The Bride Wore Black Leather

bees tending their hive. None of them so much as glanced in our direction. I couldn’t help noticing that there were only women present, not a single man to be seen anywhere.
    “I couldn’t help noticing . . .” I said to Sister Dorethea.
    “Yes, yes, I know; we’re all women here, whereas the original Druids famously didn’t allow women to be priests. According to the few records that survive from that time, mostly written down by the Romans, who didn’t approve of the Druids anyway. But that was then, and this is now. Green Henge may have started out as a folly, but years of veneration have made the Standing Stones sacred again, and the Sisterhood is entirely real if not actually entirely authentic. We’ve been in charge here for ages, because no-one else could be bothered with the time and devotion necessary to ensure the upkeep of the Stones, and Green Henge.”
    “So if they want to be wrong, let them,” murmured Julien.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I was wondering why there aren’t any men here.”
    “Because they get in the way!” snapped Sister Dorethea. “They are a distraction! We have all given up much to become Sisters to the Stones. We are all of us pure and pristine, and we have every intention of remaining that way.”
    She stuck her nose in the air and headed straight for the maze. So Julien and I quite naturally slowed our pace, to show we weren’t going to be hurried.
    “Shouldn’t a garden have, well, flowers and stuff?” I said. “All I can see is moorland, and not even a trace of heather.”
    “I can hear you!” said Sister Dorethea, not lowering herself to look back. “The moor was designed to be this way. No distractions, remember? It is we, the Sisterhood, who grow here, through our service to the Stones. This is a Garden of Stone, where we beat ourselves against the hard surfaces every day to purify ourselves, that we might flourish and blossom and bloom. Spiritually speaking.”
    “Right,” I said. “You go, Sister. Spiritually speaking. But I still have to ask, What is Green Henge for? Exactly? What does it do?”
    “It weeds out the unworthy,” Sister Dorethea said sternly. “And encourages proper growth. You’ll see. Only the pure of intent can pass through the maze, to reach the Circle of Standing Stones and the glory of Green Henge.”
    “That’s it?” said Julien, after a while.
    “Isn’t that enough?” countered the Sister. “Beware the Ring of Stones and bow down to Green Henge. They are powerful, and significant beyond your mere mortal understanding.”
    I looked at Julien. “This place may have started out as a folly, but it isn’t any more. If enough people believe in a thing, it becomes real. Especially in the Nightside. Green Henge might have been created here to someone’s fashionable scheme, but it’s become the real deal. Still not too clear on the Druid connection, though . . . Do you still practise human sacrifice here, Sister Dorethea?”
    “Of course not!” she said though she didn’t sound nearly shocked enough for my liking. “We’re not that kind of Druid!”
    I was still considering pressing the matter, as to exactly what kind of Druid she was, when Dorethea finally brought us to the entrance of the hedgerow maze. No sign, no map, nothing but a dark opening. The heavy green hedge walls towered above us, stretching away on every side. The maze was frankly huge, and gave every indication of being big enough to contain half a dozen Henges. The hedge walls were composed of some unfamiliar dark green vegetation, with flat serrated leaves and heavy bone yellow thorns. The passage between the walls was barely wide enough to allow Julien and me to walk through side by side. The only light was shimmering moonlight, grey and blue-white, and there were far too many deep, dark shadows for my liking. I turned to Sister Dorethea, expecting her to lead us in, but she stepped back and waved for Julien and me to go on in, bestowing on us a decidedly knowing smile. I stood my ground.
    “How long is it going to take us to get to the centre, to the Stones? We haven’t got all night.”
    “It takes as long as it takes,” said Sister Dorethea. “The way depends on you.”
    I looked at Julien. “We can’t even be sure he’s in there.”
    “Perhaps,” said Julien. “But I think we’ll learn something interesting in Green Henge, nonetheless.”
    I looked at the entrance to the maze. “You really want to do this?”
    “We have