The rumour maker - at the time the rumour was transmitted to me - did not know the names of the crew. This is a rumour network. Some rumoured definitions - more to be found if interested:
"a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth" [oxford]
OR
"an unofficial interesting story or piece of news that might be true or invented..."
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dic...english/rumour
