function start()
{
  char** fields;

  fields = (char**)malloc(9 * sizeof(char*));
  fill(fields);
  free(fields);

// PROBLEM: if i do: fprintf(stderr, "fields[0] = %s", fields[0]); then program crashes.. why??
}

function fill(char** fields)
{
char buf[1024];
int i;
char* strtok_ptr = NULL;

        i = 0;
        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "these:are:tokens");
	strtok_ptr = strtok(buf, ":");
	fields_ret[i++] = strtok_ptr;
	while( strtok_ptr != NULL )
	{
	       if( (strtok_ptr = strtok(NULL, ":")) != NULL )
         	{
                    fields[i++] = strtok_ptr;
		}
        }
}