You can get the same results without return: 
sub load {
    my @a unless @n;
    push @a, @n;
    @a
}

[download]

Now read the note in Statement Modifiers:

> The behaviour of a my, state, or our modified with a statement modifier conditional or loop construct (for example, my $x if ... ) is undefined.

($q=q:Sq=~/;[c](.)(.)/;chr(-||-|5+lengthSq)`"S|oS2"`map{chr |+ord
}map{substrSq`S_+|`|}3E|-|`7**2-3:)=~y+S|`+$1,++print+eval$q,q,a,

[download]

In reply to Re: Surely @a is local to sub load? by choroba
in thread Surely @a is local to sub load? by philiprbrenan

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