Ballot in the Island

Fox’o, the main witch and matriarch, has called for a congress of the main witches and matriarchs in Xicome to decide upon Pej’o’s fate.

The congress is held in the main hut. They sit in a circle, facing the center. Fox’o summons them to vote with an X on their oyster shell, if they want Pej’o to be redeemed, or with a dot, if Pej’o is to be cast out.

Some whispering breaks up among the sisters. Fox’o inquires and finds out that some sisters do not understand what X or dot mean, so Fox’o has to show them, by making an X and a dot on the sand, in the middle of the hut, while stressing the importance of the dot.

She stresses again the effect of the dot, and points at the dot repeatedly.
She stresses again the influence of the dot, and points at the dot again and again.
She stresses again the significance of the dot, and points at the dot over and over.

Some sisters cheerfully start repeating and chanting:
“Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot!”

Fox’o dances at the rhythm of their chanting, while facing each one of them, looking fiercely at each one’s eyes, stumping and repeating: “Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot!”

The sorority cast their ballot. Fox’o picks each oyster and puts them in a leather bag. Then, she goes back to her place, sits on the floor crossed legs, and tells the congress:

“I will place the dotted oysters in the bag on the right, and the crossed oysters in the bag on the left.”

A witch called Ranz’o tries to take a peek but Fox’o fixes her fierce gaze on her and she backs up.
The congress sees how Fox’o places all the oysters in the right bag but none in the left one.
Ranz’o asks:

--There were no crossed oysters? How strange?
--What is so strange about it? husky Fox’o asks angrily.
--I thought…
--There is no thinking, sister, there are facts, there were no crossed oysters, says Fox’o. Now, sisters, I must dedicate the ballot to the god of fire, Pej’o will be cast out, the congress is over.