I'd think so, but it's running as root, and is world-readable. Here's some more random-pasting-stuff:

[root@parrot:~]$ perl -le 'use Term::ReadKey;'
Can't load '/usr/local/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.0/auto/Term/
+ReadKey/ReadKey.sl' for module Term::ReadKey: Permission denied at /u
+sr/local/lib/perl5/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.0/DynaLoader.pm line 206.
 at -e line 1
Compilation failed in require at -e line 1.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at -e line 1.
[root@parrot:~]$
[download]

and...

[root@parrot:~]$ ls -la //usr/local/lib/perl5/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.0/Dyn*
-r--r--r--   1 bin        bin          27315 Feb 15  2002 //usr/local/
+lib/perl5/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.0/DynaLoader.pm
[root@parrot:~]$ ls -la /usr/local/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.
+0/auto/Term/ReadKey/*.sl
-rw-rw-rw-   1 bin        bin          45056 Feb 15  2002 /usr/local/l
+ib/perl5/site_perl/5.6.1/PA-RISC2.0/auto/Term/ReadKey/ReadKey.sl
[root@parrot:~]$
[download]

It's an HP 11i box, if it matters. Thanks for your suggestion.

-s.