: Steve,
: Glad you were able to see "Tribute". It does help explain a lot, doesn't it?

Steve: you bet it does.I'm seeing most of the shows for the first time. The old season for you is the new season for me. Guess I'm unlucky huh?

: I still think Roxton (who's age has been revealed to be 37) would've been too old to be in WWI. Was there another conflict he could've participated in when he was slightly younger?

Steve: As a Brevet major or higher, Roxton might have served in WWI as a staff officer or as a field officer. Remember, that my favorite Field Marshall, Rommel, kicked the daylights out of upteen allied generals in his 50's. Desert fighting is rough and he led at the head of his army. At 52, he broke through the French line and would have crushed the British at Dunkirk if Hitler hadn't stopped him.Don't sideline a man because he's out of his 20's.There's no reason why Roxton couldn't have done the same thing.

Competing with the fine work of other message board members takes a bit of nerve, but, if I do try my hand at fanfic, I'll give Roxton an early East African history.There were many opportunities for an ivory hunter and young army officer there. And, as I recall, the accident involving his brother occurred in Africa. A stint is South America Could be followed by participation in WWI.

: Also, the official site (I think) does confirm that Summerlee was a soldier once.

Steve: I really appreciate that information Janet.I had begun to sketch out a history for him as follows:

Following Cambridge, Summerlee secures a grant to study the properties of the Blue Lotus in the Nile Delta. He travels to Egypt via Constantinople, one of the largest slave trading centers in the Near East. There to pick up certain rare books and to speak with learned Arab scholars. While in the city, he happens to come upon a slave girl being harshly treated. She is an average looking girl, nothing spectacular. He buys her at a price he can scarcely afford and frees her, but she has no where to go. She becomes his assistant ( he insists on paying her for her services ), teaching him all he needs to know about her people and those he will meet in his travels. Eventually, they become close friends and then lovers. In the end, she becomes the love of Summerlee's life.

Things are difficult at first, but, as time passes Summerlee is preceeded by a certain reputation. He is like few other men. He demands respect, but gives the same to all men. It is difficult to think of him as British, or even European. He has no hidden agenda as they always have.The Royal Society extends his grant so that he can collect and study plants that might be used in medicine. His activities are no longer limited to the Delta. As he and his lady move south, Summerlee's services are sought as an arbitrator and as a healer.

Up past the second Cataract and ancient forts like those at Buhen and Askut, Summerlee and his lady run smack into the Madi uprising. The fierce Moslem leader is reluctant to kill Summerlee, but he makes life difficult for him. The pair end up at Khartoum in the Sudan with Chinese Gordon. There Summerlee is pressed into service as a British officer.Dealing with the Gordon's moods isn't easy, but Gordon likes and respects Summerlee. Knowing that Khartoum is about to fall to the Madi, Gordon orders Summerlee to ship out on the last steamer that has a hope of breaking through enemy lines and making it down the Nile. Unfortunately, the steamer fetches up on some rocks and all aboard her, men and women alike, are killed by maurading Arabs loyal to the Madi. Only Summerleee and his lady are spared the sword. The chief recognizes Summerlee, but he also recognizes his British uniform. Summerlee is abandoned in the desert and his lady is torn from his arms. He will never see her again.

Somehow he survives to write up his journals. These are of considerable value to doctors and to Kitchener's forces, informing him of desert peoples, when he advances into the Sudan to finally retake Khartoum 10 years later.

After Summerlee is wounded on the plateau, he is found by slavers. Considered too old to be of use they intend to leave him to die, but an old woman, disfigured and dried up, throws the bones and passes judgement. The old man must live. Summerlee recovers and is taken to the court of a powerful Inca type empire where he is taught language and customs by a girl whom he often calls by a name once important to him. Having hit his head in the fall off the bridge, he can't remember much of anything about his past. His wisdom remains intact, however, as does his knowledge of plants. He is accorded high rank in court circles as an advisor. In the end, the members of the challenger expedition are brought before him, but he doesn't know them and we go on from there.
Steve Faust