Cover art for the anthology “Haunted Waters.”

Almost sixty years ago, the American nuclear submarine USS Hollander sank in the Sargasso Sea to a depth of 3,000 meters under mysterious circumstances. Today, pirates operating the deep-sea submersible Thetis led by notorious weapons merchant Simon Harris are attempting to recover her nuclear arsenal. However when they find the Hollander, someone or something is still on board.

That’s just a taste of my short story “The Wreck of the USS Hollander” featured in the brand new ghost story anthology Haunted Waters edited by Jamie Ferguson.

My story  was inspired by a couple of television shows I saw as a kid that I don’t remember much about now. I do remember something about a submarine that had sunk years before, where there was no possibility of life, still sending out an S.O.S.

I also remember that it totally creeped me out.

Here’s some more:

Cora could feel the vessel shift toward starboard by about fifteen degrees. She felt lightheaded, but that must just be nerves.

“Less than a thousand meters to the floor, Simon,” said Cora. “Slow our descent for Christ’s sake.”

She hated that her hands were shaking. She’d never learned to be comfortable when someone else was driving.

“I’ve got us under control,” said Simon sounding amused with himself.

“You can see something now, Preston,” said Molina. “Take a look.”

Cora turned her head and saw fine grains of sand swirling in the darkness, thrown up by their approach to the bottom.

“Where’s the Hollander?” Preston sounded uncertain for the first time since they’d left the surface.

“When we set down, the bow will be right in front of us,” said Simon. “Main monitor over the forward bubble will give you a good view.”

“About fifty meters forward of our position,” Cora added.

“Cool,” said Preston.

The Thetis lurched and there were a series of thumps against the landing struts.

“Contact with the bottom,” said Cora. “Depth 9,831 feet.”

“That’s too damn close,” said Vic. “This bait shack is only rated for 10,000.”

“She’ll hold together alright,” said Molina adjusting the ballast controls. “Preston, I told you if the price was right, I’d refit this baby and we could take you to the Titanic.”

“Really? When?” said Preston. “I mean how soon after we’re done with this trip?”

“You can take him to the Titanic,” said Simon. He sounded threatening. “And with someone else’s submersible, not mine.”

“Everyone, shut up,” said Cora. “I’m getting something.” She pressed a hand on her headset.

“That phantom submarine again?” asked Vic.

“No. Metal on metal. Sounds like tapping.”

“Probably the current moving around loose debris,” said Vic. “Simon, get us closer so I can start working on those torpedo tubes.”

The Thetis jerked as it rose slightly from the bottom. The engines hummed and the propeller churn wound up causing a momentary rattle in the aft section.

“It’s not random,” said Cora. “Oh, damn.”

“What?” said Simon.

“You’re not going to believe this. It’s an SOS and as near as I can tell, it’s coming from the Hollander’s forward torpedo room.”

That’s just a sample of my tale and this anthology contains fourteen other exciting and terrifying stories just like it.

If above and below water ghost stories are your thing, then pick up a copy of Haunted Waters today.

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