Dune Messiah (Dune, #2)

Alia watches from a secret chamber as the new Spacing Guild ambassador, Edric the navigator, greets Paul in his throne room. Alia senses Paul’s agitation and realizes that Edric has brought a ghola replicated from Duncan Idaho, who died before she was born but whom she recognizes through her access to her mother’s memories.

Paul accepts Edric as ambassador and demands an explanation of the ghola. Edric introduces the ghola as Hayt, explaining that the genetic manipulations of the Tleilaxu make it impossible to be certain that Hayt is Duncan Idaho but that he is presumed to be so. Gholas retain no conscious memories of their previous selves, though they maintain some qualities of personality. Hayt was augmented to be a mentat and Zensunni philosopher, a kind of mystic, in addition to possessing Duncan Idaho’s legendary swordsmanship. Paul questions Hayt and is deeply moved by the evidence that some element of Duncan Idaho exists within him. Paul recognizes a trap, sensing that “this flesh was full of false impressions easily misread” (91). He is tempted to refuse the gift, but his loyalty and affection for his lost mentor motivates him to accept despite Stilgar’s fear and disgust.

Edric leaves and Paul dismisses Stilgar to deal with Gaius Helen Mohiam, who accompanied Edric and whom Paul imprisoned; the Bene Gesserit are not permitted on Dune.