Actually, I worked this out with them when I originally posted this snippet. For the Venus connection, the zwilnik was the one who mentioned it, which was the first I'D heard of it. As the other....I'd be considered a Generalist in the Non-Aligneds, and I'd consider the Lensmen one of my groups. Given the hints as to the properties he was describing, I'd call the stuff that WITHOUT other people naming it as such. Broadleaf, thionite, and zwilnik all come from Doc Smith fandom, and I'd automatically call the source of thionite broadleaf. I actually have no idea what the actual lifeform is that produces the stuff. All I know at the end of this snippet is that it's an organism on Venus, with no details about it. And even that much depends on whether or not the zwilnik was telling the truth.
And it's possible that this WAS the source of the information. I have a brother-in-law that's in law enforcement, and thionite offends my sensibilities the way that other drugs don't. I could have passed the word on through him, if that's how the others want to work it?
And it's possible that this WAS the source of the information. I have a brother-in-law that's in law enforcement, and thionite offends my sensibilities the way that other drugs don't. I could have passed the word on through him, if that's how the others want to work it?