incorect value of node

I have a simple function that adds a node to a linked list:

Code:

---

      node *x = new node; 
      cout << "enter value" << endl;
      cin >> x -> value;
      x -> next = head;
      head = x;

---

This works fine, I get output in this form:

Quote:

---

node: a
node: b
node: c
node: d
node: e <- I entered this value via the function

---

but when I pass the value to the function via string val

Code:

---

      node *x = new node; 
      cout << "val[0] = " << val[0] << endl;    // prints e
      val[0] = x -> value;
      x -> next = head;
      head = x;

---

output is like

Quote:

---

node: a
node: b
node: c
node: d
node: 8 <- should be e

---

What is wrong?

PS. value (in node) is of type char.

val[0] = x -> value;
you assign uninitialized value x -> value to val[0]

I suppose you want it another way

what I want is the set value to what ever val[0] is, how can I do this?

x->value = val[0];

as with anything else what you already successfully set