private static String readRealString() {   // read chars from input following syntax of real numbers
      skipWhitespace();
      if (lookChar() == EOF)
         return null;
      if (floatMatcher == null)
         floatMatcher = floatRegex.matcher(buffer);
      floatMatcher.region(pos,buffer.length());
      if (floatMatcher.lookingAt()) {
         String str = floatMatcher.group();
         pos = floatMatcher.end();
         return str;
      }
      else 
         return null;
   }