cmd, pipename, args);

                // wait for command to complete - process will connect with the
                // completion status
                connectPipe(hPipe);

                // create an input stream for the pipe
                PipedInputStream is = new PipedInputStream(hPipe);

                // read completion status
                int status = readInt(is);
                if (status != 0) {
                    // special case the load command so that the right exception is thrown
                    if (cmd.equals("load")) {
                        throw new AgentLoadException("Failed to load agent library");
                    } else {
                        throw new IOException("Command failed in target VM");
                    }
                }

                // return the input stream
                return is;

            } catch (IOException ioe) {
                closePipe(hPipe);
                throw ioe;
            }
        }