float get_value_from_list(float list[]; int start_offset, int absolute_index) {
    int local_index = absolute_index - start_offset;
    return list[max(0, min(local_index, len(list) - 1))];
}

template <typename T>
T get_value_from_list(T list[], int start_offset, int absolute_index) {
    int local_index = absolute_index - start_offset;
    return list[max(0, min(local_index, sizeof(list) / sizeof(T) - 1))];
}

#define GENERIC_MACRO(TYPE) \
TYPE get_value_from_list(TYPE list[]; int start_offset, absolute_index) { \
    int local_index = absolute_index - start_offset; \
    return list[max(0, min(local_index, len(list) - 1))]; \
} \
// Apparently this blank line is important
GENERIC_MACRO(float)
GENERIC_MACRO(vector)
// etc, for all types you want to support.
#undef GENERIC_MACRO