Is this a foreshadow of Duncan’s role in the series? Could a past incarnation be clouded by a future incarnation’s prescient ability? And Hayt does display, at one point, a prescient moment. It might simply be the obvious case of Edric shielding Duncan. But could a future self’s prescience guard the past self from inspection? If a later ghola of Duncan was prescient, would this shield the prior incarnations retroactively?Dune Messiah wrote:“Why has no vision shown me this new Duncan Idaho? he asked himself. What concealed Time from an oracle? Other oracles, obviously.
Paul opened his eyes, asked: "Hayt, do you have the power of prescience?"
"No, m'Lord."
Sincerity spoke in that voice. It was possible the ghola didn't know he possessed this ability, of course. But that'd hamper his working as a mentat.
What was the hidden design?
Old visions surged around Paul. Would he have to choose the terrible way?
Distorted Time hinted at this ghola in that hideous future. Would that way close in upon him no matter what he did?
Disengage . . . disengage . . . disengage . .”
Also does 'that hideous future' mean the future involving Duncans in Leto II’s empire? Could this be a passage where Paul considers the Golden Path and thinks of it as the “terrible way”?