21.5.8: sub-process hangs while qp-decode'ing

errrr, wooops.... uname -a: Linux speggy 2.4.18 #2 SMP Sun Mar 24 23:05:10 EST 2002 i686 unknown ./configure '--with-gif' '--with-pop' '--error-checking=none' '--with-athena=3d' '--with-menubars=lucid' '-with-scrollbars=lucid' '--with-dialogs=lucid' '-with-widgets=lucid' XEmacs 21.5-b8 "broccoli" configured for `i686-pc-linux'. Compilation / Installation: Source code location: /root/install/Source/xemacs-21.5 Installation prefix: /usr/local Operating system description file: `s/linux.h' Machine description file: `m/intel386.h' Compiler: /usr/bin/gcc -O3 -mpentium Relocating allocator for buffers: no GNU version of malloc: yes - Using Doug Lea's new malloc from the GNU C Library. Linking with `-z nocombreloc'. - Consider configuring with --pdump. Window System: Compiling in support for the X window system: - X Windows headers location: /usr/X11/include - X Windows libraries location: /usr/X11/lib - Handling WM_COMMAND properly. Using Lucid menubars. Using Lucid scrollbars. Using Motif dialog boxes. Using Motif native widgets. TTY: Compiling in support for ncurses. Compiling in support for GPM (General Purpose Mouse). Images: Compiling in support for GIF images (builtin). Compiling in support for XPM images. Compiling in support for PNG images. Compiling in support for JPEG images. Compiling in support for TIFF images. Compiling in support for X-Face message headers. Sound: Compiling in support for sound (native). Compiling in support for NAS (network audio system). Compiling in support for ESD (Enlightened Sound Daemon). Databases: Compiling in support for Berkeley database. Compiling in support for GNU DBM. Compiling in support for PostgreSQL. - Using PostgreSQL header file: postgresql/libpq-fe.h - Using PostgreSQL V7 bindings. Internationalization: Mail: Compiling in support for POP mail retrieval. Compiling in support for "dot-locking" mail spool file locking method. Other Features: Inhibiting IPv6 canonicalization at startup. Compiling in support for dynamic shared object modules. Compiling in support for extra debugging code.