Free Mindswap by Robert Sheckley

suppose you did,' the rock ganzer said, in a not unfriendly voice. 'And, of course, you want to discuss it with me. Ethics, morals, the whole bit. But I'm afraid not. We were specifically warned, you see, never to allow a Melden to talk. We were told to just do the job and get it over with, not to
personalize
it. Just do it and get on to the next bit of work. Mental hygiene, really. Therefore, if you would close your eyes …'
    The jaws moved closer. But Marvin, filled with wild surmise, cried out: 'Did you say
job
?'
    'Of course, it's a job,' the ganzer said. 'There's nothing personal in it.' He frowned, apparently annoyed at himself for having spoken.
    'A job! Your job is to hunt Meldens, is that it?'
    'Well, obviously. This planet of Ganzer isn't good for much, you see, except for hunting Meldens.'
    'But why do you hunt them?' Marvin asked.
    'Well, for one thing, a ganzer egg can grow to full maturity only in the host flesh of the adult Melden.'
    'I
say
,' the ganzer egg said, rolling around with embarrassment, 'must we get so damned
biological
? I mean to say, you don't hear me talking about
your
natural functions, do you?'
    'And secondly,' the ganzer continued, 'our sole export is Melden hides, which (after curing and tanning) are used for imperial vestments on Triana II, for good-luck charms on Nemo, and for seat covers on Chrysler XXX. This quest for the elusive and deadly Melden is our sole means of maintaining a tolerable degree of civilization and-'
    'That's exactly what they told me!' Marvin cried, and quickly repeated what the manager had said to him.
    'My gosh!' said the ganzer.
    Both realized the true situation now: the Meldens were utterly dependent upon the Ganzers, who in turn, were utterly dependent upon the Meldens. These two races hunted each other, lived and died for each other, and, through ignorance or guile, ignored any relationship between each other. The relationship was utterly symbiotic, but completely unacknowledged by either race. In fact, each race pretended that it alone was a Civilized Intelligence, and that the other was bestial, contemptible, and of no account,
    And it now occurred to both of them that they were, in equal measure, participants in the general concept of Humanity. (The ganzer egg was also a part, of course.)
    The realization was awesome; but Marvin was still pinned to the ground by the ganzer's heavy paw.
    'This leaves me in a somewhat embarrassing situation,' the ganzer said, after a while. 'My natural tendency is to release you; but I am working on this planet under a contract, which stipulates-'
    'Then you are not a real ganzer?'
    'No. I am a Swapper like yourself, and I come from Terra!'
    'My home planet!' Marvin cried.
    'I had guessed as much,' the ganzer replied. 'After a time one becomes sensitive to the idiosyncratic quality of differing minds, and learns to recognize one's countrymen through little tricks of thought and phraseology. I would guess that you are an American, probably from the East Coast, perhaps from Connecticut or Vermont-'
    'New York State!' Marvin cried. 'I am from Stanhope!'
    'And I am from Saranac Lake,' the ganzer said. 'My name is Otis Dagobert, and I am thirty-seven years old.'
    And with that, the ganzer lifted his paw from Marvin's chest. 'We are neighbours,' he said quietly. 'And so I cannot kill you, just as I am reasonably sure you would be unable to kill me, had you the opportunity. And now that we know the truth, I doubt if we will be able to perform any portion of our terrible jobs. But that is a sad thing to find out, for it means that we are doomed to Contractual Discipline; and then if we do not obey, our Companies will give us Extreme Severance. And you know what that means.'
    Marvin nodded sadly. He knew all too well. His head drooped, and he sat in disconsolate silence beside his newly found friend.
    'I can think of no way out,' Marvin said, after giving the matter some thought. 'Perhaps we could hide in the forest for a few days; but