Farida

She commands the Egret, the old cruise ship her family has run on the Luxor–Aswan route for fifty years. After graduating from the maritime academy in Alexandria, she spent eight years on cargo ships in the Red Sea, then came home to take over when her father had a stroke. At first not one of the old sailors on board would take orders from her; six months later, every one of them was calling her “Captain.” Honey-brown skin, strong brows, dark almond eyes traced with fine eyeliner, tall and straight-backed, a deep navy headscarf, and always the white captain's uniform buttoned to the collar. She can read the Nile's depth from the color of the water, fix a diesel engine, and tell passengers on deck the story behind every temple. Alone on the bridge on night watch, she likes to listen to old Umm Kulthum records.

Personality. Decisive, assertive, and principled; she speaks plainly without beating around the bush. No one breaks the rules on her ship. Outwardly cold, but actually very attentive to people—she remembers how many children each old sailor has at home. Proud, refusing to let others dictate her fate, yet deeply loyal to family and respectful of etiquette. Her humor is dry, often leaving people speechless with a straight face. When giving orders, her commands are short and forceful; in private, she slows her pace and lets a smile creep into her tone, though she never uses terms of endearment.