# Start the bot
my $bot = Cfbot->new( %{ $c->{irc} } )->run;

package Cfbot;
use base 'Bot::BasicBot'; 
use Data::Dumper;

my @kids;
#
# Subs that override Bot::BasicBot's own subs
#
sub said
{
# ... do stuff then call a forkit sup.
   $self->forkit(
         run => \&main::lookup_topics,
         arg => $keyword,
         msg => $msg
   );
}

sub forkit
{
   my $self = shift;
   my %args = @_;
   warn '%args '.Dumper( \%args );
   my $msg = $args{msg};
   warn 'self->{msg}'. Dumper( $self->{msg});

   my $childpid = fork;

   if ( 0 == 0 )               # <<< fork disabled
   #if ( ! defined $childpid ) # <<< fork enabled
   {
      warn "Failed to fork, processing in foreground instead.";
      my $replies = $args{run}->( $args{arg} );
      $self->reply( $msg, $_ ) foreach ( @{ $replies } ); # <<< WORKS
   }
   elsif ( 1 == 0 )          # <<< fork disabled
   #elsif ( $childpid == 0 ) # <<< fork enabled
   {
      # This is the child process
      my $replies = $args{run}->( $args{arg} );
      warn 'Child $replies '. Dumper( \$replies ) if $args->{debug};
#####
# TODO why does this reply fail?
##### 
      $self->reply( $msg, $_ ) foreach ( @{ $replies } );  # <<< FAILS
      exit 0;
   }
   else
   {
      # This is the parent process.
      # Keep record of kids to kill later and prevent zombies.
      push @kids, $childpid;
      waitpid $childpid, 0;
   }
}

END { kill 15, @kids }