The Womain Taxi Driver In Cairo一

 Her name is Nagat.

  I fist saw her outside Cairo airport terminia.A woman taxi driver-the only woman,for that matter,among a large crowd of her male couterparts

  Do you Know what is like to arrive in a strange city in the middle of the night?Nobody,not even a ray of sunshine is here to greet you.when I walk out of the terminal,I am facing the crowd of taxi dirvers minlling about in front of every airport the world over.Here in Cairo,it is large and noisy."Taxi""You want taxi?"I hear all round me.

  I feel a firm hand holding me left arm."You want taxi,follow me,"the woman says.she doesn't ask,she simply pulls me through the crowd.I follow her willingly.There is this moment when a tourist,particularly a woman,simply has to trust someone.We stop at worn car.It has seen a better day,there are quite a few scrapes on its body,the tires are bald and there is a crack in the windshield.But it is a car for hire,and the woman will personally drive me.I breathe a sigh of relief when she puts my bag into the trunk,locks it and gets behind the wheel."I will drive you,don;t worry,"she says.