Bridge guard

A group of adventurers needed to cross the narrow bridge over the deadly canyon. But a huge threatening guard — like the genie from Aladdin’s lamp — blocked the entrance. He said, in a booming voice, “No one can cross until you tell me what’s true!”

He snapped his fingers, and everyone’s vision was replaced with a scene. The king, presented with a bowl of soup, took a sip, then pushed it away with a scowl saying, “It’s too salty.” Then their vision returned.

An adventurer said, “The king doesn’t like the soup?”
The guard boomed, “NO!”
“He thinks it’s too salty?”
“NO!”
Then one said, “He said the words: ‘It’s too salty.’”
“TRUE!”
That one person was allowed to cross the bridge.

Then, blocking again, “No one can cross until you tell me what’s true!”

He snapped his fingers and they saw a new scene. A woman is trapped in a box and can’t get out. She’s pushing, pounding, and trying everything, but nothing is working. Then their vision returned.

“She’s trapped in a box and can’t get out?”
“NO!”
“She’s trying everything, but nothing is working?”
“NO!”
Then one said, “She’s pushing and pounding the box?”
“TRUE!”
That one person was allowed to cross the bridge.

Then, blocking again, “No one can cross until …”

But the youngest girl in the group figured it out. She walked right up to the fearsome bridge guard and said, “I’m going to cross now.” Then she squeezed past his legs and crossed the bridge. So the rest did the same.

The guard smiled with pride.